New Japan Need To Watch: Destruction In Kobe
New Japan Pro Wrestling held Destruction In Kobe event on 9/23. Here’s a spoiler-free Need To Watch rating for each match because life is short and NJPW shows are long. The show is available on NJPWWorld.com
FIRST MATCH: Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
While not as engaging as their previous bout on the Destruction Tour, still a fun match between two of NJPW’s most promising rookies*
*not named Shota Umino
Need To Watch Rating: (4.5)
SECOND MATCH: Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH)
Fun match. Young Lions try to prove that they should be in the Super Jr. Tag League.
Need To Watch Rating: (2.1)
THIRD MATCH: Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)
Another solid warm up for the Super Jr. Tag Tournament. Both teams have great chemistry. Liger & Tiger vs. Suzuki-gun always leads to fun stuff.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.9)
FOURTH MATCH: Taguchi Japan (Ryusuke Taguchi, Ayato Yoshida, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Ten-cozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima)
This match happened. Not a lot to write home about but still decent.
Need To Watch Rating: (2.0)
FIFTH MATCH: The Besties (Chuckie T & Beretta) vs. Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.)
Great match between two of NJPW’s more underrated tag teams. KES is back in murder mode. The Besties remain a fun foil to the big men. Stellar match.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.8)
SIXTH MATCH: Juice Robinson, David Finlay & Toa Henare vs. CHAOS (Will Ospreay, YOSHI-HASHI & Jay White)
Quick, sloppy match. The ballad of YOSHI-HASHI & Jay White continues.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)
LIJ vs. Suzuki-gun is always good. LIJ vs. Suzuki-gun is never bad.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final: KUSHIDA vs. BUSHI
Thrilling bout. KUSHIDA continues to wrestle mini-classics. BUSHI needs to be taken more seriously as a competitor, he’s utterly phenomenal in this match.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.0)
MAIN EVENT: IWGP Heavyweight Championship Challenge Certificate Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
While the post-match shenanigans stole the spotlight, do not sleep on this match. This might be the best Okada/Tanahashi match since WK 10. An utterly sublime bit of storytelling sees both men fighting atop the turnbuckle for NJPW’s top spot. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
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