00:00Well, time runs very, very quickly in the world of professional wrestling.
00:30And I've been a part of the broadcast team here on NJPW for the, what, the last seven
00:39years or so.
00:40Empires have come and gone in that time.
00:43And one has to wonder whether the United Empire is on the risk of crumbling.
00:49I have yet in my time to see disinterest turn to success.
00:56But that seems to be, well, the driving theme for Guaido Khan and Callum Newman.
01:08Callum Newman, a lot of very, very, very sore memories, as does Guaido Khan have of last
01:16year's World Tag League.
01:21And despite the brief surge in the spring, it's been difficult for United Empire to find
01:28momentum.
01:29On tours, off tours, hard to get results.
01:35And the first time, the United Empire, the Vendoros J.Y.
01:36Jacob Austin Young.
01:38Everybody has the self-awareness to know that something has to change.
01:50And apparently mysterious meetings are indeed underway within the United Empire about just that
01:57topic.
01:58But while half of those conversations are about making something big happen in World Tag League,
02:08perhaps connected to Wrestle Kingdom, not privy to the details, I do know some of those conversations
02:15have been and some people within the United Empire have been, well, maybe it's time to just
02:20call it a day entirely.
02:23And, well, Guaido Khan and Callum Newman in a recent interview for YouTube that I believe
02:30just went up earlier this afternoon with Yusuke Taguchi's regular broadcast were saying,
02:36well, it's all about results for Guaido Khan and Callum Newman here in World Tag League.
02:43And if those results aren't going to come, this might just be the last tournament for United Empire.
02:50We'll see what happens.
02:52But it all starts, well, with a lot of trauma to be revisited in 48 hours' time for Callum Newman.
03:01GMBK, Big Jag, Hartley Jackson!
03:07The group, Oyiwada Ryohei!
03:14The group, Sakuseiwa Jr.
03:20It was deep in World Tag League in Miyazaki December 5th, 2024.
03:37But this team, Ryohei Oiwa and Zack Sabre Jr. face Callum Newman and Jeff Cobb.
03:47And in the middle of that match, Newman had his feeding wrong on the top rope as Oyiwada was going for a superplex.
03:56And Newman tried to block it, the result of which a lot of ligament, tendon damage.
04:02And Newman being put on the shelf for four months due to a knee injury.
04:11And although Newman came back, reformed that tag team with Jeff Cobb, won the IWGP Tag Team Championships.
04:18It was, well, not 48 hours after Newman and Jeff Cobb did win those titles that Cobb walked away from New Japan Pro Wrestling.
04:27Newman and Great Okan pivoted, won the tag titles.
04:33Callum Newman had a tremendous effort challenging the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship that month.
04:40And that really made it seem for a time as if, well, everything was still on the ups with the United Empire.
04:48Even as key figures, even as Jeff Cobb left New Japan Pro Wrestling, as TJP's status within New Japan Pro Wrestling was very, very unclear for a time.
05:00And it seemed like everything would be okay.
05:03And over the last few months, especially towards the back end of the G1 Climax, it became more clear that things were not okay.
05:10Great Okan after the G1, challenged Hiroshi Tanahashi, felt he needed a win at the Great Okan.
05:18They were unsuccessful in that singles matchup.
05:22Callum Newman went away for a long period of time.
05:25Came back in support of Jacob Austin Young and Templario.
05:29But that team did not produce during Super Junior tag games.
05:33Templario and TJP just recently lost the NJPW Strong Tag Team Championships over in Arena Mexico.
05:39Los Hermanos Challenge.
05:41And now we are in the position where it truly, truly is do or die, the United Empire.
05:52And, well, Callum Newman is conscious of that fact, but he's also conscious that he wants to get a lot of get back.
06:02Onellha Boyle and Zack Sabre Jr., doing what he can to keep this a fair tag team fight here.
06:15It's a little avail, but you're seeing the newfound aggression in Newman.
06:22The newfound aggression really, jeez.
06:43Well, this is chaotic to say the least.
06:49You're hearing the screams of Ioioiwa here.
06:52I'm sure I put my roots back together.
07:02Aggression, chips on the shoulder, perhaps an air of desperation
07:11surround the members of the United Empire.
07:14We acknowledge that everybody's still in the Empire need to make things happen.
07:28They make things happen quickly, whether they are results, whether they are impacts in some other form.
07:34But if they don't get results in World Tag League, there might not be a United Empire left to strike back.
07:43Kyle Newman, it is, well, lest we forget, two times in April, the youngest ever IWGP champion.
07:56The youngest to ever be a two-time champion with the IWGP branding here in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
08:04No defenses successful, notwithstanding.
08:14Newman is the real deal.
08:15Proved he was the real deal.
08:16Made a better don't tackle against Hiroki.
08:18Go!
08:19OiWGP.
08:20You know, I love you.
08:21Certainly is the real deal in his own right.
08:22We were trying to find a certain something over the course of this World Tag League.
08:27Right now he's trying to find a tag to Hartley Jackson, and he does, and here we go.
08:34Certainly if the pace was too handsome here, Hartley will calm everybody down in a very, very physical sense.
