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WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NJPW (thru 11/7): Latest news including WrestleKingdom 13 line-up, live event results, schedule of live events, next big show line-ups, noteworthy social media and YouTube posts, closing commentary on The Elite

By Chris Maloney, PWTorch contributor

November 9, 2018

NJPW Dominion matches announced
PHOTO CREDIT: Tokyo Sports
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

-SHO & YOH defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI and El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a Triple Threat match to win the NJPW Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 tournament for the second year in a row. With that being said, NJPW has announced that Suzuki-gun will defend the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Roppongi 3K & Los Ingobernables de Japon at Wrestle Kingdom 13. (This week’s edition of NJPW Lioncast, exclusive to PWTorch.com, features a complete review of NJPW Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018. You can check it out HERE.)

-Speaking of Wrestle Kingdom 13, NJPW announced several more matches this week including Chris Jericho defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Tetsuya Naito, KUSHIDA defending the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori and ‘Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada facing ‘Switchblade’ Jay White! You can check out the official Wrestle Kingdom 13 press conference HERE.

-With the hype surrounding current members of the ELITE rumoured to be leaving NJPW when their contracts are up, some surprising news came to light this week when it was reported by various websites that Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Tetsuya Naito was approached by the WWE this past summer to sign with the company. Naito turned down the offer. “I didn’t even give it thought,” he said. “This New Japan ring is already the world’s number 1 stage. The fans know this. That’s why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international.”

-Wrestling All-Star Battle will take place at Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan on Feb. 19, 2019 featuring talent from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Names announced this week participating for NJPW are Hiroshi Tanahashi, Taichi, Tomoaki Honma, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

-Friendly reminder that Lion’s Break: Project 1 takes place on Nov. 10th & 11th at CharaExpo USA 2018 in Anaheim, California featuring Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb and Kenny Omega vs. David Finlay.

-Happy Birthday to former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and CHAOS leader “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada who turns 31 on Nov. 8.

-This Week in NJPW History saw reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) defeated Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship at NJPW Power Struggle 2014 on Nov. 8, 2014 in Osaka, Japan.

•Live Event Results

NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 12
November 1, 2018
Shizuoka, Japan at Twin Messe Shizuoka
Aired on NJPW World

(1) Robbie Eagles defeated Yota Tsujpi by pinfall

(2) Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger defeated Ren Narita & Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. by submission after Honma made Narita tapout

(3) El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Shota Umino & ACH by pinfall after El Desperado pinned Umino

(4) Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Ayato Yoshida & Ryusuke Taguchi by pinfall after Takagi pinned Yoshida

(5) Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii defeated TAKA Michinoku & Minoru Suzuki by pinfall after Romero pinned Michinoku

(6) Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after Owens pinned Henare

(7) SHO & YOH defeated Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA by pinfall after YOH pinned Sabin in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match

(8) Gedo & Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale & ‘Switchblade’ Jay White defeated Chuckie T & Beretta & Toru Yano & Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada by pinfall after White pinned Chuckie T

NJPW Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018
November 3, 2018
Osaka, Japan at Osaka Prefectural Gym
Aired on NJPW World

(1) Toa Henare & ACH & Chris Sabin & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. & Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger by pinfall after Taguchi pinned Soberano Jr.

(2) Robbie Eagles & Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga defeated KUSHIDA & Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe by pinfall after Tonga pinned KUSHIDA

(3) Beretta & Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Luck Fake & ‘Switchblade’ Jay White by pinfall after Beretta pinned Fale

(4) Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) defeated David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after Ibushi pinned Finlay

(5) SHO & YOH defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI and El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru by pinfall after SHO pinned El Desperado in a Triple Threat Match to win the Super Jr. Tag League 2018

(6) Hirooki Goto defeated Taichi by pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight Championship

(7) Tomohiro Ishii defeated Minoru Suzuki by pinfall to retain the RPW British Heavyweight Championship

(8) Tetsuya Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr. by pinfall

(9) Chris Jericho defeated “King of Darkness” EVIL by submission to retain the IWGP Intercontinental Championship

NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Lewiston
November 7, 2018
Lewiston, Maine at Androscoggin Bank Colisee
Aired on ROH HonorClub

(1) Flip Gordon defeated Eli Isom by pinfall

(2) SCU (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) defeated The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & ‘Kingpin’ Brian Milonas) by pinfall

(3) Jeff Cobb defeated Cheeseburger by pinfall

(4) The Kingdom (Matt Taven & TK O’Ryan & Vinny Marseglia) defeated Dalton Castle & The Boys by pinfall to retain the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship

(5) The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) defeated ‘Hangman’ Adam Page & ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody (w/Brandi Rhodes) by pinfall

(6) Juice Robinson defeated Christopher Daniels by pinfall

(7) Bully Ray & Silas Young defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) by pinfall

(8) Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & ‘King of Darkness’ EVIL & SANADA & BUSHI) defeated Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham & Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA by pinfall in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match

