00:30Desperate times made, desperate men, Clark Connors.
00:44You've known that a couple of times in your career, admittedly.
00:47Dick Togo and Yosemite Mocatomaro, none more desperate in this block right now,
00:51as it is a loss leading to elimination here tonight.
00:56If El Desperate and Kugat can put down Dick Togo and Yosemite Mocatomaro,
01:01then House of Torture are out of block beat.
01:04How corner, Hoshisen 2-1, House of Torture, the spoiler.
01:09Dick Togo!
01:1433cm, 85kg.
01:18Hanemaru Yoshinabe!
01:19He's got down my walker, and nothing's more dangerous than House of Torture,
01:26especially when they have nothing to lose, or when they have everything to lose, excuse me.
01:30They're ready to rock, and I'm sure there's going to be a lot of skullduggery or shenanigans or what's the word?
01:40Well, a lot of personal ties that we're going to talk about here tonight.
01:57You set me up there, Clark.
01:58I couldn't tell.
02:00No, man.
02:00All right, well, there's a lot of personal ties we're going to talk about.
02:03Oh, we're going to talk about them a little bit early.
02:05We're going to jump in here.
02:07Desperado and Kukai over Katomaru and Dick Togo.
02:11And it is only right that it is Desperado on Katomaru early on and in here.
02:16You remember back in 2021, your Super Junior Tag League winners alongside one another.
02:22That Suzuki Kunzai of Desperado and Katomaru is something that has wildly shaped Desperado as an athlete,
02:30as an in-ring competitor.
02:31But he has left that darkness behind for a long time from the main unit to team alongside Kukai.
02:37Meanwhile, it seems like Katomaru and Dick Togo have only gotten darker as time's going on.
02:42Yeah, how's torture?
02:43That's a, yeah, Desperado, it's one of those things where once you get on a new path,
02:48whether it be for good or for evil, whatever it might be, sometimes you just lock in and find the thing that's best for you.
02:54For Desperado, that's been this whole new path of fighting for justice or whatever the hell it is.
03:00But it's working for him.
03:03The bell has sounded is the team of Whiskey Dick, Yoshidobu Katomaru, and Dick Togo taking on Kukai and El Desperado.
03:10Clark, I believe you were on the call with me whenever Kukai and Desperado have fought for the Junior Tag titles just eight weeks ago.
03:18Against House of Torture's Doki and Shou.
03:20And it was the numbers game that worked out as a disadvantage for Desperado and Kukai.
03:26We haven't exactly seen the numbers pulled out.
03:28We haven't seen Yudro hit ringside.
03:29We haven't seen Evil hit ringside on behalf of Katomaru and Togo.
03:33We've seen it for Doki and Shou in this tournament, though.
03:35Right.
03:37And I don't know if that's something that Evil kind of plans out and how he figures it out in terms of, like, the hierarchy in the house.
03:43But, yeah, you know, but at the same time, when it's desperate measures like this, when they're almost avoiding elimination, you never know who's going to come out of the house.
03:52It's such an interesting conversation to have.
03:54I mean, going into this tournament on paper, I honest to God had Togo and Katomaru circled as maybe topping.
04:00The entirety of the tournament blocked B at the very least because of the experience that these men bring to the ring.
04:06You look at Togo and Katomaru and isolate them from the rest of House of Torture.
04:10These are two guys that if you want to learn how to be a professional wrestler, typically you can look to them and they're going to be the ones to show you how.
04:17But when they're marred by the house, when the tactics, when the antics come into play, I mean, these two are just the dirt worst.
04:24Yeah, I know, that's a great point.
04:27Look at that, beautiful things like that, just, like, doesn't need weapons.
04:31They just can throw up and throw a great right hand.
04:32Dick Togo throws one of the best right hands in this company.
04:35Look at this right there, beautiful.
04:37It's a job.
04:38And, but, yeah, that's why I don't think we've seen the help of the outside guys too often in their matches.
04:45It's because these guys do get it done.
