New Champions Crowned At June 20 New Japan Road Event
A title change today at New Japan Road
New champions were crowned at today's New Japan Road event from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
In the main event of the show, United Empire's TJP and Francesco Akira defeated Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato to become the 70th IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in NJPW history. United Empire picked up the win over Six Or Nine with a Leaning Tower after a 24-minute match.
Today's win was the first gold Akira and TJP have captured in New Japan. TJP has performed sporadically in the promotion since 2004 but he has been more of a regular in NJPW in the last two years, primarily competing on NJPW STRONG. Akira, meanwhile, made his NJPW debut at April's Hyper Battle event and he is a former AJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion.
The United Empire win also ends Six Or Nine's reign as champions after 121 days. They won the gold back in February and successfully defended the belts on two occasions against El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori, and DOUKI and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons