{"id":20443,"date":"2020-09-09T12:49:20","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T11:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/?p=20443"},"modified":"2020-09-09T12:49:20","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T11:49:20","slug":"njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"NJPW New Japan Road &#8211; Night Nine (September 09, 2020)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>New Japan set the finals of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team title tournament, as the mini-round robin tournament came to a close. Oh, we\u2019ve also got the G1 announcements here&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Miyagi\u2019s Sendai Sunplaza Hall is the venue for the penultimate show before the G1&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick Results<\/strong><br \/>\nSatoshi Kojima pinned Yota Tsuji in 7:30 (**\u00be)<br \/>\nSHO, Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano &amp; Gabriel Kidd submitted Yuya Uemura, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii &amp; YOSHI-HASHI in 14:14 (***\u00bd)<br \/>\nKota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata &amp; Tomoaki Honma pinned DOUKI, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. &amp; Taichi in 13:30 (***\u00bc)<br \/>\nTetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi &amp; SANADA pinned Dick Togo, EVIL &amp; Yujiro Takahashi in 9:50 (**\u00bc)<br \/>\nIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Tournament: Taiji Ishimori &amp; Gedo (1-2) submitted Master Wato &amp; Ryusuke Taguchi (1-2) in 14:30 (***\u00bc)<br \/>\nIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Tournament: El Desperado &amp; Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2-1) pinned BUSHI &amp; Hiromu Takahashi (2-1) in 17:15 (***\u00bc)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yota Tsuji vs. Satoshi Kojima<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s a rematch from Saturday, where Tsuji went down in short order\u2026<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20445\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/attachment\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji.jpg?fit=700%2C388&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,388\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji.jpg?fit=700%2C388&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20445\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji.jpg?resize=700%2C388\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji.jpg?resize=150%2C83&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-tsuji.jpg?resize=300%2C166&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>They start trading hammerlocks and side headlocks in the early going, leading to a push off as Kojima charged down Tsuji with a shoulder tackle. After getting a two-count, Kojima stays in with a chinlock, but Tsuji got to the ropes before he made a comeback, battering Kojima with elbows. A single elbow in return knocks the Young Lion back into the corner though, as Kojima added a neckbreaker for a two-count. Machine Gun chops follow, but Tsuji runs back in to stop Kojima going up top, and maintains the upper hand with a slam and a running flip senton. A big splash is next as Tsuji gets a near-fall, but he quickly has to duck a Cozy Lariat as he broke out a lucha roll-up for a near-fall.<\/p>\n<p>Kojima\u2019s back trading elbows, but he runs into a spear as Tsuji went for the obligatory Boston crab. Of course, Kojima ends in the ropes before Tsuji paintbrushes him with slaps\u2026 but a Koji Cutter out of nowhere turned things around for a near-fall as a Cozy Lariat gets the win. Pretty by the numbers stuff, but Tsuji showed more fire compared to Saturday. **\u00be<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, SHO &amp; Gabriel Kidd vs. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI &amp; Yuya Uemura<\/strong><br \/>\nSHO and Ishii were raring to get at each other before the bell, but instead it\u2019s Yano who started for the future \u201cchallenger team\u201d, while Goto started for the other side in this all CHAOS outing.