Yesterday, we saw a new Intercontinental champion in the form of Minoru Suzuki, with the United States Title and the Jr. Tag Team Titles on the line today, what surprises awaited as we ventured into day 2 of The New Beginning in Sapporo.
Match 1: Juice Robinson Defeats Katsuya Kitamura
This seven-match series has given Kitamura the chance to shine in singles competition. Robinson wrestled Kitamura’s match and played the power game. In the end, his veteran instincts got him the edge he needed to win.
Winner: Juice Robinson Rating: 5 out of 10
Match 2: Suzuki-Gun (TAKA, El Desperado, Taichi &Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeat Jushin Liger, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Tiger Mask IV
Your enjoyment of this match depends on your tolerance for the Suzuki-Gun juniors. The dads take the usual hot tag spot and Umino gets the beatdown.
Winner: Suzuki-Gun Rating: 2 out of 10
Match 3: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) defeat Bullet Club (Hikuleo & Yujiro Takahashi
The Leo vs Ishii parts were very good visually. I enjoy Yano’s shenanigans more than most and this match was a decent tag match with Ishii running the hot tag.
Winner: CHAOS Rating: 3 out of 10
Match 4: Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Tanga Roa & Tama Tonga) defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Togi Makabe & Tomoyuki Oka
Your standard Bullet Club brawl match. If you are into the Bullet Club’s matches give this a watch.
Winner: Bullet Club Rating: 3 out of 10
Match 5: Suzuki Gun (Minori Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) defeat Taguchi Japan (Michael Elgin & Toa Henare)
Suzuki with his usual brawling style. Henare was the main attraction admirably trying to overcome a pre-match beatdown.
Winner: Suzuki Gun Rating: 5 out of 10
Post-match: Suzuki-Gun continues to attack Henare. Togi Makabe makes the save as we see the next Intercontinental Championship feud develop.
Match 6: Bullet Club (Cody, Hangman Page & Marty Scurll) defeat Kota Ibushi & Taguchi Japan (David Finlay Jr. & KUSHIDA)
Four good workers in this match. Kota Ibushi with a great hot tag to clear out the Bullet Club and then a sequence with Cody.
Winner: Bullet Club Rating: 6 out of 10
Match 7: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, EVIL, SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi) defeat CHAOS (GEDO, Hirooki Goto, Will Ospreay, YOSHI-HASHI & Kazuchika Okada)
L.I.J have perfected the multi man tag. Takahashi and Ospreay again have a fantastic exchange. YOSHI-HASHI also went insane and beat the hell out of Naito so that was fun.
Winner: LIJ Rating: 7 out of 10
Post- match: The young lions and CHAOS members held HASHI back as he tried to gouge Naito’s eye out again. Following the ways of Tranquilo, Naito watched unfazed.
Match 7: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships- Roppongi 3K defeat (C) Young Bucks
Great stuff out of the gate, fast-paced tag moves and some high flying. The match started to struggle when Matt Jackson clearly hurt his back. Nick had a great showing practically alone against Sho and Yoh. Tonnes of impressive moves on display and a great tag match.
Winner: Young Bucks Rating: 8 out of 10
Match 8: IWGP United States Championship- “Switchblade” Jay White defeat (C) Kenny Omega
This match was a tale of two halves. With White on top, we had a bland heat sequence. Then Omega started firing back and showed why he is one of the best in the world. He single-handedly made this match exciting. The closing sequence had Omega trying to hit the One Winged Angle but failing, allowing White to hit Blade Runner and get the shocking win.
Winner: Jay White Rating: 8 out of 10
Post Match: Hangman Page came out to challenge White. Omega had the title and presented it to Jay White and started a shoving match with Page. This brought out Cody and the Bucks. Shoving exchanges led to Omega pushing Matt to the floor. The Bucks left, Hangman was calmed down by Marty Scurll. Cody and Omega seemingly made up only for Cody TO HIT THE CROSS RHODES ON OMEGA. Cody went for a chair and was ready to use it when KOTA IBUSHI MAKES THE SAVE FOR OMEGA. Tense moments as Omega refuses Ibushi’s handshake, Ibushi looks disappointed but goes back as THEY EMBRACE THE GOLDEN LOVERS REUNITE IN A LOVING EMBRACE TO A BIG POP.