•Upcoming Major Show Line-ups

NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Lowell
Nov. 8, 2018
Lowell, Massachusetts at Lowell Memorial Auditorium
Airs at 7:30 p.m. ET on ROH HonorClub

  • Juice Robinson & Dalton Castle vs. The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & ‘Kingpin’ Brian Milonas)
  • BUSHI vs. Matt Taven
  • Frankie Kazarian vs. Flip Gordon
  • Mark Briscoe vs. ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody (w/Brandi Rhodes) (Non-Title)
  • Bully Ray & Silas Young vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (‘King of Darkness’ EVIL & SANADA)
  • Jeff Cobb vs. Christopher Daniels (Non-Title)
  • Jay Briscoe vs. Scorpio Sky
  • ‘Hangman’ Adam Page vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham vs. KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. The Kingdom (TK O’Ryan & Vinny Marseglia) in a Four Corner Survival Match

NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Buffalo
November 9, 2018
Buffalo, New York at Buffalo Riverworks
Airs at 7:30 p.m. ET on ROH HonorClub

  • The Boys (Boy I & Boy II) vs. The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Vinny Marseglia)
  • TK O’Ryan vs. Dalton Castle (w/The Boys)
  • Juice Robinson vs. Silas Young
  • ‘King of Darkness’ EVIL vs. Jeff Cobb (Non-Title)
  • The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA & Tetsuya Naito)
  • Jay Lethal vs. Chris Sabin in a Proving Ground Match (Non-Title)
  • ‘Hangman’ Adam Page & ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody (w/Brandi Rhodes) vs. The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) vs. Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T)
  • KUSHIDA vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Flip Gordon vs. BUSHI in a Four Corners Survival Match (Non-Title)

NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Toronto
November 11, 2018
Toronto, Ontario at Mattamy Athletic Centre
Airs at 7:00 p.m. ET on ROH HonorClub

  • Flip Gordon vs. Jonathan Gresham
  • Matt Taven vs. Christopher Daniels
  • ‘Hangman’ Adam Page vs. Chuckie T
  • The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA & “King of Darkness” EVIL)
  • SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) (c) vs. Super Smash Bros. (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) for the ROH World Tag Team Championship
  • KUSHIDA & Chris Sabin vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
  • “The American Nightmare” Cody (c) (w/Brandi Rhodes) vs. Beretta for the IWGP United States Championship
  • Jay Lethal (c) vs. Kenny King for the ROH World Championship

NJPW Lion’s Break Project 1 @ CharaExpo USA 2018 – Day 1
November 10, 2018
Anaheim, California at Anaheim Convention Center

  • Karl Fredericks vs. Alex Coughlin
  • Rocky Romero vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
  • David Finlay & Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Clark Connors & ACH
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb (Non-Title)

NJPW Lion’s Break Project 1 @ CharaExpo USA 2018 – Day 2
November 11, 2018
Anaheim, California at Anaheim Convention Center

  • ACH vs. Karl Fredericks
  • Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Clark Connors
  • Rocky Romero & Hirooki Goto vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Jeff Cobb
  • ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega vs. David Finlay (Non-Title)

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13
January 4, 2019
Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Dome
Airs at 4:00 a.m. ET on NJPW World

  • Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado) (c) vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & Shingo Takagi) for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
  • KUSHIDA (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
  • ‘Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada vs. ‘Switchblade’ Jay White (w/Gedo)
  • Chris Jericho (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship
  • ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship

•Upcoming Events

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

11/10/2018: CharaExpo USA 2018 – Day 1 featuring Jyushin Thunder Liger, Jeff Cobb, Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi in Anaheim, California

11/11/2018: CharaExpo USA 2018 – Day 2 featuring Kenny Omega, Hirooki Goto, ACH, David Finlay & Harold G. Meij in Anaheim, California

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

01/11/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 1 in Osaka, Japan

01/12/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 2 in Ehime, Japan

01/13/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 3 in Kyoto, Japan

01/14/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 4 in Gifu, Japan

01/16/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 5 in Chiba, Japan

01/18/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 6 in Tokyo, Japan

01/20/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 7 in Tokyo, Japan

01/21/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 8 in Tokyo, Japan

01/26/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 1 in Saitama, Japan

01/28/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan

01/29/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 3 in Tokyo, Japan

01/30/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 4 in Miyagi, Japan

02/02/2019: NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night 1 in Hokkaido, Japan

02/03/2019: NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night 2 in Hokkaido, Japan

02/06/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 5 in Nagano, Japan

02/07/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 6 in Aichi, Japan

02/08/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 7 in Mie, Japan

02/09/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 8 in Osaka, Japan

02/11/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 9 in Osaka, Japan

04/06/2019: NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard in New York, New York

•Latest TV Highlights: NJPW on AXS TV (11/2/2018)

King of Pro-Wrestling 2018
October 8, 2018
Tokyo, Japan at Ryogoku Sumo Hall
Originally aired on NJPW World

(1) Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI & SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) defeated CHAOS (SHO & YOH & Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada) by pinfall after Takagi pinned SHO 

(2) KUSHIDA defeated ‘The Villain’ Marty Scurll by pinfall in the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Tournament Finals to become the NEW IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion

•NJPW in the Media

The Art of Wrestling with Colt Cabana: The Jericho Cruise

The Wire: Are Okada and Tanahashi forming an alliance?

