00:30Well, take a look here at last year's World Tag League winner,
00:40a junior heavyweight in a heavyweight competition, is Hiromu Takahashi.
00:46Man, oh my, the leader of the Bullet Club, David Finley,
00:50has certainly been treating Hiromu Takahashi as lesser than as a junior heavyweight.
00:56Tossing around his own partner to find victory over the Knockout Brothers
01:00all the way back in Fujisawa.
01:05Hiromu, don't care, he's an idiot anyways.
01:07Oh, well.
01:08He's wrestling in other companies on the days off here.
01:11Yeah, you're right.
01:12I mean, that certainly shows for, well, a big focus on the love of pro wrestling.
01:16The current GHC junior heavyweight champion of pro wrestling, NOAA,
01:20recently winning the NOAA Junior Grand Prix Tournament as GHC champion.
01:25and congratulations to Hiromu Takahashi.
01:28But it's time to focus now, back on World Tag League.
01:30But it's time to focus now, back on World Tag League.
01:30The winner of the G.H.C. Junior Heavy-Q Champion, and the Noa Junior Grand Prix winner of TAKASHI HIROMA!
01:44Let's go!
01:46The Ballet Club World of The Level, David Finney!
01:54Hiromu Takahashi is not the only tournament winner in 2025.
01:58Might have won the Noa Junior Grand Prix, but you're looking at your new Japan Cup winner, David Finley, this year.
02:23There's no doubt in anyone's mind.
02:27A man with more championship victories and tournament wins to count.
02:35Hiroshi Tanahashi stands alongside the NJPW World Television Champion in his final tournament in his career.
02:43World Tag League 2025 will certainly mark the end of the ACE in New Japan Pro Wrestling on the road to the Tokyo Dome chase.
02:52That's going to be a sad day, huh?
02:54Because you've got to think Tanahashi is probably the greatest wrestler to ever grace this ring, huh?
03:00One of, at least.
03:01Where would you rank him?
03:04Well, I mean, he's number one in my book, but...
03:06Oh, you're just saying that because he's the president.
03:08There's going to be a lot of people that have that up for debate when Hiroshi Tanahashi battles Kazuchika Okada in the Tokyo Dome January 4th.
03:17Another great.
03:18E-N-P!
03:22Who's your money on?
03:23Oh, it's hard to bet against the ACE chase.
03:25Once in a century, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
03:44This is final town, or time in this town?
03:47It wouldn't shock me.
03:49I haven't taken a look ahead on the schedule, but it wouldn't shock me to know Tanahashi making his final entrance tonight in Fukushima, Japan.
04:00And we talk about just about, what, two months left, less than two months in the career of Hiroshi Tanahashi on the road to January 4th.
04:11Yeah, they got a board around here somewhere.
04:12Yeah, somewhere.
04:13It's like 40, 39 days, something like that.
04:15Well, all the numbers you could talk about tonight, the only numbers that are going to matter by the end of this matchup are the number of points these teams have.
04:23And right now, Tanahashi and Fantasmo walk in.
04:25Zero points on the board, have not won a match yet in this year's tournament, albeit only having wrestled one match on the tour.
04:32Well, certainly a difference in physique for El Fantasmo and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
04:48Okay.
04:50What are they doing?
04:52Well, the things that unify us in this great sport, Chase.
04:56That's why they're 0-1, they're not taking this serious.
04:59Called it there, 0-1, Tanah and LP.
05:03David Finley and Hiromu Takahashi, not just 1-0, not just undefeated, not just two points on the board,
05:09but the first team to pin the IWGP Tag Team Champions since Oscar and Utah Ice have made their return from excursion.
05:17We're going to see the Knockout Brothers later on in our semi-main event, but I, for one, am very excited to see more of David Finley and Hiromu Takahashi as a team.
05:27Is Tanahashi's team 0-1?
05:29Mm, yes, you're right.
05:30You know who else is Tanahashi's 0-1 against?
