00:30Wrestling fans, we are back with our main event here tonight on NJBW World.
00:36My name is Walker Stewart alongside United Empire's Jacob Austin Young and Jay.
00:41It has to be a salty feeling for Robby X and Taiji Ishimori to know that while they stay undefeated in the ring,
00:49they only sit tonight on four points walking into this year's Super Junior Tag League matchup.
00:55It is a forfeit loss to the illness for Taiji, Ishimori, and Korokan Hall that have placed these men at four points tonight.
01:20Yeah, it's going to be incredibly frustrating to be down when you could potentially be tied.
01:25With a chance of, you know, being perfect.
01:34Well, when it comes from bell to bell, Robby X and Taiji Ishimori have been as perfect as perfection can come in this year's tournament.
01:42And that's been when we've seen both of the men alongside one another.
01:45Well, the same luck has not been on the side of El Desperado and the man who competes in his first ever Super Junior Tag League tournament in Kukai.
01:56Two points on the board for these two men and seemingly have just been informed of the news that they are officially now eliminated from Super Junior Tag League.
02:05Now what this means, Jay, is that Desperado and Kukai get a massive opportunity to play Spoiler to the War Dogs.
02:12Yeah, even being eliminated.
02:42The chance to, as you said, spoil somebody else's tournament is a bit enticing.
02:49But I think for Desperado and Kukai, pride and not staying on just two points is important to them.
03:00Certainly so. And two points are what are on the line in our main event tonight.
03:04It is a one-fall 30-minute time limit here in Sun Village, Shibata.
03:09And the way that our main event kicks off is the way that our year kicked off for the Junior Heavyweight title.
03:14You remember it was back in San Jose, California.
03:17El Desperado versus Taiji Ishimori in Desper's first defense after winning the Junior Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome from Doki.
03:24Desperado going on what was an incredible Junior Heavyweight Championship run up until it was ended back in Corcoran Hall a few weeks ago.
03:32Yeah, kind of an almost shocking upset, I think.
03:36Even though Doki was a former champion, I think everybody didn't think that Desperado would lose the championship after the year that he had happened.
03:44Yeah, well, we have to put the asterisk next to it when we talk about Doki's championship win and say it wasn't just Doki who won that title on the night.
03:53It was Sho as well on behalf of Doki.
03:57And nevertheless, Desperado and Kukai could not manage to capture the Junior Tag Team Championships just one week down the line.
04:04And now, inclusion in Super Junior Tag League this year also have not gone the way Desper and Kukai had wanted.
04:10We could talk about Kukai at a different point, but when we talk about the road to the Tokyo Dome, it was hard to go all throughout this year looking at the Tokyo Dome picture and not seeing Desperado.
04:19But there's no way that you can imagine he fits into the picture with Doki not wanting to give him another Junior Championship opportunity and the two men not reigning his tag champs.
04:28Yeah, I think as uncertain things are at the moment, you never know what can happen, you know, between illness or injuries.
04:39Beautiful combination.
04:41Cover here for Robbie X.
04:43Two count only on Desperado.
04:45You know, we're 60 some odd days away from the Tokyo Dome and that is still a lot of time and for things to shake up here in New Japan.
04:54Yeah, things certainly could change for El Desperado.
04:59We have World Tag League coming up very, very soon.
05:01Then we'll be right on the road to the Tokyo Dome for January 4th, 2026.
05:06And a tag in the corner from behind.
05:09I don't think Robbie X is too aware of it.
05:11Kukai is going to remind him right now as Desperado and Kukai really working with a well-oiled machine here.
05:17Beautiful tandem offense.
05:18You know, there are not a lot of men who are newer to New Japan Pro Wrestling than you on the active roster right now.
05:25Can you give me your mindset watching Kukai now come into New Japan?
05:30This is his second tour in a row alongside El Desperado.
05:33What are your thoughts?
05:34You know, I think I can't speak for his own personal mindset, but for my experience, beautiful transition here.
