00:00This is a production of the U.S. Department of State.
00:30Well, it was a massive question, Clark, heading into this matchup here tonight.
00:47Whether or not Taiji Shomori would be in the right mindset or
00:52even have the right health to compete after having to forfeit not only one
00:57block matchups, but also being removed from undercard action just yesterday.
01:02Yeah, but Mori's a warrior good.
01:05He wrestled two hours the other day, right?
01:08Like he can get through anything.
01:10So even him at 20% is still probably in the best shape of anybody on this roster.
01:16So I think he'll be ready to rock tonight.
01:19And we're gonna talk a little bit more about the medical update for Taiji Ishimori,
01:23the more history we've continued to learn.
01:26As we get to our semi main event tonight.
01:29It is Tiger Mask who enters his final Super Junior Tag League tournament,
01:34ahead of his upcoming retirement summer of 2026.
01:39It is Tiger Mask who enters his final Super Junior Tag League tournament ahead of his upcoming retirement summer of 2026.
02:01Tiger Mask does so alongside a major face over the past 15 years in Dragon Gate, that being Yamato.
02:06No stranger to a new Japan Pro Wrestling ring, competed in Super J Cup and Best in Super Junior back in 2009.
02:16A couple of interactions with Tiger Mask, but this being one of many quote unquote thrown together teams, if you will, in this year's tournament.
02:21And it's been very interesting to see how Tiger Mask and Yamato have been able to get along and get through this year's tournament.
02:25But they've done so without any points on the board so far.
02:30Right, you know, we've seen over the years Tiger Mask seems to have a new partner every year, you know, much like a Taguchi and much like a Watto.
02:39It seems like they're always trying to figure out who's the right person for them.
02:46And, you know, it's one of those things just like getting together and getting to know each other versus Robbie and Ishimori.
02:50They've tagged together plenty at this point and they're ready to rock, man.
02:53The dogs are for real.
03:14It was Taiji Ishimori who was taken out of action via alleged illness.
03:19Oh, good Lord.
03:22And Robbie X is going to get the jump there on Tiger Mask.
03:25It was Ishimori taken out with illness a few nights ago that led to a forfeit in this year's Super Junior Tag League for the two men against Kushida and Yukio Shioka.
03:35And Ishimori, I have been told, was not the one who withdrew himself from competition, rather was barred medically by our staff here in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
03:45Yeah, exactly, man.
03:46It was, uh, he always wants to fight.
03:49You know what I mean?
03:50I think Ishimori is a bad move.
03:52Come on, Robbie.
03:53Come on, Robbie.
03:54Come on, Robbie.
03:57Tiger Mask, those kicks are still coming in there hot and heavy.
04:04I think everybody wants to be a War Dog Walker.
04:06Well, that seems to be what I'm hearing.
04:09There you go.
04:10Take your time, Robbie.
04:12Yamato enters his first Super Junior Tag League tournament.
04:18Taiji Ishimori, his first matchup in just about 48-72 hours, rather, after being sideline with illness.
04:27I'm very interested to see, will the cardio be on the side of Taiji Ishimori?
04:30Will the strength be where Taiji Ishimori needs it to be?
04:33That's the question that we often pose whenever someone has to come back from an illness.
04:37Yeah, but, dude, like I said before, it's Taiji Ishimori.
04:39Ooh.
04:40He is superhuman, crazy, ridiculous, or whatever it's called, you know?
04:43And, uh, look what we're showing it right now.
04:46Strength, keep that headlock on, and do what it takes to win.
04:49Yeah, not a lot of tag team success for Yamato and his career, however, did find himself a tag league success back in Dragon Gate alongside Shingo Takagi all the way back, though, in the year of 2009.
05:03So, a lot of success in 2009, but what have you done in 2025 for us?
05:07Well, it's a different conversation for me, Yamato, nowadays.
05:10He's been on a bit of a downward swing, losing tag team gold just a week before entering this tournament.
05:16So, already coming in with a bit of a tag team downer, so to speak, had Yamato, and now he's got to turn it around with Tiger Mask.
05:23Well, of course, Walker.
05:24I watch every Dragon Gate show, man.
05:26Well, I've heard.
05:27You don't have to tell me.
05:28I heard.
05:29You're a big fan.
05:30I love it.
05:31I love everything.
05:32You know how much wrestling I watch?
05:33Yeah.
05:34So much.
05:35Every day.
05:36I'm a student of the game.
05:37You don't have to tell me.
05:38But in seriousness, Walker, yeah, you know, you've got to get it started.
05:41And sometimes with Tiger Mask, you know, he's kind of stuck in his ways, you know?
