Destruction in Kobe

Kobe World Hall 

23rd September 2018 

Yota Tsuji v Yuya Umuera - Time Limit Draw in 10:00

These two Young lions are meeting in singles competition for the 15th time after 14 previous draws which makes me much more interested in this opener than I usually would be. Tsuji starts quickly with a standing side headlock which Umuera counters into a hammerlock and a 1 count. Umuera keeps working the arm but Tsuji reveres back into a headlock before transitioning into a Boston Crab which Umuera breaks by reaching the ropes. Umuera hits some nice chops and a splash to the corner but he ca't turn Tsuji over for a Crab. Tsuji backs Umuera into the corner with some nice chops and forearms before a hip toss for a 2 count. Both men exchange strikes as the clock runs down, Umuera gets a nearfall with a pin attempt before Tsuji hits a dropkick for a 2 count of his own. Tsuji manages to apply the Crab but Umuera hangs on until the time expires for another draw, Tsuji keeps the hold for a few seconds after the bell. 

Verdict : Fast paced opener that felt like there was more at stake than some title matches. Both men looked good in the match with neither really taking the lions share of the offence. I would love to see this continue until Wrestle Kingdom where someone is finally able to get a win. ★★3/4

Sho/Yoh def Shota Umino/Ren Narita in 8:46 

The two Young Lions start the match quickly and get an early 2 count on Sho after a dropkick by Narita but Yoh comes in to even the numbers. Narita hits a nice gut-wrench suplex before tagging in Umino for a double top rope dropkick to both members of Roppongi 3K. Narita hits a belly to belly suplex on Yoh for a 2 count and the Young Lions apply stereo Boston Crabs, the crowd are really into the match here but Yoh manages to reach the ropes to force a break.  Yoh puts Narita in a Boston Crab but Umino breaks it up before eating stereo knees from the former Junior Tag champs. Narita rolls Yoh up in a small package for 2 before a backslide for another near-fall. Yoh finally manages to hit a thrust kick and a Falcons Arrow for the win after a good back and forth match.

Verdict : The crowd were really behind the underdogs here especially in the two stretches of near-falls, Roppongi 3K helped get the reaction by working as slightly cocky heels. Umino and Narita looked good as a team and would be an interesting addition to the Junior Tag League ★★★ 

Jushin Thunder Liger/Tiger Mask def El Desperado/Kanemaru in 6:50 

The two veterans don't even get half way down the ramp before the Suzuki Gun team attack, Desperado hits Liger with a chair and throws him into the rail while Kanemaru tries to unmask Tiger in the ring. The bell finally rings and the double-team continues on Tiger Mask, Liger stays on the outside throughout this but eventually gets a hot tag and hits a Hurricane Rana from the top to El Desperado but Kanemaru prevents a Liger Bomb. Tiger Mask has Kanemaru in a submission but Despy breaks it up, Kanemaru hits a top rope moonsault but Liger breaks the pin attempt before he and Despy fight to the outside. Kanemaru gets a 2 count with a reverse DDT and attempts a Deep Impact but Tiger Mask counters with a crucifix for the win. 

Verdict : After the shenanigans before the bell this developed into a good fast paced match with a lot packed into it. Liger issued a challenge after the bell for a title match which will hopefully get more time to expand on what we saw here. ★★★

Tenzan/Kojima/Nakanishi/Nagata def Makabe/Honma/Taguchi/Yoshida in 9:56 

Honma and Kojima start, Kojima looks in great shape after his injury and the crowd lap it up as he delivers his machine gun chops and a splash in the corner. Nakanishi refuses to fist bump Taguchi to another good reaction, and team Taguchi run the bases to him in the corner. Nagata tags in, dodges a hip attack from Taguchi and delivers some nice kicks before tagging in Tenzan who delivers Mongolian chops to Taguchi before hitting him with his own hip attack. Tenzan hits a brainbuster but Honma breaks the pin up, Makabe tags in and powerslams Nagata before tagging in Yoshida to a nice reaction from the crowd. Yoshida takes Nagata down with a clothesline before delivering PKs to his front and back but then misses a kick which gives Nagata the chance to apply his armbar. Taguchi breaks the hold and Nagata exchanges blows with the Young Lion before the veteran lands a big kick for 2 and a high suplex for the win. 