05:33Who's that?
05:34Me.
05:35Oh.
05:37You always got to find a way to throw it in there, huh?
05:39Well, you know, somebody's got to put myself over.
05:41Hey, I believe you.
05:44Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finley here tonight.
05:47And we are getting right into the holds of it.
05:50David Finley and Hiromu Takahashi, two points on the board.
05:53And the best way to characterize the only teams we, or the only match we've seen for these two in two-on-two action.
06:00Finley using Hiromu as a human battering ramp to put down the Knockout Brothers.
06:05And it is the first time Oscar and Utah Ice have been defeated since their return from excursion back in the G1 35 final.
06:12And they haven't been here long.
06:13Yeah, you're right about that.
06:15But reigning as IWGP Tag Team Champion.
06:17I mean, we knew.
06:18We obviously had this understanding that Oscar and Ice were going to walk in to a high-pressure situation.
06:24Maybe the highest-pressure situation of their careers.
06:27Right off the return from excursion, but also as the IWGP Tag Team Champion.
06:32I mean, Chase, you know this, there's no team that is gunned after more in a tournament like this than the men who hold the gold.
06:40Yeah, because even if you don't, you know, you don't win the tournament, you beat the chance.
06:44You earn yourself a title shot.
06:45Yep.
06:46It's a backup plan.
06:50And Hiroshi Tanahashi off the middle rope here, hitting the classics, a crossbody on it.
06:56David Finley tonight.
06:56Should have moved.
06:57Yeah.
06:58You know, I think a lot of people are framing this idea of World Tag League final victory in the way of the Tokyo Dome.
07:10Hold on a minute.
07:11Gonna have to pause for a musical act tonight.
07:13Phantasmo, air guitar in hand.
07:16Oh, holds on to it still.
07:18And a big back body drop on Hiromu.
07:21Oh, and we're rocking out tonight in Fukushima.
07:27I feel like they have a different taste in music.
07:31Oh, come on.
07:32Phantasmo and Tanah double scoop slam on Hiromu and Finley.
07:38Yeah, that's not the only thing we're doubling up on here tonight.
07:42LP wants to hit the classics, too.
07:43Oh, and right out of the way go Finley and Hiromu.
07:50And we are right back on the attack here from the Blue Corner team.
07:54Oh, and Hiromu smashing that air guitar.
08:00Oh, come on.
08:06He might have been right on the nose when he talked about
08:11different types of music being played in the ring right now.
08:14As it is, David Finley and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
08:18You know, when we talk about World Tag League over the past few years,
08:21especially we've talked about it in the context of your winners going on to the
08:25Tokyo Dome, challenging for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
08:28But if you look to Hiroshi Tanahashi,
08:30already has a date set for January 4th, 2026.
08:33Can't wrestle at New Year Dash, can't wrestle afterward.
08:36That's his retirement day.
08:37If Tanahashi and LP win this year's World Tag League,
08:40if they want that IWGP Tag Title shot, it's got to happen sometime
08:44between, what, December 14th, 15th and January 4th.
08:49I mean, not a lot of time to prepare.
08:51Yeah, there is not a lot of time.
08:52Because you definitely don't want to try to double up on the biggest stage,
08:58especially when you're wrestling Kazuchika Okada.
09:00Yeah, I mean, you know, you imagine,
09:02imagine that Oscar and Yuto Ice walk into the Tokyo Dome,
09:05IWGP Tag Team Champions,
09:07and there's all the ways in the world that that could not be the case.
09:10But to imagine Tana and LP battling in the opener,
09:14battling in the undercard for the IWGP gold,
09:16and then Okada meeting you in what could be the semi-main event or even the main event
09:20for Hiroshi Tanahashi, I mean, that's a dangerous game to play.
09:24Yeah, I don't think he wants to do that.
09:26They definitely have to do that in, like, what, the two weeks in between?
09:30Yeah, I mean, we have that road to the Tokyo Dome series we're going to see.