04:46They like to get dirty on their own.
04:50Dirty, whiskey Dick.
04:54Dirty, whiskey Dick.
04:56Kanemaru now putting the boots in on Kukai.
05:02And it is Kanemaru who's going to continue the assault here.
05:05Desperado wants his hands on his former tag team partner.
05:08Super Junior Tag League winner in 2021.
05:12Meanwhile, Kukai enters his first ever tag team tournament in his entire career here tonight in Super Junior Tag League.
05:19And watch Togo now.
05:21Oh, double stomp.
05:23He's pulling out all the stops.
05:33Yeah, no, Kukai, you know, it's been cool to see him after we talked about, you know, we might not ever see him again after that match of Desperado.
05:41And Desperado almost taking him under his wing, you know, and not forcing him to go back to Mexico to regain his championships.
05:48It's nice to see that it's paying off and, you know, he's in this tournament and they're putting up good fights.
05:56Yeah, Kukai has proven himself to be a formidable opponent in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
06:00I mean, it's so interesting to see how El Desperado has been able to influence and bring some great new talent to the junior heavyweight division over the years.
06:08I'd argue that Desperado during his junior championship reign is the reason that we saw Mao invest in the Super Junior this year.
06:14There had to have been a little bit of a political pull there for Despe at the very least.
06:18Then you look to even prior to that, when Desperado got injured in the best of the Super Junior Tournament, who took his spot?
06:24It was Doki coming off the Mexican independent scene.
06:26And we've seen the dark path that Doki has turned down, and that's because Desperado made that connection between Doki and New Japan, Doki and Kanemaru as well.
06:35Yeah, he's a beautiful arm drag there.
06:39Wow.
06:40He's incredibly influential.
06:41Nice move there by Kukai.
06:46You heard the snap on that single leg dropkick from Kukai.
06:49Tag made in the corner.
06:50Here comes the former junior heavyweight champion.
06:53Former tag team partners in the ring right now.
06:56Only one could possibly walk away with a tag league win this year.
07:00And it's need to win for Kanemaru and Togo.
07:03Oh!
07:16Well, Dick Togo begging off here.
07:19Very smile on his face.
07:21He knows what's coming, but...
07:23He's a wily vet.
07:24He's a wily vet.
07:24He's a wily vet.
07:24He's a wily vet.
07:25Trying to poke the eyes of Desperado.
07:27Desperado's got the fingers now, Clark.
07:31Oh, come on.
07:35Well, there's that veteran prowess, you know.
07:36And when they were in, you know, part of Bullock Live House of Torture, did honestly teach some of us War Dogs a few tricks, you know.
07:46And we use techniques like that sometimes.
07:48And obviously, we don't need all the weapons.
07:53We don't need all the weapons.
07:54But for the most part, you know, little tricks like that, it's definitely wrestling.
08:00You know, it's good tag team wrestling.
08:01So, it's about the extra sometimes and about the attitude that I don't personally like too much.
08:08It's something I talked about with Robbie X in the broadcast group just yesterday.
08:11And it's this idea that some people don't like the War Dogs because they throw up a middle finger or they're a little bit too aggressive inside and outside of the ring.
08:20But at least you guys are able to get the job done with your bare hands.
08:23Exactly.
08:24Right.
08:24But when you put this black mirror on the House of Torture, whenever you get the steel pipe and the wrench and whatever other weapon that one of these goons wants to bring to ringside,
08:33that's where you take the legitimacy out of professional wrestling.
08:36Yeah.
08:36I mean, what kind of loser brings weapons to the ring and goes under the ring and grabs it?
08:41And grabs illegal objects.
08:43Like, it's terrible.
08:44Right, right.
08:45It's despicable.
08:46I think it's just a disgrace.
08:49It's a mockery to pro wrestling.
08:51And, you know, I think that anybody who does that shouldn't be looked at even as a pro wrestler.
08:57Sure.
08:57I mean, you would never be known to do that.
08:58No, he would do that.
08:59No.