Verdict : Yoshida looked good after his non-match with Iizuka in Beppu and the crowd loved all the action from the Dads. If Nagata isn't even going to tap Yoshida out with his armbar then I could really do without seeing it tried anymore. Kojima and Tenzan look like they could put up a good show in World Tag League after returning from injury ★★3/4

Best Friends (Trent Beretta/Chuck Taylor) def Killer Elite Squad (Davey Smith Jr/Lance Archer) in 12:41

This is a rematch from Tuesday in Beppu despite the result being an emphatic win for KES which immediately makes me worry we are heading for 50/50 booking. Archer starts the match on fire and KES dominate their opponents on the outside until Taylor hangs Smith over the barrier for Beretta to nail him with a flying dropkick. Back in the ring KES hit a double suplex and isolate Beretta as they had done so well in Beppu, Taylor finally gets a hot tag but Smith cuts him off with some nice big kicks before KES miss a Hart Attack attempt. Best Friends try stereo dives to the outside but are both caught before escaping and pushing Archer and Smith into each other, giving Taylor the time to land a nice tope on them both. 

Back in the ring Taylor misses a moonsault when Archer rolls out of the way, the KES man tries a moonsault of his own but also finds the pool empty, Taylor hits a double stomp from the top rope followed by a double suplex with Beretta but Archer gets to his feet and hits a shoulder block to stop the momentum. Beretta hits a spinning DDT from the top but Smith breaks the pin up, KES double team Beretta before Archer chokeslams him for a 2 count. A Killer Bomb from KES looks to have sealed the win but Beretta rolls Archer up with a crucifix for the flash pin. 

Verdict : Not as good as the match in Beppu but still a solid showing from these two teams, I would have much preferred to see Killer Elite Squad win this and go into a title shot with some real momentum rather than the likely three-way we may end up with. While Best Friends will be great in the World Tag League I can't wait to see Trent back in singles competition going forward. ★★★

Jay White/Yoshi Hashi/Will Ospreay def Juice Robinson/David Finlay/Toa Henare in 9:05

Yoshi Hashi insists he begins the match and starts quickly, hanging Juice and Finlay over the top rope and nailing them both with a double dropkick before FinJuice return the favour by hitting Hashi with a double bulldog for a 2 count. Henare tags in and tries to get the crowd going with a Haka but the reaction isn't as strong as it has been elsewhere, that changes when Ospreay tags in. The Englishman hits a 619 over the top rope before a somersault tope to Finlay and Henare, an Ospreay enziguri is followed by a Finlay lariat to leave both men down. Juice and White tag in with Juice getting the better of the Kiwi who finds himself taking a cannonball from Juice and a top rope crossbody from Henare. The fans are warming up as Henare hits a nice running slam for 2 and a samoan drop but the pin attempt is broken up. White attempts a Blade Runner but Henare escapes it before walking into Hashi who holds him for White to attack but, shockingly, White hits Hashi by mistake. Henare tries a roll up but White hits a Blade Runner for the win. 

Verdict : A good fast-paced match where Ospreay and Henare stood out for me in terms of crowd reaction. White is once again excellent as the selfish heel, he started the match trying to put his arm around Hashi and ended it blaming him for not holding Henare well enough while Ospreay tries to keep the peace. ★★★1/4

Tetsuya Naito/EVIL/SANADA def Minoru Suzuki/Zack Sabre Jr/Taka Michinoku in 11:20 

SANADA puts Taka in the paradise lock early, which I like as it gets that nonsense out of the way, before LIJ take it in turns to work over Taka. Naito hits hits legsweep-dropkick combo but Suzuki reaches from the outside and ties Naito up in the ropes before throwing him into the barricade much like we saw for 30 minutes in Beppu. Back in the ring ZSJ works over Naitos arm before tagging Suzuki in who hits a PK and goes straight back to working on the leg as he had on Tuesday (Naito stil doesn't sell any effects of this).

Suzuki Gun work over EVIL but Naito stops a pin at 2, giving SANADA and EVIL a chance to double team Taka and attempt a Magic Killer but Suzuki breaks it up. After clearing ZSJ out of the ring EVIL hits Taka with Everything is Evil for the win.

Verdict : Around half of this match was what we saw in Beppu and it wasn't interesting the first time around, even more worryingly it looked like Naito and Suzuki was still the focus after the match when I would much rather they build to whatever they have planned for Zack and EVIL ★★1/2

Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament Semi Final 

Kushida def Bushi in 16:41 

This match starts at a slower pace than you would maybe expect from a Junior match but that's not to say it is ever boring. Both men force rope breaks early with Kushida working the arm and Bushi putting him in a crossface, Bushi follows up with double knees to the corner and a top rope dropkick but doesn't capitalise so, when he attempts a choke with his shirt, Kushida counters and hits a handspring dropkick. Bushi goes to the top rope but Kushida executes a nice handstand kick and the crowd are starting to pick up. Kushida attempts a Back to the Future but Bushi counters with a neckbreaker followed up with a Codebreaker. Kushida rolls to the outside and Bushi tries a suicide dive which Kushida counters in mid-air into an armlock on the floor! 