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20446\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/attachment\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho.jpg?fit=700%2C391&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,391\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho.jpg?fit=700%2C391&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20446\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho.jpg?resize=700%2C391\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-sho.jpg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Yano ducks a clothesline as he had his eyes set on the turnbuckle pads, which he gets at the second ask before Goto came in with a shoulder tackle. Yano hooks the ropes, but lets go when YOSHI-HASHI came towards him\u2026 and promptly made the tag out to Gabriel Kidd. Kidd goes for the wrist of Goto, but the hold\u2019s reversed back-and-forth as Kidd cartwheels in for a trip, going in for a toe hold. Goto kicks it away, then came back in with a side headlock\u2026 only for Kidd to counter with one of his own. A shoulder tackle takes down Goto, but Uemura runs in to go after his fellow Young Lion, and it kinda worked as the \u201cchampion team\u201d swarmed the as they began to dominate.<\/p>\n<p>YOSHI-HASHI\u2019s in with elbows, but Kidd tries to fight back\u2026 only to get chopped to his knees, and here comes Ishii. A double clothesline takes Kidd down ahead of a half crab. That\u2019s freed up as SHO comes in to break it up\u2026 and SHO just gets absolutely walloped with elbows, before he\u2019s hurled outside and into the railings. That\u2019ll show him. Pun intended.<\/p>\n<p>Kidd\u2019s still legal, but Uemura tags in to pick apart the pieces. A back elbow takes Kidd down, but Gabe\u2019s in with a kick out of the corner before he took down Uemura with a dropkick. Okada and YOSHI-HASHI tag in\u2026 and oh God, YOSHI\u2019s taped again. Back elbows from Okada have him down, as does a DDT which eventually got a two-count as Okada shoved his CHAOS team mate down. YOSHI-HASHI\u2019s back in with a Bunker Buster on Okada for a two-count, but Okada back body drops his way free of a powerbomb as he proceeds to go for a tombstone. That\u2019s pushed off as YOSHI-HASHI returned with a Head Hunter, then made the tag out to Ishii, who went right for Okada with chops and forearms in the corner.<\/p>\n<p>Okada escapes and went for the modified Cobra Clutch, but that\u2019s broken up in the exposed corner\u2026 only for Okada to bounce right back in with the neckbreaker slam. SHO smells blood and tags in to take his shots at Ishii, largely succeeding until his spear was caught. Ishii tries to counter with a suplex, but it backfires as SHO got out as it\u2019s back to the strikes\u2026 until SHO got that spear in.<\/p>\n<p>Kicks from SHO keep Ishii on his knees, but Ishii begins to monster up and walk through the strikes, returning with some of his own too. Ishii swats away a shot then dumps SHO with a German suplex, prompting Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to hit the ring for some triple-teaming, leading to a back suplex from Ishii. Uemura tags in to try and finish off SHO with some forearms and uppercuts\u2026 a shoulder tackle off the ropes gets him a two-count, before SHO rolled out of a Boston crab attempt and into a cross armbreaker. Goto stomps that apart as SHO gets double-teamed again, so Uemura can lock in that Boston crab\u2026 but even sitting down on the hold doesn\u2019t help as Gabriel Kidd slides in to break it up.<\/p>\n<p>A forearm takes Kidd out after he\u2019d taken some shots at Uemura, who then went for his Capture suplex on SHO. It\u2019s blocked as SHO broke the hold\u2026 but a dropkick has the former junior tag champion down. The Capture suplex lands for a two-count, but Uemura\u2019s attempts to build off it led to him running into a lariat for a near-fall, with YOSHI-HASHI breaking up the cover. He\u2019s taken care of as SHO then lifted Uemura into a cross armbreaker, and there\u2019s the rapid tap. This got more time than usual, and was pretty damn good as a result &#8211; hopefully that\u2019s a good sign for Friday\u2019s match and they can recapture the form they had last month! ***\u00bd<\/p>\n<p>Post-match, SHO again squares up to Ishii\u2026 and eventually pulled him into an armbar as he looked to give his team an edge going into Korakuen Hall on Friday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata &amp; Tomoaki Honma vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. &amp; DOUKI)<\/strong><br \/>\nYou\u2019ll be shocked and appalled to learn that Suzuki-gun launched an attack before the bell. I know, right?!