Today was the first day of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual Super Jr. Tag League tournament, with the competition kicking off at Road To Power Struggle in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
A notable difference between this year’s Super Jr. Tag League is that NJPW has actually changed the format of the tournament. No longer is it held under single elimination rules, instead adopting a G1 Climax round-robin tournament style between the teams involved.
Road To Power Struggle Results 10.16
Toa Henare, Shota Umino, and Ren Narita defeated Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji, and Ayato Yoshida via submission.
Ren Narita locked in a crab as his partners kept both Yoshida and Tsuji at bay, leading to Umera to tap out.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, and Tomoaki Honma defeated Kota Ibushi, Yujiro Takahashi, and Chase Owens via pinfall.
The match saw a succession of signature moves being hit in the lead up to the pinfall victory. Tanahashi would execute a sling blade before Honma nailed a kokeshi (!) allowing The Ace to climb the turnbuckle and hit a High Fly Flow onto Chase Owens to secure the victory.
Jay White, Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Loa defeated Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Beretta, and Chuckie T.
Bullet Club OGs leaned into using underhanded tactics in order to come out victorious in this Firing Squad vs CHAOS confrontation.
With Chuckie T’s in control of the match, Gedo would jump into the ring and distract the referee, leading Jay White to hit a low blow which led to a Blade Runner and the win.
Super Jr. Tag League Results
Taiji Ishimori and Robbie Eagles defeated Jushin “Thunder” Liger and Tiger Mask via submission.
The debuting Robbie Eagles would land a 450 Splash to Liger’s leg – a limb that his team had been targeting throughout the match. Eagles would then lock in an inverted figure four. Liger attempted to valiantly hold on but with Ishimori keeping Tiger Mask from making the save, Liger had no choice but to tap out.
Soberano Jr. and Volador Jr. defeated Ryusuke Taguchi and ACH via pinfall
Despite the momentum being with ACH during the end of the match, Voldaor Jr. was able to counter ACH’s 450 attempt, nailing an enziguri before ACH could fly. Volador followed up with a Super Frankensteiner and picked up the 2 points for his team.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado defeated KUSHIDA and Chris Sabin via pinfall.
Suzuki-Gun shenanigans helped Kanemaru and El Desperado to accrue their first 2 points. Kanemaru would spit whiskey into Sabin’s eyes, allowing Desperado to hit a low blow and then a Pinch Loco for the victory.
BUSHI and Shingo Takagi defeated Sho and Yoh
This was a great match and a perfect showcase for the newest member of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Takagi would be involved with the finishing stretch of the match with Yoh, nailing a Yoshigami (Gory Bomb), Pumping Bomber, and, finally, the renamed Last Of The Dragon (formerly Last Falconry) to scoop up the win for LIJ.