08:43The great trainers left the station.
08:57No conductor needed, not a man driver.
09:03And a lot in the gas tank.
09:07The big jack, down goes.
09:10Jackson number one in our hearts.
09:15Not number one.
09:17In Callan Newman's goal.
09:19Big old sensor.
09:20And here's the cover.
09:21Hook of the leg.
09:22Sakamoto right there and gets to two and a half.
09:25Newman just about able to roll his shoulder.
09:29There are a lot of voices around the wrestling discourse,
09:36saying that Harley Jackson should have been a part of the world.
09:39Tag League with another partner from TMDK.
09:44We would certainly agree with that.
09:46Although we have some fantastic teams in the space here.
09:50But certainly only one team fielded by TMDK in this tournament.
09:54And Zack Sabre Jr. and Yohei Oi want to make it count right now.
09:58Zack Sabre Jr. who was IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
10:02This time last year.
10:03Hell who was IWGP World Heavyweight Champion six weeks ago.
10:09He was beaten by Konosuke Sikeshka.
10:11Oh man.
10:12Back in the net there.
10:15The former with the Premier League goalkeeper.
10:20Hops right back.
10:21Fires back with a bit of his own.
10:23Both men down.
10:24Zack Sabre Jr. as of right now.
10:27Main event to Wrestle Kingdom 19.
10:29Wrestle Dynasty in the Tokyo Dome.
10:32Right now doesn't have a path to Wrestle Kingdom 20.
10:35Yohei Oi want is in.
10:37Man.
10:38Hard shot for Jacob Austin Young.
10:41I've been saying for a long time.
10:43Jay Oi has been overlooked here in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
10:47Certainly Young feels that way.
10:49And we're seeing it with more aggression and fire here tonight.
10:54Watch out.
10:55Swinging DDT.
10:56Oi want taken all the way over and down.
10:58Here's the cover again.
10:59Zack Sabre Jr. against him too.
11:04Junior Heavyweight is Jacob Austin Young.
11:06Does not matter.
11:07When it comes to.
11:08Much much bigger.
11:10More powerful.
11:11Yohei Oi want.
11:16I think the power comes in force right there.
11:22And Oi want calls to play.
11:24As Gredo Khan gets on the apron.
11:26Nice.
11:27Awareness there from Oi want.
11:30Jackson clears.
11:31The rest of United Empire.
11:33Now while Jacob Austin Young is in a whole world of trouble.
11:35Here.
11:36A whole world of trouble here.
11:37A whole world of trouble here.
11:38A whole world of trouble here.
11:39That leg may just be broken.
11:42And as we're talking about the mean streak in United Empire of late.
11:46Do not discount the pronounced mean streak in TMDK.
11:50Human just about able.
11:51Well it's.
11:52He bowls himself.
11:53And Okan bowls.
11:54Zack Sabre Jr.
11:55To save Jacob Austin Young right now.
11:57And there is a lot of bad blood that is set to go and come out.
11:59In front of our eyes Saturday in Fujisawa.
12:00Oh.
12:01Oh.
12:02One in the grip.
12:03Reverse.
12:04Slinky.
12:05Out of Jacob Austin Young.
12:06Yes.
12:07Oh.
12:08Look at this now.
12:09Wanting to climb the ladder.
12:10And.
12:11Didn't have enough on Iowa.
12:12Oh.
12:13The interblocks.
12:14Oh.
12:15My God.
12:16Oh.
12:17Oh.
12:18Oh.
12:19Oh.
12:20Oh.
12:21Oh.
12:22Oh.
12:23Oh.
12:24Oh.
12:25Oh.
12:26Oh.
12:27Oh.
12:28Oh.
12:29Oh.
12:30Oh.
12:31Oh.
12:32Oh.
12:33Oh.
12:34Oh.
12:35Oh.
12:44Oh my God.
12:45What a reverse.
12:47Off Crab applied by Waiter here.
12:49I've never seen this out of Bille Hey Waiter.
12:49I've never seen it of Austin crap.
12:52That's an sideference and I've ever seen Hartley Jackson.
12:57And James Jackson Young tap some.
13:01We came in on this one, and I was ready to talk about the extra aggression, perhaps
13:09the extra desperation on the part of the United Empire, and now it feels like United Empire
13:14are even more desperate heading into their first league match, and 48 hours from now
13:18in Fridges Tower.
13:21And you can see that frustration, the aggression, the desperation, etched all over the face
13:29of Calum Human, and do not think for a second that TMDK are out to play nice-nice in this
13:37world's ugly.
13:50And well, the Empire and United can never be divided.
13:59Things are looking pretty divisive when it comes to, well, I think Great O'Khan left
14:04the ringside area a long time ago.
14:06Calum Human second, and Jacob Austin Young being carried away from Astori Asura.
14:13With TMDK, who lead together victorious, United Empire, separately and in defeat, Zaksayton
14:21Junior, Leo Heiwaiwa, O'Khan and Calum Human.
14:24And that's coming up Saturday in Fridges Tower, more 6-9 action is coming up next.
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