Wrestle and Flow – Ep. 13 – Dear Kenny

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [1st match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [2nd match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [3rd match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [4th match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [5th match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [6th match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [7th match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [8th match]

POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3) – Post-match Interview [9th match]

Highlights from POWER STRUGGLE ~SUPER Jr. TAG LEAGUE 2018~ (November 3)

The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo: Kevin Kelly and “Eugene” Nick Dinsmore

WRESTLE KINGDOM 13 Press Conference (November 5th)

EVIL vs Katsuyori Shibata – NEVER Openweight Championship (Nov 15, 2016) – NJPW World Monday Free Match

“Sail Away, Man” – Being The Elite Ep. 124

Global Wars Preview – ROH vs NJPW By The Numbers

https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/global-wars-preview-roh-vs-njpw-numbers

Killing The Town: Jericho Cruise Exclusive!!

https://www.podcastone.com/episode/Jericho-Cruise-Exclusive

Naito WWE’s offer was refused

【新日本】内藤　ＷＷＥからのオファー断っていた

Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast: Episode #42

https://pacificrimwrestling.podbean.com/e/pacific-rim-pro-wrestling-podcast-episode-42

Talk Is Jericho: Being The Elite = Bullet Club No More 

https://omny.fm/shows/talk-is-jericho/being-the-elite-bullet-club-no-more

•Social Media Scene

https://www.instagram.com/p/BptxYlDnHQn

https://www.instagram.com/p/BptuolAHXV6

View this post on Instagram

thank you 3000×

A post shared by Yohei Komatsu (@youheeei0625) on

View this post on Instagram

the new Yoshi game looks sick

A post shared by Hangman Page (@hangmanadampage) on

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpwZE1KHJHi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpvyLIOnC1I

https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/1059323577902592001

View this post on Instagram

WRESTLE KINGDOM 13

A post shared by KUSHIDA (@kushida_ts) on

https://twitter.com/DBSmithjr/status/1059980409960783872

https://twitter.com/azucarRoc/status/1059997444610506757

View this post on Instagram

Squad goals…

A post shared by Chris Jericho (@chrisjerichofozzy) on

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp2k_09n2wR

https://twitter.com/BUSHI_njpw/status/1060303889872769026

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp4a6qnHLWk

•Closing Commentary

Road to Power Struggle, Power Struggle 2018, Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea… it’s been a busy week for the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Super Jr. Tag League 2018 officially came to a close last weekend and while Roppongi 3K proved their dominance for the second year in a row, the tournament made recent NJPW signee Shingo Takagi look like the major player he is. While huge things have got to be in store for Takagi’s LIJ run, I cannot wait for the day we see Shingo Takagi vs. Tetsuya Naito. It’ll be Wrestle Kingdom worthy and whether or not an IWGP title is on the line it won’t matter as the match will steal the show. With that being said, look for Takagi & BUSHI to walk away with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13.

If you haven’t checked out the updated card for Wrestle Kingdom 13, do yourself a favour and head over to NJPW1972.com right now. Five matches have been announced so far including “Match of the Night” candidate KUSHIDA defending the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against ‘Bone Soldier’ Taiji Ishimori. Ishimori’s attack on KUSHIDA at Power Struggle 2018 set the tone and while KUSHIDA represents the division well, Ishimori’s time is now. With NJPW developing plans for post-ELITE, look for the Bone Soldier to capitalize at the Tokyo Dome in January. 

Finally, Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea has come and gone. While I write this, I’m listening to “Being The Elite = Bullet Club No More” on Talk Is Jericho and Matt Jackson is officially announcing that The ELITE are no longer part of the Bullet Club. Last night, I watched Kenny Omega defeat Ryusuke Taguchi on the Fight Network to become the 70th IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion at Wrestle Kingdom 9. Kenny Omega, newest member of the Bullet Club. What’s even more ironic is that in Omega’s post-match promo, he defined himself alongside Matt and Nick Jackson as “The ELITE.”

Almost four years later, as I listen to Matt Jackson denounce The ELITE from the Bullet Club, Omega has gone from the newest member of the Bullet Club and NEW IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion to ex-Bullet Club member and current IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He’s set to defend the prestigious title at Wrestle Kingdom 13 against NJPW mainstay Hiroshi Tanahashi. Omega to retain? Not a chance.

The ELITE vs. The Bullet Club in NJPW in 2019?

#NoChanceInHell

NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.

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