05:41Kukai, it can be difficult if you put, you know, New Japan is such a huge company for myself.
05:50It was definitely difficult to not, how do I say, basically get in the right mindset that I belong here in New Japan.
06:00And it took me a little bit of time.
06:02So for Kukai, it might feel like a little bit of an outsider still, only two tours in.
06:08Yeah, that's definitely something to look at.
06:11You coming off of the Chinese and United States independent scenes from your time in the OWE and your time in the Vegas independent scene.
06:18It's where I first met you back on the Indies.
06:21Meanwhile, Kukai coming off of the dirt floors of the Mexican independent scene.
06:25And when we talk about Mexican wrestling, people think of places like CMLL or some of those larger Lucha Libre organizations.
06:31We are talking far and away from those organizations that Kukai was competing in.
06:36No, 100%.
06:37And if I'm not mistaken, Doki kind of did that kind of style too.
06:41Absolutely.
06:42And that, you know, he is now the IWGP junior heavyweight and tag team champions.
06:46Yeah, Doki following a very similar trajectory to Desperado as, ooh, Ishimori.
06:55Watch this.
06:57Hang time on the Senton Atomico.
07:00Cover.
07:01And a two count only for the Bullet Club War Dogs.
07:05Sometimes you see guys do some things like that and you wonder how physically that, something like that handstand is possible.
07:11Yeah, Robbie X is just an enigma when it comes to science, when it comes to his physicality.
07:19But Taiji Ishimori, man, you talk about someone who is physical inside that ring.
07:24He has a lot of championships in his resume to prove it.
07:28And never once, though, Super Junior Tag League has made it to the final of a Super Junior Tag Tournament before.
07:34Cover here for Taiji Ishimori, and it's two only.
07:38Yeah, I'm sure these guys would definitely like to be in the finals as well as win it.
07:43You know, they had an incredible title match earlier this year with TMDK at Corican Hall coming up short.
07:49But I think it really showed everybody that if TMDK is the number one team, Ishimori and Robbie X might be number two.
07:57Robbie and Ishimori want to turn that from number two to 1A and 1B, and they want to be the A.
08:02Cover for Robbie.
08:03Two count only.
08:05It's something we've talked about a lot in professional wrestling.
08:07I'm sure you've heard this yourself in your lengthy career, maximizing your minutes when it comes to being inside that ring.
08:13Robbie has really managed to do so in the brief appearances we've seen for him here in New Japan.
08:18Yeah, I think that might just be something to do with being a part of War Dogs.
08:21You know, there's such an attitude and a confidence with that unit that definitely affected Robbie X as soon as he got here.
08:27Yeah, well, I'd argue that's a confidence that United Empire has kind of been building over the course of the past few series as well from the appearances that we've been seeing.
08:38Yeah, you know, some people think that we've had a little bit of a rough year, but I like to think about how Callum won the IWGP Tag Team Championships twice as well as Great El Con was a TV and Tag Team Champion at the same time.
08:48That's true.
08:50There are ebbs and flows.
08:52There are ebbs and flows.
08:54We are certainly feeling the flow right now.
08:56Kukai is feeling it more than any of us here in Sun Village, Shibata.
09:00As Taiji Ishimori working over that shoulder, it's going to set up greatly for the bone lock, but that's only if you can hit it.
09:08That backstabber from Kukai is going to put Ishimori on the shelf for a moment.
09:12Kukai's got to get to the red corner and tag in the former junior heavyweight champion in Destin.
09:17Looks like he's going to get it.
09:20He's got it, but Ishimori nowhere close to the blue corner and is going to take that shot to Robbie X in the interim.
09:26Oh, fuck!
09:30Yeah!
09:32Brain buster from El Desperado to Taiji Ishimori.
09:37Huge impact.
09:39I've got to tell you, wrestling fans, and Jay yourself, if Desperado is not on your wrestler of the year list somewhere down the line for 2025, then I don't know what wrestling you've been watching.