09:33We'll be live on NJPW World in Kokona Hall.
09:36That's an option, right?
09:37Yeah, you're right.
09:38Tana can do whatever you want, he's the president.
09:39Well, yeah.
09:42Meanwhile, David Finley has really been calling the plays here
09:46when it comes to this pairing of himself and Hiromu.
09:49I'm not too certain Hiromu has quite realized the dichotomy of that relationship,
09:53if you will.
09:54Finley will definitely squeeze everything he can.
09:58Yeah, that's what Finley has made a career off of doing.
10:01Watch this now, has Tanahashi where he wants him.
10:05Oh, and Hiromu separating the arm here of Hiroshi Tanahashi.
10:10Yeah, Fantastimo, you hear it in his voice, not too happy about what he's seeing here.
10:16That's why Finley's the worst leader the Bullet Club's ever had.
10:28And I've been around a few.
10:29Well, you're right.
10:30You have been around a few, but David Finley looking to prove otherwise.
10:35Wait a minute, Hiromu calling his own play here.
10:37But Finley, oh.
10:41Yeah, I don't think that's the way that Hiromu wanted that to happen, but.
10:47Well, whatever gets the win, right?
10:49Cover.
10:50And two count pulled off by Fantasma.
10:53Should have cheated.
10:59Tag in the corner, here comes David Finley back into the mix.
11:06What's up with all these teams using their teammates as weapons?
11:09Yeah, I mean, it's certainly something you'd imagine in an open weight pairing,
11:14Finley and Hiromu.
11:15But Fantasmo and Tanahashi, you may not expect it, Finley to the eyes of Tanah.
11:21And Tanahashi to the eyes of Finley.
11:24Eye for an eye.
11:26And Dragon Screw Leg Whip from the Ace of the Universe.
11:37Yeah, that hurts, I've taken a few of those.
11:46Fantasmo wants that tag in the corner.
11:48Here comes the World Television Champion, El Fantasmo's in it.
11:54Love to pick up a victory over the leader of the Bullet Club,
11:57his former unit in LP.
12:00Watch it, Tehenis take down.
12:02Beautiful.
12:03No, no, no, no.
12:09No, no.
12:28Revenge, I hope you got that.
12:31And Fantasmo, no, turned around it.
12:35Up and over here for LP, off the ropes.
12:38Makes it look fluid like water.
12:39Watch it, crossbody.
12:42And another moonsault off the middle.
12:46In succession, cover again, two.
12:52El Fantasmo missed out on last year's World Tag League
12:55due to a cancer diagnosis chase.
12:57He has spent the last calendar year
12:59waiting in the shadows for his opportunity
13:02to team alongside Tanahashi
13:03and to have that World Tag League run he wanted one year ago.
13:08That's a big rub, huh?
13:10Teaming with Tana in his last tournament.
13:12Yeah, you're right.
13:14Good old moon.
13:15Caught by the heavyweight, Nel Pete.
13:20And Finley, Finley capturing in Hiromu.
13:23Oh, well.
13:27Yeah, I don't think that worked the way he anticipated.
13:29Oh, and these two now coming to blows, Chase.
13:32What the hell is going on here?
13:33Punch him right in the mouth.
13:34Oh, Fantasmo going to do the dirty work for him.
13:42LP, watch this, taking it all the way to the outside
13:45in the big pallet in Fukushima.
13:49Watch out, through the heavens.
13:51Ho-ho!
13:56Wipes out Finley and Hiromu.
14:07High risk paid off.
14:09Yeah, certainly so right now.
14:10Fantasmo, world television champion,
14:13trying to put down this year's New Japan Cup winner.
14:15He's up on the shoulder here, LP.
14:22And it is an unidentified flying opponent.
14:26UFO drops down for LP.
14:31Yeah, you never know when you're going to land on that.
14:33That's what hurts the worst, I believe.
14:36Oh, and David Finley, all the pain in the world,
14:39is not going to keep him down for a three right now.
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