Back in the ring Kushida aims kicks at the arm but Bushi hits a Rewind kick to leave both men down. A Canadian Destroyer by Bushi results in a 2 count followed by an MX attempt which Kushida counters with a wristlock. Bushi grabs the ref and delivers the Mist but Kushida kicks out at 2 and hits a Back to the Future followed immediately by another to seal the win. 

Verdict : The crowd really got into this match after the methodical pace of the first 10 minutes and were split pretty evenly, the mist from Bushi got a huge reaction and made me think that he could be on for a win to send Kushida off to the Heavyweight Division but this was the right result and sets up a great final for King of Pro Wrestling against either Ospreay or Scurll. ★★★1/2

Number 1 Contender Match 

Hiroshi Tanahashi def Kazuchika Okada in 35:43

Okada comes out without his balloons - no more, messing around this is serious business time. When Tanahashi joins him in the ring the crowd is absolutely electric and the tone of the match is immediately set when Okada teases a clean break in the ropes but instead smashes a forearm into Tanahashi's nose. Tanahashi works on Okada's knee on the apron, dropkicks Okada to the floor and vaults over the top rope onto his rival but hurts his own knee in the process. 

Back in the ring Okada connects with a low dropkick and draws boos from the crowd as he grinds his boot into Tanahsahi's knee and then holds onto a leglock for the whole of the referee's 5 count. Tanahashi delivers his own low dropkick and a chop-block followed by a Dragonscrew and a somersault senton but aggravates his knee in the process. A slam to Okada is followed by another somersault senton, from the second rope this time, for a 2 count. Okada hits a DDT to break the momentum and a reverse neckbreaker followed by a dropkick. Both men are selling the effects of the legwork well here, when Tanahashi goes to the top and eats a textbook Okada dropkick he finds himself hanging upside down from the turnbuckle which Okada capitalises on with more knee work much to the displeasure of the fans. A long figure four from Okada brings the fans into the action roaring The Ace onto reaching the ropes before he rolls out of the ring.

Tanahashi manages to get Okada up for a tombstone on the floor and follows up with a High Fly Flow to a standing Okada, landing on his opponents head. back in the ring and Tanahshi capitalises with a Twist and Shout followed by a slingblade for a 2 count. When Tanahashi tries for another HFF Okada gets his knees up before attempting a tombstone of his own but his knee buckles under the weight. The pace picks up again as Tanahashi evades a Rainmaker, a tombstone and stops another Rainmaker attempt with a slap to Okada's face before countering yet another attempt with a slingblade. Tanahashi manages to land a HFF but his hurt leg prevents him from the immediate pin resulting in a 2 count. Tanahashi goes to the top again but his HFF attempt is met by a dropkick in mid-air, Okada hits a tombstone but this time his leg prevents the pin. Both miss Rainmaker attempts but Okada finally hits a discus version and goes for the pin but Tanahashi counters for a 2.999999 count which sends the crowd wild. Tanahashi goes to the top but Okada delivers another dropkick and joins him, he tries to set up Tanahashi for a tombstone from the second rope but the Ace pushes him to the mat and follows him down with a HFF, Tanahashi back to the top for a HFF to a standing Okada and back up for a third and the win.

Verdict : This was the perfect end to a generally mediocre series of Destruction events. From the first bell the atmosphere was amazing and Okada contributed to that with subtle heelish tactics such as tapping the back of Tanahashi's head with his boot. Both men sold the injuries to their legs beautifully which was my major bugbear with the Naito match in Beppu. The story of Okada's journey back to the top would have been over far too quickly had he won here and setbacks such as this and the G1 block final will only make it sweeter when he does re-scale the mountain. ★★★★★

Post-Match : As Tanahashi is celebrating Jay White jumps him from the back and hits a Blade Runner, he goes tothe commentary table and demands  his fellow CHAOS member, Rocky Romero, gives him his chair. As he returns to the ring Yoshi Hashi runs down the aisle but slips and looks as though he could have hit the ring steps because when he makes the ring he is already bleeding heavily from the face. White dispatches him and is about to hit Okada with the chair when Gedo hts the ring and takes the chair from him. With Okadas back turned Gedo nails him with the chair before telling White to deliver a Blade Runner. Gedo declares that White will face Tnahashi for the number 1 contender contract and tells the crowd to 'Breathe with the Switchblade'

The Happytime Murders

The Happytime Murders 
91 Min
Cert : 15

Cast Melissa McCarthy, Bill Baretta, Maya Rudolph, Elizabeth Banks

Director Brian Henson

When the cast of a classic TV show, The Happytime Gang, are targeted by a killer it brings retired puppet cop Phil Phillips (Baretta) back into action and teaming up with his Human ex-partner Connie Edwards (McCarthy) to try and solve the case. Set in a Los Angeles where puppets live alongside humans but are treated very much as second class citizens there are some not so subtle racism comparisons drawn.