09:50Desperado has defined junior heavyweight style.
09:53And let's see it here.
09:54Cover only two.
09:56And now, Desperado, it's that numero dose that he's looking for here.
10:02If he can grab the arm of Ishimori, it'll be fully locked in that stretched muffler that he's won so many championships within his career.
10:10Oh, he's pulling him back.
10:13Yeah, but Ishimori, oh, watch this, watch this.
10:16Does he get it?
10:17Potentially so.
10:21And crossface for Ishimori, so deadly.
10:25Watch it though, Ishimori holds on.
10:29And right to the post.
10:31Yeah, and right to that left shoulder.
10:33How often do you see that, Jay?
10:46A classic shoulder breaker.
10:48Ishimori is one of the very few I see do it in modern days.
10:51Yeah, absolutely.
10:52And he's one of the only people strong enough to do that.
10:55Yeah, you're right.
10:56Especially.
10:57So, crucifix driver.
10:58Right into the cross.
10:59Oh, the bone lock.
11:00Yeah, the bone lock immediately in here.
11:02Kukai held at bay by Robby X.
11:04This is the best position Ishimori and X have been in in this entire matchup right now.
11:10Desperado is a long, long ways away forward from the ropes.
11:14He's got him shifting.
11:15No, Kukai to break it up.
11:26Robby X.
11:27Language.
11:27Yeah, that's another one of the retired wrestlers fun.
11:30As tag made the corner, Robby X is going to be your legal man out of the blue corner.
11:37X and Ishimori, such an incredible tag team.
11:39The way that these two men have gelled with one another.
11:42That comes from Robby X's time on the British Independent scene,
11:45studying the work of Taiji Ishimori from his time in NOAA,
11:48his time in New Japan, on and on.
11:50Robby being a student of the game has made him and Ishimori such a cohesive team.
11:54He already knows all that Ishimori wants to do.
11:59And even now, oh, he couldn't have known that was coming.
12:03And Desperado with a back suplex to turn things around.
12:06Robby X back on the attack, though.
12:08And a spine buster.
12:13Spine in the pine.
12:15Desperado desperately needs to make a tag to Kukai.
12:17Jay, there's no doubt that Desperado is one of the heaviest junior heavyweights
12:21active on the modern roster right now.
12:24Oh, and that definitely hurt like hell for X.
12:27Watch Kukai crossbody off the tag.
12:30Cover.
12:31Two.
12:31Oh, wait a minute.
12:42Oh, my God.
12:46It sounds like a shotgun blast in Sun Village Shibata.
12:52And Robby X looking to shotgun himself into a fight.
12:56Oh, that's nasty.
12:57Oh, Robby.
13:04Robby, watch it.
13:05Twist it out.
13:06Nice buster.
13:0710 minutes, buster.
13:09Two.
13:10Kick up.
13:1110 minutes have passed.
13:13We have a 30-minute time limit here tonight for Kukai and El Desperado.
13:17Take out Robby X and Ishimori.
13:22Kukai again trying to scoop up the body of Robby X.
13:25What the fuck?
13:27These are the moments that test just how bad you want it.
13:43When the crowd waits in anxious anticipation to see whose body will stand atop the other.
13:51These two are slugging it out right now.
13:53Oh, center of the ring.
13:55Kukai has already made a hell of an impression on New Japan fans, but there's still a lot more to do.
14:00There's still more ground to cover.
14:02The same goes for X.
14:03Oh, fingers in the mouth from Robby X now.
14:19And a super kick.
14:25Kukai on wobbly legs.
14:27Now on the shoulders.
14:28Deep squat from Robby.
14:30He's looking for that submission again.
14:39Oh, yeah, you're right about it.
14:40And he's got it.
14:41Dead center of the ring.
14:42Bow and arrow stretching out the body of X.
14:46Desperado's got Ishimori at ringside and held at bay.
