NJPW Honor Rising Night 1
February 23, 2018
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

First Match: Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale vs. Katsuya Kitamura & Toa Henare 

Kitamura is talking smack to Fale before the bell rings. Kitamura and Takahashi will start things off. Takahashi slaps Kitamura in the chest. Kitamura shoves Takahashi. Takahashi kicks Kitamura in the gut. Takahashi applies a side headlock. Kitamura drops Takahashi with a shoulder tackle. Kitamura tells Fale to bring it. Takahashi tags in Fale. Fale goes for a shoulder block, but Kitamura stands still. Fale delivers a clubbing blow to the back of Kitamura. Fale knocks Henare off the ring apron. Fale throws Kitamura out of the ring. Following a snap mare takeover, but Takahashi levels Henare with a Running Boot. Fale sends Kitamura crashing into the steel guard rail. Fale tags in Takahashi.

Takahashi is throwing haymakers at Kitamura. Following another snap mare takeover, Takahashi hits the Running Leg Drop for a two count. Takahashi tags in Fale. Fale bodyslams Kitamura. Fale follows that with a Seated Senton for a two count. The Bullet Club are cutting the ring in half. Takahashi thrust kicks the midsection of Kitamura. Takahashi decks Kitamura with a Big Boot. Takahashi goes for The Fisherman’s Buster, but Kitamura counters with a Vertical Suplex. Kitamura tags in Henare.

Henare with forearm shivers to Takahashi. Henare drops Takahashi with a Running Shoulder Tackle. Henare lands a Flying Shoulder Block for a two count. Takahashi bites Henare’s thumb. Henare is leaning into forearms from Takahashi. Takahashi connects with a Basement Dropkick. Henare side steps Fale into the turnbuckles. Henare with a Corner Clothesline to Fale. Kitamura Spears Fale for a two count. Henare with a SpineBuster to Takahashi. Kitamura is trying to wear down Fale with more forearm smashes. Fale blocks The Vertical Suplex from Kitamura. Fale levels Kitamura with a Clubbing Lariat for a two count. Fale plants Kitamura with The Gernade to pickup the victory.

Winner: Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale via Pinfall 

Second Match: The Guerrillas of Destiny & Hikuleo vs. Cheeseburger, Delirious and Jushin Thunder Liger in a 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Hikuleo and Delirious will start things off. Delirious, Liger and Cheeseburger are dishing out knife edge chop, but it’s having absolutely no affect on Hikuleo. Hikuleo levels Cheeseburger with a Clubbing Haymaker. Cheeseburger kicks the left knee of Hikuleo. Cheeseburger lands a Bicycle Kick. Hikuleo responds with a Nasty Knife Edge Chop. Cheeseburger tags in Liger. Liger reverses out of the irish whips. Liger kicks Hikuleo in the jaw. Hikuleo dropkicks Liger. Hikuleo knocks Delirious off the ring apron. Hikuleo repeatedly stomps on Liger’s chest in the corner. Hikuleo is choking Liger with his boot. Hikuleo tags in Loa.

Loa delivers a Delayed BodySlam. Loa follows that with a Leg Drop for a one count. Loa transitions into a ground and pound attack. Loa tags in Tonga. Tonga HeadButts Liger. Tonga is mauling Liger on the middle rope. Hikuleo sends Liger crashing into the steel guard rail. Hikuleo with an Over Hand Chop to Liger. Liger and Tonga are trading back and forth shots. Tonga tags in Hikuleo. Hikuleo is putting the boots to Liger in the corner. GOD are cutting the ring in half.

Liger shoves Tonga into Loa. Tonga inadvertently takes out Hikuleo in the process. Liger hits The Shotei. Liger tags in Cheeseburger. Cheeseburger goes for a SpringBoard Crossbody Block, but Tonga catches him in mid-air. Tonga drives Cheeseburger back first into the turnbuckles. Cheeseburger is trying to negate the tandem offense from GOD. Cheeseburger connects with a Standing Tornado DDT for a two count.

Cheeseburger goes for a Clothesline, but Tonga counters with The Tonga Twist. Tonga tags in Hikuleo. Cheeseburger dodges a Big Boot from Hikuleo. Cheeseburger tags in Delirious. Delirious ducks a clothesline from Hikuleo. Hikuleo with a Reverse Uranage Slam for a two count. Delirious is biting Hikuleo’s fingers. Hikuleo is trying to create separation by holding onto the top rope. Cheeseburger Shotei’s Hikuleo into a Sunset Flip from Delirious to pickup the victory.

Winner: Cheeseburger, Delirious and Jushin Thunder Liger via Pinfall 

Third Match: The Young Bucks vs. David Finlay & Juice Robinson 

Finlay and Nick Jackson will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Nick applies a side headlock. Nick drops Finlay with a Shoulder Block. Finlay blocks an early SuperKick Attempt. Finlay slips out of the Backslide Cover. Finlay kicks Nick in the gut. Nick responds with a dropkick. Nick tags in Matt. The Bucks connects with a PopUp Dropkick that sends Finlay out of the ring. The Bucks follows that with an Rope Assisted Crossbody Block to Robinson. Nick with a GutBuster to Finlay. The Bucks continues the sequence with a Back/NeckBreaker Combination. Nick dropkicks Robinson off the ring apron. Nick bounces Finlay’s head on the top turnbuckle pad. Nick tags in Matt.

Matt repeatedly stomps on Finlay’s chest. Finlay is a recipient of Stereo Hip Tosses and Basement Dropkicks from The Bucks. Nick floats over into a front facelock. Nick levels Finlay with a Big Boot. Nick rams his shoulders into the midsection of Finlay. Nick goes for a SlingShot X-Factor, but Finlay counters with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Matt tags himself in. Finlay drops Matt with a Running European Uppercut. Finlay tags in Robinson. Robinson clears the ring. Robinson with a Leg Lariat to Matt. Matt kicks Robinson in the chest. Robinson responds with a series of Belly to Belly Suplex’s. Robinson is trying to play mind games with Tiger Hattori.