The jokes come thick and fast and while a lot of the humour comes from cute puppets dropping F-bombs or saying outrageously crude things I never found it grating with a 91 minute runtime. The world the filmmakers have created feels believable and the relationship between Phillips and Edwards feels like a real friendship gone wrong with McCarthy doing a great job of conveying emotion opposite a puppet. Special mention should also go to Rudolph as Phil's personal assistant who steals every scene she is in.

★★★★☆

Searching

Searching 
102 Min

Cast John Cho, Debra Messing, Michelle La

Director Jon M. Chu

When recently widowed father David Kim (Cho) realises his daughter Margot (La) has gone missing he has to delve into her online world to try and piece together what could have happened. The main talking point about this film is that it all takes place on a computer screen with David using Facetime, messenger, YouTube, Facebook and numerous other tools to search for the daughter that he thought he knew.

The opening scene of the film is like a millennials version of Up!, telling the history of this family through video clips, photos and e-mails, and it pulls at the heartstrings just as much as the famous Pixar opening. Cho is excellent as the buttoned-up family man struggling to contain the desperation and frustration bubbling under the surface as he tries to help the police investigation being led by Detective Vick (Messing). The concept of the computer screen works well, I found my eyes darting around the screen trying to find clues in background windows, but there are a couple of times where you wonder "whose screen exactly is this" such as when several main characters appear on the news for an appeal.

While the film has a strong message to convey about the secret identities and false pretences people use online that will terrify parents, it is first and foremost a strong thriller with a standout lead performance. The last 15-20 minutes of the film waned a little for me but this film certainly deserves to be recognised as more than just a gimmick.

★★★★☆

Destruction in Beppu

Beppu B-Con Plaza
17th September 2018

Yuji Nagata/Manabu Nakanishi/Yuya Uemura def Satoshi Kojima/Hiroyoshi Tenzan/Yota Tsuji in 9:08 

This was a tale of two matches, the old school methodical strength work of the New Japan Dads and the hyper-enthusiasm of the two Young Lions when they tagged in. The crowd were into both portions of the match especially for the returning Kojima. When the youngsters were in together Tsuji just about managed to get the best of Uemura, however when Tsuji demanded to be tagged in by Kojima it backfired as Nagata tapped the Young Lion out for the win.

Verdict : Good solid opener which warmed the crowd up nicely. Tsuji and Uemura really raised the tempo of the match in the time they were given and I look forward to their next singles match in Kobe on the 23rd. ★★1/2

David Finlay/Ren Narita def Toa Henare/Shota Umino in 6:38

Finlay comes out carrying his 'C Block' trophy which I hope he carries on doing for a while. The two Young Lions start the match and Narita gets the better of Umino early, at some point Umino gets his nose bust and is bleeding for the rest of the match. Henare works the crowd well when he tags in and Umino hits a top rope dropkick to both Finlay and Narita. Finlay hits Umino with an uranage for a 2 count and then finishes the bloodied youngster off with a stunner for the win.

Verdict : A good amount of time was given to the Young Lions in this match and Henare continues to impress with his rapport with the crowd. After the match Finlay bigs up Umino over the commentators mic and says that he thinks Umino could maybe beat him one day, looks like a possible match before Shota goes on excursion. ★★3/4

Ayato Yoshida def Takashi Iizuka by DQ in 4:30

When I saw this match on the card I thought an upset could possibly be on the cards and when commentary said it was only Iizukas second single match in 5 years I thought it was almost likely. What followed though, I struggle to call it a match, was a complete waste of Yoshida after a solid showing in Hiroshima two nights earlier. Iizuka attacked with a chair before the bell, tangled with Kevin Kelly at ringside to work his muzzle off and then proceeded to bite various parts of Yoshida for the next 2 minutes. he then choked the Young Lion with a rope before hitting him with the iron glove.

Verdict : A win for Yoshida against a non Young Lion but this was a complete waste of time. DUD

Jushin 'Thunder' Liger/Taguchi/Tiger Mask/Kushida def Will Ospreay/Sho/Yoh/Rocky Romero in 10:00 

Taguchi comes out wearing the scrum cap from Hiroshima a couple of nights ago which sets the tone for the match. It is a fun showcase for the juniors before the Junior Tag League and the crowd enjoy a comedy spot when the CHAOS members tease an argument before a group hug which Taguchi then tries to join in. Things get more serious when Kushida and Ospreay are in the ring together as they could potentially meet in the final of the Junior Heavyweight Title tournament. After the match breaks down into an 8 man melee Romero and Tiger Mask end up left in the ring, Romero kicks out of a Tiger Driver after 2 but Tiger follows up with a Tombstone for the win.

