New Japan Pro Wrestling returned to Osaka-jo Hall this weekend. The two Castle Attack shows on Saturday & Sunday were seemingly struck by a curse from the start of the tour back on February 14th.
The very first match on Feb. 14th saw Yuto Nakashima debut as a Young Lion, and then swiftly dislocate his own shoulder 20-seconds into his first match. The tour never got easier. Next Tetsuya Naito suffered a knee injury, putting the Feb. 28th main event in question. A whole event was canceled due to an earthquake. Then Hiromu Takahashi suffered a torn pectoral and had to vacate the Jr. Heavyweight Title just days before the big shows.
Luckily, Naito healed up, but unfortunately he was unable to defeat the increasingly delusional IWGP Double Champion Kota Ibushi. Naito made one last desperate attempt to save the IWGP Intercontinental Championship that he’s been long-tied to, and now the belt is set to be unified with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Hiromu Takahashi’s loss was his biggest rival’s gain. El Desperado, after 7 years in NJPW finally won the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship on Sunday. Already the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, Desperado now heads into the NJPW Anniversary event as a double champion, much like Kota Ibushi is…well, was.
And Still
And… Last?
And… Despe?
Kota Ibushi retains IWGP Intercontinental gold before getting a huge challenge from an old foe. https://t.co/lhus9IIHrL#njpw #njcattack pic.twitter.com/ngnZO3JNdP
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 28, 2021
Plus the Guerrillas of Destiny retained their tag team titles, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ten-cozy vanquished The United Empire on night 2, and Kazuchika Okada & Jay White both ended night 1 with a ton of momentum heading into the New Japan Cup.
2/27
NJPW Castle Attack: Night 1
Available on NJPWWorld.com
- The United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima by pinfall. (10:22)
Will Ospreay pinned Hiroyoshi Tenzan via Osscutter. - Tanga Loa def. YOSHI-HASHI by pinfall via Apeshit. (12:58)
- Hirooki Goto def. Tama Tonga by pinfall via GTR. (6:39)
- KOPW2021 Provisional Trophy YTR-Rules Texas Strap Match: Toru Yano (c) def. Chase Owens via removing all turnbuckle pads first. (12:50)
- Jay White def. Tomohiro Ishii via Bladerunner. (25:42)
- Kazuchika Okada def. EVIL by pinfall via Rainmaker. (28:11)
2/28
NJPW Castle Attack: Night 2
Available on NJPWWorld.com
- Ten-cozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) def. The United Empire (Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb) by pinfall. (9:56)
Satoshi Kojima pinned Jeff Cobb via Lariat. - CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) def. Bullet Club (Jay White, EVIL & Chase Owens) by submission. (8:35)
Kazuchika Okada submitted Chase Owens via Money Clip. - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) def. CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto) by pinfall. (15:46)
Tama Tonga pinned Hirooki Goto via Gun Stun. - NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) def. Great-O-Khan by pinfall via Crucifix. (18:44)
- Three Way Match For The Vacant IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado def. El Phantasmo and BUSHI by pinfall. (23:12)
El Desperado pinned El Phantasmo via Pinche Loco. - IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Match: Kota Ibushi (c) def. Tetsuya Naito by pinfall via Kamigoye. (27:50)