09:00No, but it's about the manner that you do it in as well, right?
09:03Sure, sure.
09:03You know, I do really think that when it happens in an integral part of a match, we have to beat up a referee.
09:11Right?
09:12And take a referee out just to know you're going to cheat and do something mean.
09:17All right.
09:18That's where the issue lies, in my opinion.
09:21Hey, here we go.
09:22Two points on the line.
09:24Yoshino Bacanamaru, that figure four leg lock locked in on El Desperado right now.
09:29Come on!
09:29Come on!
09:30Oh, Desperado has felt this figure four.
09:33He has encouraged this figure four before as a tag team partner.
09:37Only one of these two men can go on to win Super Junior Tag League this year.
09:42Desperado's got to fight out of it.
09:43Oh, and that damaged knee for Desperado as well.
09:48At the hands of the house just yesterday.
09:51All right.
09:51Being torn into pieces.
09:53Desperado's got to get to the bottom rope.
09:54And to the bottom, he makes it.
09:58You know, Bacanamaru, like what you said, he's an expert on a lot of things, but more than anything, he can attack a leg, man.
10:03I've been on the wrong side of that so many times.
10:06And that figure four takes it out of you.
10:07There is a list of wrestlers that you can count on one hand that it is almost impossible to win against if you walk in with an obvious injury.
10:17Heavyweight division, you'll look at Zack Sabre Jr.
10:19Junior heavyweight division.
10:20Look at Yoshino Bacanamaru.
10:22You can't show weakness against these guys.
10:25And it makes it a lot harder when you just get attacked after a match, right?
10:28And they're the ones who inflict the pain on you.
10:30And you're not ready for it, right?
10:32There's something to that, too.
10:35When you come into a match, and during the match, right, things hurt, but you have an adrenaline going, you're all ready to go.
10:41But there's times when the match is over and then someone comes in and attacks you.
10:45It's a totally different mindset.
10:47You know, sometimes you just turn it off for some reason.
10:49You can't control it.
10:50And that's when the real pain and injuries actually do happen.
10:53That's why you see a lot of times those attacks after the matches are so much more brutal throughout pro wrestling.
11:02You have stepped in the ring with Desperado yourself.
11:05You took him to the limit back in Cork and Hall for the junior title in a hardcore matchup.
11:10And you know just as well as anyone, Desperado can take the pain.
11:14Can he take the win, though?
11:15No, not yet.
11:18Watch this.
11:19Cattemaro turned it around.
11:22Driven down and out by Desperado with that left knee plaguing the former junior heavyweight champion,
11:27the former junior tag league winner.
11:30Kukai is going to need to come in for major support.
11:35And the touch out in the corner.
11:36Here comes Kukai.
11:39Two points for Desperado and Kukai.
11:42Zero for Cattemaro and Togo.
11:44House of Torture must win to stay alive.
11:48Picture-perfect drop kick right there.
11:49And watch this.
11:56A little bit of technicality out of...
11:58That's that Mexican style right there.
12:01Nothing beats a good right hand.
12:03Now, Kukai turning it around.
12:18Head scissor down.
12:19Kukai.
12:21Oh, Quebradora.
12:24High angle on the upper spine of Kukai.
12:27Kukai is now going to target the lower half.
12:32Oh, and now Numenau, Dulse, Polinero combination.
12:36You've got to look for the tap from Kukai right here, right now.
12:39Kukai is not very flexible, especially at his older age here.
12:43There is some pain going through that spine.
12:46Oh, you can see it.
12:47You can feel it.
12:47And a lot of pain in the eyes of Desperado now.
12:50Referee Marty Asami not able to check that one.
12:53And Dick Togo, going to be able to break this up.
12:57That's effective right there.
12:58Dick Togo knows how to use just small movements to inflict pain.
13:06Hell yeah.
13:09Oh!
13:14Anson-style lariat out of Dick Togo.
13:17And a touch-out cover here for Kutamaru.
13:22Oh, Desperado breaks it up.