Verdict : Two falls in a row for Tiger Mask on these Destruction shows, could he possibly be first challenger to the next champion? This was a fun quick paced match with a preview of a possible upcoming Ospreay/Kushida final. ★★★

Killer Elite Squad (Davey Smith Jr/Lance Archer) def Best Friends (Trent Beretta/Chuck Taylor) in 10:34

K.E.S attack before the bell and isolate Beretta, utilising quick tags while they work him over. Smith tries a running power slam but Beretta escapes to make the tag to Taylor. After some back and forth work Smith stops a pin attempt by deadlifting Beretta off Archer into a German Suplex. Beretta attempts a dive but Archer catches him on the outside and hits a choke slam on to the apron, Beretta reaches for the tag but Smith pulls Taylor off the apron to the floor and runs him into the rail which leaves KES free to hit the Killer Bomb on Beretta for the win.

Verdict : This was classic old style tag work from Killer Elite Squad separating the ring and using quick tags. On this evidence they would look on course for a title shot soon but the fact this match is happening again in Kobe makes me worry we could be heading for a three way title match. ★★★1/2

Zack Sabre Jr/El Desperado/Kanemaru def EVIL/SANADA/BUSHI in 8:31

SANADA puts Kanemaru in the Paradise lock early which at least gets that nonsense out of the way. The commentary team are mentioning Bushi's close link to Hiromu so it looks like that will be the theme of Bushi's match with Kushida in the upcoming Junior Heavyweight Championship tournament. Bushi hits a nice top rope dropkick to clear El Desperado and Kanemaru out of the ring. Zack and EVIL are left in the ring to continue their budding rivalry. EVIL gets the better of Zack before Sabre counters with kicks to the arm leading into an Octopus hold which EVIL breaks by biting the top rope. EVIL attempts to hit Everything is Evil but Sabre counters into a bridging leg clutch roll for the win.

Verdict : Short but fast paced match where everyone got a moment to shine. The main story coming out is the continuing build between EVIL and Zack Sabre Jr. With a possible IC title match coming up for EVIL, I would love to see Zack challenge for the belt at the Dome. ★★★

Hiroshi Tanahashi/Juice Robinson/Toge Makabe/Tomoaki Honma def Toru Yano/Yoshi-Hashi/Jay White/Kazuchika Okada in 13:01

After the CHAOS tension, and tease of Yoshi Hashi defecting to Tanahashi's 'Nice Guy Faction', at Hiroshima this match picks up pretty much where we left off. An early face-off between Tanahashi and Okada is interrupted when Jay White makes a blind tag much to the CHAOS leaders dismay. Honma misses a Kokeshi headbutt attempt and the match spills to the outside, during the melee Okada ends up holding Tanahashi from behind for White to attack but in another show of defiance White refuses the chance and instead re-enters the ring to make the tag to Yano. Another unsuccessful Kokeshi attempt by Honma is followed up with a third that hits the spot, Makabe tags in and hits a lariat after Yano has raked the eyes to leave both men down.
Hot tags to Okada and Tanahashi up the tempo in a blistering spell, Tanahashi hits a Dragonscrew followed by a dropkick to Okada's knee, Okada manages a neckbreaker and attempts a tombstone but the veteran Tanahashi escapes only to run into a signature Okada dropkick. Tanahashi ctaches Okada with a Twist'n Shout followed by a Slingblade before crashing and burning with a High Fly Flow attempt. Okada tags in Yoshi Hashi and Juice finally gets in the ring after a tag from Tanahashi, Juice is fired up and backs Hashi into the corner before hitting a Cannonball followed by a crossbody for a 2 count. After a back and forth spell Hashi sets up Juice for a powerbomb but Honma breaks it up with a Kokeshi which leads to the match breaking down again. In the confusion Hashi holds Juice for an attack by White but Robinson escapes and the CHAOS man accidentally hits his own teammate leading to Juice hitting the Pulp Friction on Hashi for the win. After the match Yoshi Hashi once again shuns his teammates and leaves the arena alone.

