New Japan Pro Wrestling presents night 1 of New Beginning In Sapporo. The show is available to watch on NJPWWorld.com.
FIRST MATCH: Katsuya Kitamura Best of Seven Series Match 2: Katsuya Kitamura (0-1) vs. Michael Elgin
They lock up to start. Elgin backs Kitamura into the ropes and Kitamura breaks aggressively. Another lock up sees Kitamura attempt a chop, but Elgin dodges. Headlock by Elgin. Elgin gets bounced off the ropes and the two exhcange a series of shoulder blocks. Kitamura gets in some chops and a body slam for a near fall. Elgin hits big Enziguri, followed by a Deadlift German Suplex for a nearfall.
Elgin wears down Kitamura with forearms and strikes but he can’t topple the beefy Young Lion. After trading blows, Elgin drops Kitamura with a forearm. Elgin chops Kitamura in the corner, whips him across the ring, but misses a corner splash. Both men tease vertical suplexes, but Kitamura finally hits it. A series of chops and strikes from Kitamura is followed by a corner elbow and a gutwrench suplex.
Elgin gets momentum back with a missile dropkick, followed by a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Elgin attempts a Buckle Bomb, but Kitamura counters with a back drop. Elgin hits a series of forearms but eats a Spear from Kitamura for a nearfall.
Kitamura attempts the Jackhammer but Elgin blocks and runs Kitamura into the corner. Elgin drops Kitamura with a series of lariats for two. Buckle Bomb from Elgin. Elgin hits the Elgin Bomb for the pinfall.
WINNER: Michael Elgin.
SECOND MATCH: Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, El Desperado, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Iizuka) (w/ Miho Abe) vs. KUSHIDA, Tiger Mask, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi
Suzuki-gun assault everyone before the bell. Desperado chokes Liger, but Tiger Mask helps out and they deliver tandem offense to Desperado and Kanemaru. Romero Special from Liger, but Iizuka tags in and a wild brawl breaks out. Abe slaps Liger, Iizuka chokes Tenzan with a barricade. Taichi hits Liger with the ring bell hammer. It is utter chaos in and around the ring, the referee is helpless.
Things settle down but Taichi goes for Ligers mask, unsuccessfully. Iizuka tags back in and bites Liger’s head through the mask. KUSHIDA tries to will Liger back to life, but to no avail. All of Liger’s counters are met with bites to his extremities from Iizuka. Liger finally hits Shotei Palm Strike and tags in Tenzan. Taichi tags in and hits Mongolian Chops to Tenzan but gets dropped. Tenzan corners Iizuka and hits him with a running lariat, followed by a suplex for a nearfall.
Iizuka rakes Tenzan’s eyes but Tenzan counters. Iizuka bites Tenzan’s forehead but Tenzan hits Mountain Bomb. KUSHIDA tags in. TAKA tags in. The two trade acrobatic offense. TAKA drops KUSHIDA with a kick and Suzuki-gun rushes the ring. Everyone beats up KUSHIDA.
“Ten man anarchy” breaks out, according to Kevin Kelly, and Nakanishi clears the ring. TAKA pokes KUSHIDA’s eyes but gets drilled with a handspring strike. TAKA accidentally gets the Whiskey Mist from Kanemaru. KUSHIDA locks in the Hoverboard lock for the submission.
WINNERS: KUSHIDA, Tiger Mask, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi.
THIRD MATCH: CHAOS (Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
Chase Owens reminds the referee that he requires a 5 Count after a Package Piledriver. Ishii starts off against Takahashi. Takahashi comes at Ishii strong, and the two evenly exchange strikes. After a series of forearms, Ishii slaps Yujiro, leading to a number of attempts at a running boot. Ishii drops Yujiro with a shoulder block. Owens tags in. Yano tags in.
Yano taunts Owens, after evading his offense. Yano ducks and dives some more and ties Owens up in the turnbuckle. Yujiro gets a sneaky kick to Yano and momentum shifts. Yano ends up outside the ring, where Yujiro chokes him with his cane. Back in the ring and Owens remains in control of Yano. Yujiro tags in and beats Yano down. Yujiro hits a running leg drop for two. Yujiro stomps Yano’s abdomen repeatedly, and slaps Yano as he gets to his feet. Yano uses Yujiro’s hair for leverage and slams him to the mat. Ishii tags in. Owens tags in. Owens blocks a Brainbuster but gets dropped with a tackle and a powerslam. Ishii hits Owens in the corner. Owens hits a bicycle kick and a lariat for a nearfall.
After getting double teamed by Bullet Club, Ownes hits a series of strikes for a nearfall, but a Package Piledriver is blocked. Yujiro accidentally eats a superkick from Owens. Ishii hits a lariat and a brainbuster for the pinfall.
WINNERS: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