13:24Desperate save by Desperado.
13:29I mean, it is true desperation all over the entire junior heavyweight division.
13:33There is a cloud of darkness that covers it in Doki and Shou.
13:37Someone's got to be the one to be able to break that apart.
13:41Desperado's been the light of this division for quite some time.
13:45A senton fully on that left knee.
13:48I don't think I've ever seen that before.
13:50There's no avoiding the pressure that that has just put on the former junior champion.
13:56Damn, I'm stealing that.
13:59And now Kukai.
14:01Oh, no, no.
14:03Two for one on Kukai right here.
14:05And a double dropkick as well is going to send Katamaru and Togo to the outside.
14:11Watch out, watch out.
14:12Kukai loves to take to the sky, folks.
14:16And a tope suicida blows down the house.
14:20Kukai!
14:20Kukai!
14:21Kukai!
14:21Kukai!
14:22Kukai!
14:22Kukai!
14:23Kukai's on fire!
14:23Kukai!
14:24Kukai!
14:25Kukai's got to focus on it, putting an end to this matchup as soon as possible.
14:30That house is being rebuilt quickly as we speak.
14:37Get the crowd behind him here.
14:40Kukai at the top rope.
14:45Kukai from the heavens.
14:46Cross body on Kukai cover here.
14:49Katamaru at it, too.
14:51Katamaru's schoolboy cover again.
15:00Two count omen.
15:04Nice knee.
15:04Trying to keep things fast, flavorful.
15:08Make sure Katamaru can't see the next move coming.
15:11Hooking him up for the finish we've seen.
15:13No, no, not yet.
15:14Not yet.
15:14Yeah, come on.
15:16That is what we don't want to see.
15:21Oh!
15:22What the hell?
15:24Give me a damn break.
15:25Eight ball of cocaine straight to the face of Kukai.
15:28Oh, my God.
15:29Oh, come on.
15:34Oh, my God.
15:40I remember the word.
15:41Despicable, Walker.
15:43Despicable.
15:47Oh, God.
15:51Dig Togo and Yoshinobu Katamaru stay alive by the skin of their teeth here.
15:58Two points on the board now for House of Torchers.
16:02There's a white powdery substance on the floor.
16:10Yeah, what the hell did you call that?
16:12An eight ball?
16:13An eight ball.
16:14Yeah.
16:15It's like a bumper clock.
16:17I don't think that's legal in this country.
16:19I don't think it's legal in most countries.
16:21Well, hey.
16:22It's never stopped you.
16:25Goddamn, Walker.
16:28They can't fucking Margaret Thatcher come in this country, man.
16:32You can't be saying shit like that.
16:33All right, well, El Desperado, we're going to have to keep an eye on that left knee of the former junior heavyweight champion.
16:42That is back to the drawing board as we are just over the halfway point here in Super Junior Tag League 20, 25.
17:02Desperado's key is not in a good way, Walker.
17:04This is going to affect it for the rest of this tournament.
17:07Yeah, certainly so.
17:08And someone go show referee Marty Asami why this young lion has to be sweeping around ringside right now.
17:18Maybe he'll reverse that decision.
17:20Oh, shit.
17:26Well, wrestling fans, as we try and get the ring cleaned up here, we want to invite you.
17:30Tokyo Dome tickets still on sale.
17:32It is on track to be one of the highest-selling Tokyo Domes of the modern era.
17:38NJPW1972.com, January 4th, 2026.
17:42You are going to want to be there live and in living color.
17:45As we say goodbye to the ace of the universe, and as we move right in now, our semi-main event gets underway.
17:53Tiger Mask and Yamato versus the Bullet Club War Dogs of Taiji Shimori and Robbie X.
18:00Yamato and Tiger Mask need to win to stay alive tonight.
18:04Stay here.
18:16You look behind theiahlands.
18:20We have to go toline back to the back of the break.
18:21So, we were going to start this with working practices.
18:22We may be in time of but not, you know, we have to go to the back of the break.
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