Verdict : Although the best part of the match was undoubtedly the Tanahashi v Okada section it fells as though the build for their match in Kobe is being overshadowed by the tension in the CHAOS faction. Jay White is excellent in his current role as the arrogant, would-be leader, who seems happier to stir trouble than actually win these multi-man matches and I still feel that he will somehow affect the result on Saturday. ★★★1/4

Never Openweight Championship Match 
Taichi def Hirooki Goto (c) in 20:54 

I was intrigued going into this match, thinking it would be interesting to see Taichi in a serious match with no bullshit, but then....... Taichi spends two minutes at the start of the match refusing to get into the ring before pushing Miho Abe into the ring to distract the ref while Kanemaru (accompanying Taichi) attacks Goto on the outside. Taichi hits Goto with a chair and the attack carries on out in the crowd. Five minutes after the bell rang we finally get action in the ring but after some chops by Goto the action spills back outside to the crowd. Taichi attempts a powerbomb on the ramp but Goto escapes and hits a suplex before delivering another to Kanemaru on top of Taichi.
Back in the ring Goto lands a Saito suplex for a 2 count, an exchange of blows follows with forearms from Goto being met with kicks from Taichi before an enziguri finally takes the champion down. Taichi hits a buzzsaw kick for a 2 followed by a high suplex and another enziguri for another near fall and the Suzuki Gun man is actually looking good with a spell of sustained offence. Goto manages to wrap Taichi up in a sleeper and attempts a GTR but the challenger grabs hold of the ref giving Kanemaru the chance to attack from behind, with the ref down El Desperado comes from the back to distract Goto but Roppongi 3K turn up to equal the numbers. A ushigoroshi by Goto is followed up by a Shouten Kai for the visual pin but there is no ref to count it. Goto hits a PK and a reverse GTR but this time Taichi kicks out at 2. Iizuka appears at ringside and after another ref bump Taichi hits a low blow on Goto for a 2 count but a superkick and a Last Ride are enough to keep Goto down for the 3 count.

Verdict : An overly booked nonsense match made even worse by the brief glimpse of what could have been when Taichi actually worked it like a real match. This would have been better served by cutting off the first 10 minutes but for a title match this was not good. Goto deserves a lot better and, to be fair, so does Taichi as this win does nothing for him going forward. ★★3/4

Tetsuya Naito def Minoru Suzuki in 30:28 

Suzuki attacks before the bell as Naito is taking his suit off and the match starts on the outside. Suzuki spits on Naito and rubs his boot in his face before delivering an armbar over the top rope and then booting Naito into the guardrail. Like the previous match this spills into the crowd and Suzuki chokes Naito with a chair before returning to the ring and delivering another armbar over the bottom rope this time. After a shotgun dropkick on the outside Suzuki continues the arm work back in the ring, the crowd are quiet for this and the first ten minutes have felt more like twenty.
Naito finally hits an atomic drop and a neckbreaker to break the Suzuki momentum but he fires back with some vicious strikes followed by 4 PKs before returning to the outside of the ring to get a table which he throws straight at Naitos head! The table is set up and both men end up on the apron of the ring, Suzuki puts Naito in the same hanging sleeper that he utilised in Beppu but Naito battles back and pulls Suzuki off the apron and through the table to the floor with a neckbreaker. Naito takes advantage of the break in action to recover while Suzki takes a 19 count before getting back in the ring.
Naito hits a flying forearm and attempts a Destino but Suzuki escapes, kneebar to Naito but he makes the ropes to force the break. Naito delivers a low dropkick and a top rope assisted DDT before attempting Destino which Suzuki escapes again and immediately goes back to work on Naito's leg. Suzuki has some nice transitions while he works over the knee with various submission moves for what feels like five minutes, the crowd do rally a bit behind Naito before he manages to reach the ropes but as soon as the hold is broken Suzuki slaps on a sleeper hold. Suzuki releases the hold and attempts a Gotch style piledriver but Naito counters with a Destino to leave both men down. After an exchange of blows Naito hits an enziguri before he picks Suzuki up in the Gotch Style piledriver position and delivers a kind of sit-down powerbomb and a quick Destino is enough to put Suzuki down for the three count.

Verdict : For a match with a heated build and some intense early action this descending into boring rather quickly and even the usually hot Naito crowd didn't seem into it. The most egregious element for me was how long Suzuki worked the leg before Naito completely no sold the effects for the closing stretch, A quick Destino could have been explained by an adrenaline rush but this went on for too long to use that as a cover. ★★★

Destruction in Hiroshima

Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall

September 15th 2018

Kushida/Jushin Thunder Liger/Tiger Mask def Roppongi 3k/Rocky Romero in 7:15

Ropppongi 3k start the match working over Liger, Kushida tags in and hits a nice cartwheel dropkick to Sho before Sho hits a gut-wrench reverse powerslam. Tiger Mask tags in and gets triple teamed, Sho and Yoh go for the 3K but Tiger Mask escapes. Romero hits his forever clotheslines on Tiger Mask before he reverses and hits a Tiger Bomb for a two count followed by a Tiger Suplex for the 3.