05:46So sometimes, especially when you're a team with a new guy, you want to kind of find your middle ground with people.
05:50But Tiger Mask kind of does his own thing.
05:52So maybe Yamato has to link up with him and find that same page.
05:58But maybe they have a similar thought, you know, a similar thought process.
06:01So it might work out well.
06:03Well, they're going to have to hope that it does as Tiger Mask and Yamato need a victory to win here tonight.
06:09I'd rather need a victory to stay alive in this year's tournament.
06:12Yep.
06:17Oh!
06:18Yamato landing that final blow on Taiji Ishimori.
06:23And so far, I hate to say it for you, Clark, Ishimori bit off the game as time codes.
06:28Yeah, you know, you know, it's, I've seen the look on his face.
06:31I don't see that look from Ishimori very often.
06:33You never see Ishimori just putting his whole back on the mat.
06:37You know, it's so, so springy and athletic.
06:39Maybe there is something to this.
06:41Well, whatever there is to it, certainly Ishimori and Robbie X have talked about it in the War Dogs locker room.
06:48There has to be a game plan that has been set, whether it was Gato setting that plan or whether it was X and Ishimori themselves.
06:54You know, these guys, like I said, they trust each other.
06:56They talk.
06:57I'm sure they have an idea, but, man, that's Tiger Mask right there.
07:03Kick out.
07:04Come on, Mario.
07:05Even that kick out right there, there's not a lot on it.
07:09Yeah, this is certainly a process of building back for Taiji Ishimori, it feels right now.
07:17Yeah.
07:18As tag made Tiger Mask out, here comes Yamato back into the fray.
07:23It's interesting, too, because usually the War Dogs are the ones who like to slow down the pace and pick apart their opponents.
07:30But it seems like the guys, you know, this other team is getting it together and doing that.
07:35And maybe that's because they don't really know each other too well.
07:38And sometimes that's the best way to build it up as a team is just to pick apart and work together with those tags frequently in and out.
07:45I'd argue that's something that you and Joel Maloney had to do at one point in your career.
07:49That's something that Ishimori and X had to do in last year's tag team.
07:53Yeah.
07:54No, it's how you build as a tag team.
07:58I don't know what he's saying, but I feel like it here and he's out there.
08:08Yamato saying, I'm gonna do it now.
08:10Oh, okay.
08:11Well, I don't think he is, though.
08:12It didn't sound like it.
08:13Yeah, Ishimori.
08:14Oh, no.
08:15Wait a minute.
08:17This might be the time.
08:23He's got, oh, Ishimori.
08:27Battle for a position here.
08:30Oh, great buster from Taiji Ishimori.
08:35That takes it out of you, though, when you go back and forth with someone like that.
08:39Especially, like you said, Ishimori in this condition.
08:41I don't even know if he's gonna be able to keep wrestling this match.
08:44He's gotta get Robbie X in now.
08:48Everyone are looking for a tag on every single side.
08:50Blue corner, Robbie X.
08:52And it couldn't come soon enough.
08:53Here we go.
08:54Oh, my God.
08:58Talk about some of the gas tank.
09:01It's Robbie X.
09:05Oh, it's time for that.
09:13Over.
09:18The nip.
09:20The kick.
09:21Robbie snapmare take down.
09:24Watch this.
09:25It's beautiful.
09:26Hang time.
09:27Oh.
09:30Sends on Atomico.
09:31Cover here.
09:33Two.
09:34Oh, that a hang tag.
09:36Because the X.
09:37Ah, I see it.
09:38One, two, one, two, one.
09:42Robbie X has just been so, so impressive.
09:44Every single tour, every single series.
09:46You know, a lot of tours Robbie has been on very short in length in nature.
09:50It's that short burst we've been talking about throughout this tournament.
09:53And every single time, making the most of the minutes.
09:56One, two, one, two, one.
09:57Again, you don't understand by Robbie.
09:59It's a short burst, but he's also strong as hell, too.
10:02He is a powerful rep suit.
10:06Look at that deep position.
10:08And he's coming out of the squat.
10:09Yeah, deep squat Yamato out of it now.
10:11Robbie X.
10:12Not gonna happen yet.
10:15Fingers in the mouth.
10:17He's got it.
10:19He got it.
10:21He's got it.
10:23He's got it.
10:25Oh, Yamato got a cover, too.
10:30He's got it.
10:45The boyhood dream has come true for Yamato.
10:52Tiger Mask says, I'm sorry.
10:57I love you as he comes in the match here.
11:00Well, Tiger Mask and Robbie X now.
11:02Keep in mind, Mask and, Tiger Mask and Yamato, rather,
11:07need to win this matchup to survive.
11:09It could come at the expense of Robbie here.
