New Japan Pro Wrestling presented their annual New Year’s Dash show from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo earlier today. The show aired live and for free on their streaming service, NJPWWorld.com.
NJPW New Year’s Dash 1/5 Results
1. Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) and Rocky Romero (CHAOS) defeated the Killer Elite Suad and Takashi Iizuka (Suzuki-Gun)
- Yoh got the pin on Iizuka with a roll-up.
2. Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi defeated Tomoaki Honma and Toa Henare
- Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlton talked about how the future of Owens and Takahashi was uncertain after the departure of the Elite. Charlton noted that both still wore the Bullet Club colors and logo, however.
- Owens picked up the pin on Honma after delivering his cradle piledriver.
3. Juice Robinson and David Finlay defeated the Best Friends (Chuckie T & Beretta) (CHAOS) via DQ
- This match ended like several others did in the World Tag League recently. Chuckie T pulled out several chairs and begun hitting his opponents, causing the disqualification. Beretta tried to calm him down but Chuckie got loose from him after the match and delivered a piledriver to Juice Robinson onto a chair.
- Yesterday after Wrestle Kingdom, Beretta let it be known he wants a shot at Juice’s IWGP United States title.
4. Will Ospreay, Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto (CHAOS) defeated Yuji Nagata, Kushida, and Jeff Cobb
- They replayed Ospreay’s elbow to Ibushi from Wrestle Kingdom. After he delivered the move, Ibushi was dead weight when Ospreay picked him up for Storm Breaker.
- Ospreay picked up the pin on Kushida after Storm Breaker here too. Before giving him his finish, however, Ospreay looked as though he was going to give Kushida the same elbow he gave Ibushi but then decided not to. Kelly then said Ospreay could break out that dangerous move at any time.
- Ishii and Nagata had to be separated after the match and Cobb and Goto were also getting at each other a bit as well.
My reckless style has shortened not only my career but my life.
You all wanted change, so that I have a long career.
You’ve just shorten everyone else’s. pic.twitter.com/CCH4crEMcj— “Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay (@WillOspreay) January 4, 2019
5. NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championships
Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, & Taiji Ishimori (Bullet Club) (c) defeated Toru Yano, Ryusuke Taguchi, & Togi Makabe
- Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens interfered in this match, allowing Bullet Club to successfully defend their titles. Tanga Loa picked up the pin on Makabe with his Apes**t piledriver.
- After all 5 beat down the challengers after the match, Owens and Takahashi put their hands up in a 2-sweet gesture.
- Tama Tonga looked as though he didn’t want the others to accept Owens and Takahashi back into the group but then turned and hugged both guys.
- The rest of the group celebrated with Owens and Takahashi being officially brought back into Bullet Club
I told you it was time. Time for the boys to get back together!!!! https://t.co/9qsCt7Aa6n
— chase owens (@realchaseowens) January 5, 2019
6. Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taichi (Suzuki-Gun) defeated Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI (LIJ)
- This match started with Taichi hitting Naito in the head with a chair before the bell.
- Taichi would eventually get the pin on Naito later in the match and then continued the beat down after the match as well. He would then challenge Naito to a match for the Intercontinental championship. We could get that at one of the New Beginning shows at the end of the month.
7. Jay White, Bad Luck Fale, & Gedo (Bullet Club) defeated Yoshi-Hashi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kazuchika Okada
- White and Bullet Club continue their undefeated streak against Okada and Tanahashi when they team up.
- This match was also Yoshi-Hashi’s return match. He was injured with a concussion back in September. He also took the pin here after taking Blade Runner from White.
- White challenged Tanahashi for a match at the post-match press conference yesterday and continued his taunting of the new champion after the match before leaving to close the show. White vs Tanahashi for the title could be booked for the New Beginning shows as well.