Verdict: The ending seemed a little abrupt but this was a fun opening match that showed off Roppongi 3k well before the probable upcoming Junior Tag titles match.  ★★★

Bad Luck Fale def Toa Henare in 2:54 

Henare attacks before the bell but Fale blocks attempted shoulder charges. Henare works over the legs before hitting a top rope flying shoulder block for a 2 count. Fale hits an avalanche splash into the corner before attempting a Bad Luck Fall, Henare escapes but is hit with the Grenade for the 3. 

Verdict: Henare showed a decent connection with the crowd in the short time he had. Fale had nothing to do but still seemed slow doing that. Seems that this is setting up for a third match with Henare slowly working out how to beat the Kiwi. ★★1/2 

Killer Elite Squad def Michael Elgin/Ayato Yoshida in 9:00

Young Lion Yoshida insists he starts the match, he and Elgin work over Smith before Archer takes Elgin out with a clothesline to the outside. Smith hits a suplex to Yoshida and works over his back, tag to Archer who hits a lariat and a splash to the corner, Smith back in with a delayed vertical suplex for a 2 count. KES double team slam Yoshida for another 2 before Elgin breaks up the pin and finally tags in. 

Elgin hits an enziguri to Archer followed by a second rope dropkick, Archer goes for a chokeslam but Elgin escapes and delivers a German suplex then a Falcon Arrow for a 2 count. Elgin hits a discus forearm before Archer catches him with a slam. Both tag out and Yoshida tries a sleeper but Smith escapes and misses a leg drop, Yoshida hits a PK for a 1 count followed by another for a 2. Smith headbutt to Yoshidas abdomen followed up by a running powerslam, Elgin breaks pin up and takes a running powerslam himself. Yoshida rolls Smith up for a 2 count but Archer hits the Young Lion with a chokeslam followed by a Magic Killer for the win. 

Verdict: A strong return for KES to put them in the Tag Team title picture. Yoshida put up a great show in defeat with a couple of good hope spots and Elgin giving him plenty of time to shine ★★★1/4

Best Friends/Will Ospreay def Yujiro Takahashi/Chase Owens/Kota Ibushi in 9:55

Chuckie T and Yujiro start the match, neckbreaker by Taylor who then clears the apron before a triple team on Yujiro where Ospreay lands a corkscrew moonsault off Taylors back! Owens and Ibushi back in to clear the ring and isolate Taylor, Ibushi refuses to join in with a triple attack. Quick tags in the corner before Ibuhsi hits a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Beretta and Owens tag in, tornado DDT by Beretta who attempts the Dudebuster before it is broken up by Ibushi. Owens hits a backbreaker for a 2 count, Ospreay executes a handspring somersault to the outside to take out Takahashi and Ibushi. Best Friends hit a combination Dudebuster on Owens for the win.

Verdict: This match was a good showcase for Best Friends before they take on KES in what will probably be a number 1 contenders match. Takahashi involvement was kept to a minimum and after the match Ibushi and Ospreay teased a potential future match. Give me all of that!! ★★★1/2

Tama Tonga/Tanga Loa/Taiji Ishimori def Juice Robinson/David Finlay/Taguchi in 11:20

Ishimori and Taguchi start the match, Taguchi works hip attacks in the corner. Juice and Loa in, Juice hits double axe-handle from the top before a cannonball to the corner. Triple team by the Tongans on Juice but Finlay uses Taguchis head (complete with rugby skull cap) as a battering ram to clear the ring but accidentally hits Juice to let Loa take charge. Quick tags, Ishimori hits his leg-twisting neckbreaker while Loa cleans the apron. Tama tags in and just stands there for what feels like an eternity before Taguchi tags in and misses a hip attack, there is more helmet based comedy before Tama takes it off and hits the Gun Stun. Finlay hits Tama with a stunner but Loa gives him the Ape Shit for the win. 

Verdict: Somebody needs to tell Tama Tonga that standing with an indifferent/smug face does not make you a charismatic heel, he was terrible in this match whereas Tanga Loa was better than I usually find him. I would have liked to see more of Ishimori and Taguchi to build a possible singles match but Junior singles matches are hard to come by. ★★3/4

Tetsuya Naito/EVIL/SANADA/BUSHI def Minoru Suzuki/Zack Sabre Jr/Taka Michinoku/El Desperado in 12:30

Suzuki Gun jump LIJ before the bell, SANADA and Desperado start the match, SANADA puts an interfering Taka into the Paradise Lock. Quick tags by LIJ until Suzuki traps BUSHI in an armlock over the top rope. Naito and Suzuki brawl to the ramp where the LIJ man eats a PK, not much of the action in the ring is been shown as BUSHI and Desperado brawl on the outside. When the action finally gets back inside Naito breaks up an armbar by spitting on Suzuki. The two faction leaders exchange strikes, Naito tries the Slingshot dropkick in the corner but Suzuki catches it, both end up out on the apron, Suzuki attempts a Gotch Piledriver but eventually puts Naito in a sleeper with the LIJ mans legs dangling above the ground. ZSJ works over BUSHI's leg in the ring before reversing a Rana attempt into an anklelock. EVIL tags in and clears the ring before taking a PK from ZSJ, attempted Octopus hold by the Englishman but EVIL reaches the ropes. All 4 Suzuki Gun members work over EVIL, Naito breaks a crossface on his stablemate before Suzuki chokes him out. Buhsi hits a codebreaker on Taka to set him up for a Magic Killer from EVIL and SANADA for the win.