14:50No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
15:01That's a classic way to put an end to that one.
15:03A boot to the face.
15:05A hand to the skull of Ishimori.
15:08And we're back to it now.
15:10A lot of heavy shots in this match.
15:17It is a need-to-win situation.
15:20Oh, for Ishimori and Robby X.
15:22In a bad way.
15:24Cover.
15:25Moonsault for two for Kukai.
15:32Oh.
15:35Oh.
15:36Oh.
15:37Oh.
15:38Oh.
15:40Kukai now could be looking to put away.
15:42Robby X has put men away with this before.
15:44Not going to happen now, though.
15:47Robby, Robby.
15:49Got it.
15:50Oh, my God.
15:53Misdirection cutter right there.
15:56And X will mark the spot right over the lion mark.
15:59The goal, the final of Super Junior Tag League 2025.
16:06X and Ishimori have never been closer.
16:10Robby might be out on his feet a little bit.
16:17Ishimori calling him over.
16:18Ishimori is certainly going to be the playmaker in this decision.
16:21Yeah.
16:23Watch it now.
16:24Robby and Ishimori know.
16:26Oh, Kukai sent it to Ishimori.
16:28Cover.
16:28Schoolboy up two.
16:38A statement-making chop into a knee.
16:43Couldn't come here now.
16:46Planting out Kukai.
16:52And now, watch for it.
16:54The train's leaving the station.
16:56Oh, got all of it.
16:58X-Express.
16:59It's over.
16:59It's over.
17:01Robby X and Ishimori are your winners.
17:04And with that win, they stay alive, right?
17:16Oh, with that win, they don't just stay alive.
17:18They find themselves second place in Super Junior Tag League today.
17:24There are three teams left alive now in Super Junior Tag League's Block B.
17:48Ishimori and Robby X at six points.
17:52Kushida and Yuki Oshioca with the barest of chances to tie at six points.
17:59And Kosei Fujin and Robby Eagles, your clear favorite in Block B at eight.
18:05It is not the position that Ishimori and Robby X wanted to be in,
18:10but it is the one that they find themselves in tonight.
18:12It's the one that they find themselves in this world.
18:42Today, I'm going to sign up for Robby X.
18:51You guys, I'll be right back to you.
18:55Super Junior Tag League marks my one year in this ring, and what a special way to celebrate
19:22my one year in this New Japan ring, by winning Super Junior Tag League.
19:42I know, me and Ishimori, who are on the same wavelength, but let me tell you one thing,
19:52I and Ishimori will fight until we have no fight left, until we have bruised eyes, broken noses, chipped teeth,
20:07because we're Bullet Club War Dogs, and that's what we fucking do!
20:15A definitive statement from Taiji Ishimori and Robby X, and this is going to lead
20:37all the way down the line to November 1st.
20:47If Ishimori and X want to be the best, they have to beat the best, and the best being Kosei Fujita and Robby Eagles.
20:55That's their next match coming up November 1st, the day before the final of Super Junior Tag League 2025.
21:03It's down to Ishimori and X, Fujita, Eagles, and Kushida, and Yuki Oshioca by the block map standing.
21:11It sounds like each of these teams has their destiny in their own hands.
21:16You know, for Ishimori and Robby X, they have to win to have a chance at making it to the finals.
21:21I think if they win, they'd get to the finals.
21:23Well, potentially so. We are going to have to stay tuned to find out as we are out of time here at New Japan Pro Wrestling.
21:30We're waiting around for your post-match comments, but before they get here, October 30th, 24 hours from now,
21:36we're going to be back with block A competition soon enough in Super Junior Tag League 2025.
21:42I cannot wait to see what happens when we get right in to block A competition.
21:47It's 24 hours from now. We'll be live coming up in Fukui.
21:51We will see you next time. For Jacob Austin Young, I've been Walker Stewart.
21:54This has been New Japan Pro Wrestling, the king of sports.
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