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20447\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/attachment\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki.jpg?fit=700%2C389&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,389\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki.jpg?fit=700%2C389&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20447\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki.jpg?resize=700%2C389\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki.jpg?resize=150%2C83&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-suzuki.jpg?resize=300%2C167&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While everyone else went outside, Nagata and Suzuki stayed in the ring as they went at each other. A PK from Suzuki\u2019s caught as Nagata elbows the leg, but a returning front kick is also caught as the pair instead went back-and-forth with elbow strikes. Including those CLONKING elbows, which just prompt Nagata to throw an Exploder suplex.<\/p>\n<p>Honma tags in and chops away at Suzuki, before a slam led to\u2026 a teases Kokeshi, which ends with Honma just dropping an elbow instead. That\u2019s safer. He tries again, but Suzuki again rolls outside, and suckers Honma in for a hanging armbar in the ropes, as Honma clearly never learned\u2026 Bedlam ensues as everyone heads outside, going into the guard rails, which almost led to a count-out as Taichi put the boots to Honma as Suzuki waited back inside. Honma beats the count, but had to deal with DOUKI\u2019s stomps, before a snapmare and a diving kick led to a one-count as Tanahashi ran in to break it up.<\/p>\n<p>Honma\u2019s taken into the Suzuki-gun corner for some quadruple-teaming. Some eye rakes from Taichi wear him down, and help screw up his vision for a spell as Honma was swinging at thin air. Somehow he\u2019s able to catch Sabre in a Cobra Twist, but Zack escapes and locks the hold i before a leaping Kokeshi took him down off the ropes. In comes Tanahashi, who aims for Sabre with a forearm before he cleared the Suzuki-gun apron\u2026 Dragon screws help too, with Suzuki getting spun to the ground as Sabre seemed to have tweaked his knee with the one he\u2019d taken earlier. A slam and a flip senton gets Tanahashi a two-count, but he poses too long and gets caught in an Octopus stretch, before pulling down Tanahashi to twist his leg between his arms.<\/p>\n<p>More Dragon screws leave Sabre down as tags bring us to Ibushi and Taichi kicking each other in the leg. The search for a charley horse continued there, until they switched to front kicks as a rear spin kick from Ibushi took Taichi down, with a standing moonsault getting a two-count. Taichi resumes with a kick to the quad before he went for a Stretch Plum, but that\u2019s broken up as DOUKI came in to catch Ibushi with a low dropkick.<\/p>\n<p>A clothesline follows for DOUKI, getting him a near-fall, as the ring filled with Suzuki-gun triple-teaming Ibushi in the corner. It sets up DOUKI for the Daybreaker springboard DDT, but Honma breaks up the cover as DOUKI proceeded with the backsliding Widow\u2019s Peak that almost snatched the win.<\/p>\n<p>DOUKI calls for Suplex de la Luna, but Ibushi pushes off and lands a high kick, before the ring filled up again. Honma lands a Kokeshi to break up a cross armbar from Suzuki, while Tanahashi dropped Sabre with a Slingblade. The Golden Blade drops DOUKI, leaving him open to take a Kamigoye for the win. Another pretty solid tag match, but with little at stake, this match up leaves me cold. ***\u00bc<\/p>\n<p>Time for the G1 blocks &#8211; I\u2019d expect we\u2019ll get matches on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Block A: Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Shingo Takagi, Yujiro Takahashi, Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay, Jay White<br \/>\nBlock B: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, Zack Sabre Jr., Juice Robinson, KENTA<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s some surprises in terms of there being no juniors in the field, which some had been expecting, nor did New Japan have to dig too deep to fill out the roster, with the likes of Honma, Nagata and Kojima being kept away\u2026 and also the lede we\u2019re burying in that New Japan\u2019s managed to get KENTA, Juice Robinson, Jeff Cobb, Jay White and Will Ospreay back into the country for the tour. That last one is going to be a point of contention&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bullet Club (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi &amp; Dick Togo) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi &amp; SANADA)<\/strong><br \/>\nYujiro was virtually fist pumping because he\u2019s gotten back into the G1\u2026<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20448\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/attachment\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil.jpg?fit=700%2C387&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,387\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil.jpg?fit=700%2C387&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20448\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil.jpg?resize=700%2C387\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil.jpg?resize=150%2C83&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-evil.jpg?resize=300%2C166&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve a jump start from the Bullet Club lads, with EVIL and Togo trying to focus on SANADA from the off. It\u2019s shrugged off as Togo gets rolled into a Paradise Lock, right as my feed gives out. It picks up as all six of them are fighting outside, with Yujiro jabbing SANADA with his pimp cane while EVIL hurled Naito into the railings.<\/p>\n<p>Back inside, Togo keeps working over SANADA, wrenching the arm as the Bullet Club had seemingly picked their man to focus on. Yujiro\u2019s in to lay in some punches from the mount, before a Miami Shine came to nought as SANADA instead went for TKO\u2026 but Yujiro bites his way free. A low dropkick from SANADA has Yujiro down again, as Shingo tagged in to try and push LIJ ahead. Elbows from Yujiro spark a battle as Shingo replied in earnest, following up with a jab before some misses led to the pair clattering in with clotheslines. Eventually those lariats leave both men down, as tags bring in Naito and EVIL. A Combinacion Cabron in the corner traps EVIL ahead of a neckbreaker and Pluma Blanca, prompting Togo to come in with a chair\u2026 it makes Naito break the hold anyway as EVIL\u2019s able to retaliate with a Fisherman buster for a near-fall.<\/p>\n<p>Of course we get a ref bump as Togo went out for his choking wire\u2026 Naito kicks it away though, only for EVIL to attack from behind with a chair. Shingo and SANADA make the save to clear the ring, as LIJ began to go after Togo with some triple-teams. A Pumping Bomber drops Togo, leaving him open for Destino\u2026 and that\u2019s all folks. This was fine &#8211; they kept it short, but the threat of shenanigans was an instant turn-off for me. **\u00bc<\/p>\n<p><strong>IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Tournament: Way to the Ass Master (Ryusuke Taguchi &amp; Master Wato) (1-1) vs. Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori &amp; Gedo) (0-2)<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Bullet Club team need a win to be hopeful of forcing their way into the finals on but Gedo looked happy that he\u2019ll be reuniting with Jay White in ten days\u2019 time.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20449\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/attachment\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato.jpg?fit=700%2C392&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,392\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato.jpg?fit=700%2C392&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20449\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato.jpg?resize=700%2C392\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-wato.jpg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Wato and Gedo start things off, but Gedo causes a scene by calling out Tenzan, distracting Wato so Ishimori could attack him from behind. Taguchi\u2019s in to level things up as they work together to take down Gedo for a low dropkick. Gedo\u2019s back to beg off, but he pulls Wato awkwardly to the outside, where Ishimori was on hand to throw him into the guard rails as the Bullet Club looked to cut corners. Out comes Gedo\u2019s belt as he whipped Taguchi, before returning to the ring as he laid into Wato. Ishimori tags in to choke Wato in the ropes, keeping the pace low in the process. A cravat keeps Wato down, as do some knees, which led Ishimori into a neckbreaker\u2026 but Taguchi instantly breaks it up.<\/p>\n<p>Gedo tags back in to throw Wato into the conveniently-exposed corner, as a punch gets a two-count, before Wato\u2019s again thrown outside. This time so he could get a whipping&#8230; But Taguchi\u2019s outside and ready to whip him with the Taguchi Japan towel, and if you\u2019ve ever been pinged with a towel, you know how much of a bugger that is!