Verdict: A fast paced match that built up the singles match between Naito and Suzuki very well. Bushi looked good before his Junior title semi final against Kushida. Zack Sabre Jr squared up to EVIL after the match which I would welcome as an IC title match if the LIJ man takes it from Jericho. ★★★1/2

Tomoaki Honma/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Toge Makabe def Jay White/Kazuchika Okada/Yoshi-Hashi in 12:28

Tanahashi and Okada want to start the match but White makes the blind tag and tells Okada to leave the ring. Tanahashi hits a second rope crossbody and tags in Honma before White throws him into the guardrail outside. Hashi works over Honma in the ring, Okada tags in and hits a slingshot senton before White takes his place in the ring again. Honma hits a flying Kokeshi before tagging Makabein, this leads to Switchblade making a blind tag to Okada. Lariat by Makabe for a 2 count, Okada tries a tombstone but Makabe escapes and tags in Tanahashi who clears White off the apron and hits a Twist and Shout followed by a Slingblade for a 2 count that is broken up by Yoshi Hashi. Tanahshi goes to the top but eats a beautiful dropkick from Okada. Yoshi Hashi tags in and White tries to make him use a steel chair, while distracted Hashi is hit with a Dragonscrew by Tanahashi who goes to the top rope but is pushed off by White. Okada accidentally hits Hashi with a big boot which costs his team the match when Tanahashi pins him for the win. White demands to know what happened and blames Okada for the loss when Yoshi Hashi walks out on his Chaos teammates.

Verdict: The story of the collapse of Chaos continues at a pace but rather than building up the match between Tanahashi and Okada it felt as though more time was dedicated to Jay White. It seems likely that he costs Okada his shot at the briefcase before challenging Tanahashi himself with all roads leading to White v Okada at the Dome. ★★★1/2

IWGP Heavyweight Title Match
Kenny Omega def Tomohiro Ishii in 30:50

Kota Ibushi is on commentary for the match which starts quickly with Ishii nicely blocking an early V-Trigger attempt. Strike exchange which Omega stops with a DDT. Neckbreaker by the champion for a 2 count before transitioning into a crossface. Clear early work on the Ishii neck which seems a strange tactic against a man who looks like a snowman made out of muscle. Ishii battles back with strikes before been sent to the outside where Omega lands an over the top somersault to take him down. Chops exchanged on the outside before Omega lays Ishii on the commentary table and hits a double stomp from the top turnbuckle to the outside! The table didn't break which almost made the impact on Ishiis chest look even worse.

Ishii breaks the refs count at 18, another neckbreaker by Omega before a missed V-Trigger into a Saito suplex by Ishii. Omega spits in Ishiis face and earns a chop to the throat for it. Snapdragon suplex by Omega followed by a V-Trigger. Attempt for a One-Winged Angel but Ishiii escapes and walks into a Brainbuster for a 2 count. Knee strikes and a V-Trigger to the back of Ishii, Omega attempts a Snapdragon from the top rope but is blocked and hits another V-Trigger. Ishii battles back and hits a top rope Hurricane Rana! Headbutt to Omega followed by a V-Trigger from Ishii and a lariat for the 2 count. Headbutt again to Omega, both men hit a lariat and try their finishing moves before Omega hits another Snapdragon and V-Trigger for a 2. One-Winged Angel attempt but Ishii works loose so Omega instead executes a German suplex followed by another V-Trigger, Ishii lands a last ditch lariat to buy some time before he hits two sliding lariats. Omega hits a piledriver and removes the kneepad for a last V-Trigger which Ishii kicks out of at 1. Another piledriver only gets a 2 count. V-Trigger and a One-Winged Angel finally put Ishii down for the 3.

Verdict: Not the best match these two have had but the best match on the card by a long way. It's not hard to see why people love Ishii so much with efforts like this and the touch of him hanging on to Omegas boot after the bell had rang will only endear him to people even more. Omega had to dig deep once again to get the better of the Stone Pitbull and it's a real shame we will almost certainly never see him win the big prize. ★★★★1/4