11:12What could we be looking for?
11:13Tiger Bomb, maybe.
11:14Robbie says no.
11:15Crucifix down, cover.
11:18Two.
11:20Master submission, Tiger.
11:23That's vintage Tiger Mask right there.
11:35He looks at what he takes care of.
11:37That Tiger's stare, man.
11:39Tiger Mask, one of those opponents who treats every single person in the ring the same whether they're a young lion, a seasoned veteran.
11:46He sees them all the same.
11:48They're a target.
11:49Yes.
11:50Look at that legacy of the Tiger Mask for him.
11:52You're right.
11:53Meanwhile, Yamato.
11:57I think Yamato's trying to serve up Tiger Mask here.
12:03This is what we talk about, Mark.
12:06When we talk about getting on the same page, it starts with communication.
12:09Exactly.
12:10Sometimes it's just as simple as talking with your partner.
12:13Whoa.
12:14Beautiful.
12:15But talking doesn't beat boots to the face.
12:17Yeah, no talking necessary for Robbie X right now.
12:19Whoa.
12:20Whoa.
12:21Whoa.
12:22Whoa.
12:23Whoa.
12:24Whoa.
12:25Whoa.
12:26Whoa.
12:27Whoa.
12:28Whoa.
12:29Whoa.
12:30Whoa.
12:31Whoa.
12:32Whoa.
12:33Whoa.
12:34Whoa.
12:35Whoa.
12:36Whoa.
12:37Whoa.
12:38Whoa.
12:39Whoa.
12:42What is your name?
12:43How's your name?
12:44This is what I'm doing by Hildebin Bay.
12:53Come on, Robbie.
12:54Robbie can't afford to fade.
12:55He's got to get his way to the bottom rope, surviving our semi-main
12:56event.
12:57I don't know if Tiger Is all the way locked in.
12:59Look Kikko.
13:00There it is.
13:01Robbie X to the bottom.
13:03Come on, Robbie.
13:06Yamato in the corner full burst out of it single leg.
13:16Wow.
13:17Strikes on the money.
13:23Maybe going for a ride.
13:26Tiger, he likes a nice big throw from up here.
13:30He doesn't take any time either.
13:31No, no, no.
13:32He wants it.
13:33He wants it badly.
13:34Tiger mask.
13:36Bad spot to be for Robbie.
13:38Watch it.
13:39Oh.
13:41Robbie's out.
13:44Oh, no.
13:45Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick.
13:48Oh, good God.
13:51It's going to be Ishimori in to save the day.
13:53That's why they call it tag team wrestling, folks.
13:57Ishimori backhand springs up his own.
14:00Turns it around.
14:01Superstar style out of Taiji Ishimori.
14:03Nice dropping knee.
14:04It is a melee all over this ring right now.
14:13Tornado.
14:14540 kick from Robbie X.
14:18Put him up.
14:19Do it together.
14:20Put him down.
14:21Let's go, Robbie.
14:22There we go.
14:23Leave the station.
14:24Oh.
14:25X express.
14:26X express from Robbie X.
14:27And that's going to do it longer.
14:28Wow.
14:29Wow.
14:30On tonight.
14:3110.
14:3230.
14:33Robbie X.
14:34And it is guaranteed at tonight.
14:38Taiji Ishimori and Robbie X will at least stand second place in block B.
14:48The maximum on the board right now for tonight.
14:49Four points.
14:50Goes to Ishimori and Axe.
14:51But, well, they are currently tied with two men that also sit in court.
14:55And they are the two teams that will face at our main event soon to come.
14:58Kushida and Yuki Oshiyoka.
14:59Robbie X.
15:00Robbie X.
15:01One of those two teams will send to six.
15:03The Madd, Ishimori and Robbie in a good, good spot right now.
15:06Especially knowing that if Ishimori was not coming in 100% tonight.
15:08Yeah.
15:09That's huge.
15:10Get past that first one.
15:11Get past that first one.
15:12Get past it.
15:13Get past that first one.
15:14Get past that first one.
15:17Get past that first one.
15:27The first one, getting back in the ring, shaking off that injury, sickness, whatever the hell it was, he's ready to rock.
15:41It's the exit.
15:46I thought Gano was in the booth with me for a minute.
15:49Was he?
15:50No.
15:51Yeah.
15:57Folks, it is time, it is what the people here tonight in Nuwa Nuwa City came for.
16:03Our main event of the evening, Kushida and Yuki Yoshioka versus the Ichidan Sweet Boys, TMDK's Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles tied four to four.
16:14Someone's four will be no more by the end of our main event.
16:17We're getting right to it here on NJPW World.
16:27It might be Tiger Mask five and six right there.
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