Key Takeaways From NJPW New Year Dash!!
It was broadcast earlier today...
Earlier today, the fallout from Wrestle Kingdom 14 began as New Japan Pro Wrestling held New Year Dash!! at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
KENTA Promises To Take Tetsuya Naito's Titles From Him
At the conclusion of night two of Wrestle Kingdom 14, KENTA attacked Tetsuya Naito while he celebrated with the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, seemingly establishing himself as the number one contender for both titles.
In the main event of New Year Dash!!, Naito teamed with his stable-mate SANADA against KENTA and Jay White. The members of Los Ingobernables De Japon ultimately emerged victorious after SANADA rolled up Switchblade.
The members of Bullet Club did not take kindly to their loss and proceeded to beat down their opponents, first with punches and kicks and then with steel chairs. As Naito and SANADA lay motionless in the ring, White spoke first as he promised to bring SANADA "back to reality" and challenged him to a match at a later date.
Then, as boos rained down from those in attendance, KENTA declared he was going to take Naito's titles from him and challenged him to a match.
Jon Moxley Brawls With Minoru Suzuki
Earlier in the show, Jon Moxley shocked the crowd as he made the save for Kazuchika Okada. After an Eight-Man Tag Team match between members of CHAOS and Suzuki-gun, Taichi proceeded to beat down The Rainmaker until suddenly Moxley's music played. He then made his trademark entrance through the crowd to chase the attacker off.
The AEW star was then confronted by Minoru Suzuki, and both competitors picked up where they left off last night as they brawled in the ring. Moxley eventually gained the upper hand and delivered a Death Rider to his new rival.
He then declared: "It sounds like we've got some unfinished business."
Update On Will Ospreay's Heel Injury
The Eight-Man Tag Team match also confirmed Will Ospreay's injury is not as bad as first feared as while he favoured his left foot, The Ariel Assassin was able to wrestle without appearing to be in much discomfort.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi Challenge FinJuice To A Match For The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships
New Year Dash!! also gave us an idea of what Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi will be up to in the coming months. Both wrestlers lost at the Tokyo Dome, but they did not have much time to lick their wounds as they teamed with FinJuice against Bullet Club members Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale in an Eight-Man Tag Team match.
Ibushi and Tanahashi were able to get back to winning ways as The Golden Star pinned Chase Owens. As the four stars celebrated, Ibushi and Tanahashi pointed to the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. While both Robinson and Finlay were initially taken aback, they nodded in agreement, seemingly setting up a title match down the line.
The Full Results For New Year Dash!! Are As Follows:
KENTA Promises To Take Tetsuya Naito's Titles From Him
At the conclusion of night two of Wrestle Kingdom 14, KENTA attacked Tetsuya Naito while he celebrated with the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, seemingly establishing himself as the number one contender for both titles.
In the main event of New Year Dash!!, Naito teamed with his stable-mate SANADA against KENTA and Jay White. The members of Los Ingobernables De Japon ultimately emerged victorious after SANADA rolled up Switchblade.
The members of Bullet Club did not take kindly to their loss and proceeded to beat down their opponents, first with punches and kicks and then with steel chairs. As Naito and SANADA lay motionless in the ring, White spoke first as he promised to bring SANADA "back to reality" and challenged him to a match at a later date.
Then, as boos rained down from those in attendance, KENTA declared he was going to take Naito's titles from him and challenged him to a match.
Jon Moxley Brawls With Minoru Suzuki
Earlier in the show, Jon Moxley shocked the crowd as he made the save for Kazuchika Okada. After an Eight-Man Tag Team match between members of CHAOS and Suzuki-gun, Taichi proceeded to beat down The Rainmaker until suddenly Moxley's music played. He then made his trademark entrance through the crowd to chase the attacker off.
The AEW star was then confronted by Minoru Suzuki, and both competitors picked up where they left off last night as they brawled in the ring. Moxley eventually gained the upper hand and delivered a Death Rider to his new rival.
He then declared: "It sounds like we've got some unfinished business."
Update On Will Ospreay's Heel Injury
The Eight-Man Tag Team match also confirmed Will Ospreay's injury is not as bad as first feared as while he favoured his left foot, The Ariel Assassin was able to wrestle without appearing to be in much discomfort.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi Challenge FinJuice To A Match For The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships
New Year Dash!! also gave us an idea of what Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi will be up to in the coming months. Both wrestlers lost at the Tokyo Dome, but they did not have much time to lick their wounds as they teamed with FinJuice against Bullet Club members Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale in an Eight-Man Tag Team match.
Ibushi and Tanahashi were able to get back to winning ways as The Golden Star pinned Chase Owens. As the four stars celebrated, Ibushi and Tanahashi pointed to the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. While both Robinson and Finlay were initially taken aback, they nodded in agreement, seemingly setting up a title match down the line.
The Full Results For New Year Dash!! Are As Follows:
- Karl Fredericks, Alex Coughlin & Clark Connors defeated Toa Henare, Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemara - Six-Man Tag Team match
- El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO & YOH, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI, and El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori - Fatal 4-Way Tag Team match
- Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & FinJuice defeated Guerrillas Of Destiny, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens - Eight-Man Tag Team match
- EVIL & Shingo Takagi defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto
- Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, YOSHI-HASHI & Robbie Eagles defeated Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Lance Archer & Zack Sabre Jr. by DQ. - Eight-Man Tag Team match
- Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated KENTA & Jay White
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons