After intermission, there is another video package promising “Switchblade Is Coming.”
Fifth Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) vs. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, Gedo & Kazuchika Okada)
Okada & Naito started the match. Where the majority of this events tag matches have been fast paced, almost goofy affairs, this was a stiff, brutal match, that featured lots of forearm exchanges and finisher-teases. The stars of the match were SANADA & Ishii, who delivered the brunt of the offense for their teams. Okada mainly received punishment from the LIJ crew, picking up steam only when he was facing his future Wrestle Kingdom opponent. SANADA eventually locked in the Skull End on Gedo for the submission victory.
WINNERS: Los Ingobernables de Japon.
Sixth Match (Super Jr. Tag Tournament Semi-Final): Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH.
ACH entered the match with taped ribs, and the entire story of the match was Suzuki-gun singling out ACH and weakening his midsection. Using a combination of submissions, strikes, and spears, Desperado & Kanemaru spent the majority of the match treating ACH like wounded prey in a nature documentary. Taguchi brought extra fire to his offense to avenge his injured comrade. At one point, the head coach of Taguchi Japan hit a Plancha on Kanemaru, followed by a Tope Con Hilo on Desperado, followed by a springboard Funky Weapon on Kanemaru. To say Taguchi carried his team is to put it lightly. Eventually Taguchi & ACH were able to corner Kanemaru. A Bomaye knee was followed by ACH ripping off his rib tape and hitting a 450 Splash for 2.9. Taguchi & ACH hit the Super 69 for the pinfall on Kanemaru to end an adrenaline-fueled match and advance to the finals at Power Struggle.
WINNERS: Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH.
Main Event Match (Super Jr. Tag Tournament Semi-Final): Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs. Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh).
This match started innocently enough, Sho & BUSHI traded offense, as the two teams felt each other out. When Hiromu & Yoh began fighting, the match took a brutal turn. Hiromu chopped Yoh’s chest until it turned purple and bled. It was a truly sickening display of sadism on the part of Takahashi. Roppongi 3K spent the majority of the match putting up a valiant effort against the LIJ twosome, but kept finding themselves getting knocked silly. Sho’s mouth was eventually busted open by Hiromu. Even in as much peril as they were, Roppongi 3K remain one of the strongest tag teams in the Jr. Heavyweight division. Their synchronized planchas, and vicious super kicks helped them fight off Hiromu and BUSHI, eventually hitting two of their 3K Double Flapjacks on BUSHI for the pinfall to advance to the finals at Power Struggle.
After the match, Rocky Romero cut a promo about 3K giving him the best birthday present he could ask for, as Romero’s birthday was the previous day.
WINNERS: Roppongi 3K.
New Japan Pro Wrestling will return on 11/5 for Power Struggle, live on njpwworld.com.