<\/p>\n<p>Taguchi gives up his towel so he can whip Gedo with the belt next. They return to the ring as Taguchi tags in to go hog wild with hip attacks, following up with the Three Amigos on Gedo, before countering a counter into an ankle lock. Gedo grabs the ref to free himself, but can\u2019t quite hit the mule kick he was going for as the pair end up crashing to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Ishimori\u2019s back to run into Taguchi with some knees in the corner as a Shining Wizard gets a two-count. A missed hip attack doesn\u2019t harm Taguchi as he rolls through a sunset flip into a low dropkick on Ishimori, before tagging in Wato who did some lucha stuff with Ishimori. Tijeras take Ishimori outside for a corkscrew plancha, before he returned to go for a Magistral driver. Ishimori blocks it and responds with a handspring enziguiri\u2026 Taguchi helps out with another hip attack as this is really feeling flat\u2026 and again, my feed gives out, returning as Ishimori rolled through a wheelbarrow to stomp on Taguchi.<\/p>\n<p>Wato blocks a Bloody Cross, then returns with a roundhouse enziguiri, following up with a Magistral Driver that Gedo BARELY broke up in time. A more charitable ref would have counted that three\u2026 Gedo\u2019s dropkicked to the outside as Taguchi follows out with a plancha, but Ishimori comes back on Wato with some crucifix pins, before rolling him into a Yes Lock, rolling him away from the ropes before Wato eventually tapped. This was fine, but my feed dropping out really took me out of the match. The Bullet Club have done their bit &#8211; a win for the LIJ team would make it a four-way final on Friday. ***\u00bc<\/p>\n<p><strong>IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Tournament: Suzuki-gun (El Desperado &amp; Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (1-1) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi &amp; BUSHI) (2-0)<\/strong><br \/>\nCan LIJ finish with a 100% record?<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"20451\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/reviews\/njpw-new-japan-road-night-nine-september-09-2020\/attachment\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu.jpg?fit=700%2C392&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,392\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu.jpg?fit=700%2C392&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20451\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu.jpg?resize=700%2C392\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroad2020n9-hiromu.jpg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s mind games at the start as both teams tag out before there\u2019s any offence\u2026 and then things burst into life with Hiromu going for a sunset bomb on Desperado on the apron, before opting to hurl him into the rails. Kanemaru\u2019s legal, but he\u2019s tripped early and taken in for a low dropkick as LIJ took control. Stomps from Hiromu keep Kanemaru down, but a low bridge from Kanemaru takes Hiromu outside as Desperado was waiting for a receipt. BUSHI gets thrown into the guard rails too for the hell of it, while Desperado grabbed the timekeeper\u2019s mallet and used it on Hiromu behind the ref\u2019s back.<\/p>\n<p>Back inside, Kanemaru puts the boots to BUSHI ahead of a suplex that lands for a two-count. Kanemaru then distracts the referee so Desperado can try and unmask BUSHI\u2026 and he manages to show BUSHI\u2019s chin before giving up. Kanemaru stays on BUSHI, driving his knee into the mat with the help of Desperado, leading to a half crab that forces BUSHI to drag himself to the ropes as Despy had dealt with Hiromu on the outside.<\/p>\n<p>Desperado tags in and picks his shots as BUSHI looked to be the proverbial one-legged man in the arse kicking contest, not helped as Despy\u2019s knee breaker found its mark. A bulldog\/dropkick combo from BUSHI buys him time as he finally manages ot roll across to tag in Hiromu, who was raring to go.<\/p>\n<p>Elbow take Kanemaru into the ropes, but he evades a dropkick from Hiromu\u2026 only for Hiromu to turn it around. A tijeras took Kanemaru outside with Desperado but Hiromu just about caught Kanemaru with a shotgun dropkick off the apron. They return as a Falcon arrow drops Kanemaru for a two-count, before a lariat caught Kanemaru in the corner\u2026 only for a low dropkick to miss.<\/p>\n<p>Kanemaru runs into an elbow before a tiltawhirl DDT spikes Hiromu. A neckbreaker from Desperado keeps that focus going, as did a brainbuster, but he recovers to throw Desperado into the corner with an overhead belly-to-belly. BUSHI tags back in as he scaled the ropes for a missile dropkick, spinning back up before following Despy outside with a slingshot \u2018rana to the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Back inside, a DDT drops Desperado for a two-count, but the swinging Fisherman suplex is stopped as Desperado got free. He uses the referee as a human shield to stop Hiromu as he lands an elbow, before a Guitarra de Angel attempt came to nought, with BUSHI instead dropkicking him into the ropes.<\/p>\n<p>Desperado rebounds with a spinebuster, before a dropkick-assisted sidewalk slam dropped BUSHI for a two-count. Guitarra de Angel lands for another two-count, before Desperado looked to KO BUSHI with a punch\u2026 Hiromu makes the save as LIJ began to build anew, sandwiching Desperado with low dropkicks before a suplex into a powerbomb gets a two-count. The deadlift into a facebuster\u2019s pushed away as Kanemaru tries to keep the match alive, but he\u2019s taken outside and into the guard rails by Hiromu, while Desperado\u2019s knocked back into the ropes by BUSHI.<\/p>\n<p>An enziguiri from BUSHI has Despy down again, with a Destroyer keeping him there for a near-fall, before BUSHI headed up top for a MX. Desperado avoids it, as Kanemaru came in to rake the eyes\u2026 then grab the ref to mask a low blow from Desperado, as roll-up snatched the win. That felt a little flat as Hiromu just didn\u2019t break it up in time &#8211; but this books a repeat match for the finals of the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship tournament in Korakuen on Friday. Hopefully with a little more zip to it! ***\u00bc<\/p>\n<p>Your final standings:<\/p>\n<p>El Desperado &amp; Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Hiromu &amp; BUSHI &#8211; 2-1<br \/>\nIshimori &amp; Gedo; Taguchi &amp; Wato &#8211; 1-2<\/p>\n<p>A solid show, marked with a hell of an undercard tag with CHAOS\u2026 but let\u2019s be real. Most people only tuned in for the G1 announcements (not that I blame you, as the undercard was largely a copy and paste job from Saturday in Chiba!), but if you hung around for the rest of the show, you got a pretty decent, albeit run of the mill road-to show.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Japan set the finals of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team title tournament, as the mini-round robin tournament came to a close. Oh, we\u2019ve also got the G1 announcements here&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":20374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"NJPW New Japan Road - Night Nine (September 09, 2020) review - #njroad - New Japan set the finals of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team title tournament, as the mini-round robin tournament came to a close. Oh, we\u2019ve also got the #G130 announcements here...","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[688,6],"tags":[75,77,1927,4439,1306,139,1105,1307,1071,178,179,224,778,250,5302,990,292,1184,633,1239,556,3672,2546,991,1309,3328,400,1802,414,416,1240,1310,3252,1235,1238,3251,521],"class_list":["post-20443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-japan","category-reviews","tag-bullet-club","tag-bushi","tag-dick-togo","tag-douki","tag-el-desperado","tag-evil","tag-gabriel-kidd","tag-gedo","tag-hiromu-takahashi","tag-hirooki-goto","tag-hiroshi-tanahashi","tag-kazuchika-okada","tag-kota-ibushi","tag-los-ingobernables-de-japon","tag-master-wato","tag-minoru-suzuki","tag-new-japan","tag-new-japan-road","tag-ryusuke-taguchi","tag-sanada","tag-satoshi-kojima","tag-shingo-takagi","tag-sho","tag-suzuki-gun","tag-taichi","tag-taiji-ishimori","tag-tetsuya-naito","tag-tomoaki-honma","tag-tomohiro-ishii","tag-toru-yano","tag-yoshi-hashi","tag-yoshinobu-kanemaru","tag-yota-tsuji","tag-yuji-nagata","tag-yujiro-takahashi","tag-yuya-uemura","tag-zack-sabre-jr"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p73vbt-5jJ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/njpw-newjapanroadsep2020-logo.jpg?fit=1200%2C672&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20443"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20452,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20443\/revisions\/20452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backbodydrop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}