Robinson connects with a Corner Clothesline. Robinson follows that with Two Running Cannonball Strikes. Robinson tags in Finlay. Finlay with a flurry of uppercuts to Matt Jackson. Finlay lands a Stinger Splash. Finlay and Robinson are cutting the ring in half. Robinson hits a Delayed Vertical Suplex. Robinson with a Leaping Senton Splash for a two count. Finlay targets the injured back of Matt. Finlay kicks Matt in the face. Finlay is putting the boots to Matt in the corner. Finlay tags in Robinson. Matt is trying to negate the tandem offense from Finlay and Robinson. Matt sends Finlay crashing into the ringside barricade.

Matt dishes out a Wrecking Ball Dropkick. Robinson goes for a Back Body Drop, but Matt lands back on his feet. Matt ducks a clothesline from Robinson. Matt tags in Nick. Nick with a Spinning RoundHouse Kick to Robinson. Nick decks Finlay with a Back Elbow Smash. Nick connects with a Running BullDog/Lariat Combination. Nick lands a SpringBoard Splash to the outside. Nick rolls Robinson back into the ring. Robinson avoids The PopUp Dropkick from The Bucks. Robinson goes for Pulp Friction, but Nick blocks it. The Bucks has Finlay and Robinson trapped in Stereo SharpShooters.

Robinson crawls to the bottom rope to create separation. Nick tags in Matt. Robinson kicks Matt in the gut. Robinson goes for a PowerBomb, but Matt counters with a SunsetFlip. Robinson regains momentum with a Half Nelson Bomb. Robinson makes the tag to Finlay. Finlay with a Belly to Back Suplex to Nick Jackson. Finlay fires up with a series of Running European Uppercuts. The Bucks staggers Finlay with Stereo Hesitation Dropkicks in the corner. Matt tags in Nick. The Bucks goes for The Meltzer Driver, but Finlay lands back on his feet.

Nick inadvertently SuperKicks Matt. Finlay rolls Nick over for a two count. Finlay uppercuts Nick. Nick responds with a SuperKick. Robinson dishes out Two Leg Lariats. Robinson is trying to wear down The Bucks with Juice Jabs. Robinson mocks The Bucks. The Bucks lays out Robinson with The Double SuperKick. Finlay kicks Nick in the jaw. Finlay follows that with an Uppercut to Matt. Nick knocks Finlay off the top turnbuckle. Matt Spears Finlay. Nick hits The Shining Wizard for a two count. Nick tags in Matt. Nick with The PK to Robinson. The Bucks plants Finlay with The Meltzer Driver to pickup the victory.

Winner: The Young Bucks via Pinfall 

Fourth Match: Flip Gordon vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Kushida in a Triple Threat Match 

Quick feeling out process after the bells rings. Kushida applies a side headlock on Gordon. Kushida with a Shoulder Tackle to Takahashi. Gordon matrix outs of lariats from both Takahashi and Kushida. Kushida kicks Gordon in the gut. Gordon is showing off his athleticism in the center of the ring. Takahashi and Kushida takes out Gordon with Stereo Basement Dropkicks. Following a Chop/Forearm Exchange, Kushida leapfrogs over Takahashi. Kushida hits The Cartwheel Dropkick. Kushida with a HandSpring Back Elbow Strike to Gordon for a one count. Kushida slaps Gordon in the chest. Kushida drives Gordon face first to the canvas. Kushida delivers a Sliding Dropkick for a one count. Kushida knocks Takahashi off the ring apron.

Kushida kicks the hamstring of Gordon. Kushida with a Clubbing Knee Breaker. Kushida applies The Figure Leg Lock. Takahashi breaks up the submission. Takahashi sends Kushida out of the ring. Takahashi slaps Gordon in the chest. Takahashi repeatedly stomps on the injured leg of Gordon. Takahashi wraps Gordon’s right leg around the middle rope. Takahashi with a Running Forearm Smash to Kushida. Takahashi follows that with a Basement Dropkick. Takahashi starts paint brushing Gordon. Takahashi hits The Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Takahashi kicks the back of Gordon’s knee.  Gordon decks Takahashi with a Spinning Heel Kick. Following a snap mare takeover, Gordon connects with The PK. Gordon with a Standing MoonSault for a two count.

Gordon with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick to Kushida. Gordon lands a MoonSault to the outside. Takahashi responds with a ShotGun Dropkick off the ring apron. Takahashi rolls Kushida back into the ring. Takahashi with a Corner Clothesline to Kushida. Kushida avoids a Running Basement Dropkick from Takahashi. Kushida goes for a HandSpring Cutter, but Takahashi counters with a Waist Lock. Kushida transitions into The Kimura Lock. Gordon SuperKicks Kushida. Takahashi SuperKicks Gordon. Gordon launches Takahashi out of the ring. Gordon decks Kushida with a SpringBoard Thrust Kicks. Gordon thrust kicks Takahashi on the ring apron. Gordon connects with a SpringBoard Hurricanrana. Gordon follows that with a Suicide Dive.

Gordon goes for The 450 Splash, but Kushida ducks out of the way. Gordon hits The Samoan Drop. Gordon lands a Standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. Kushida with a Double Heel Kick to Takahashi and Gordon. Kushida with an Avalanche Cross ArmBreaker to Takahashi. Gordon breaks the submission with a SpringBoard Frog Splash. Following a long forearm exchange, Gordon SuperKicks Kushida. Takahashi has Gordon in a fireman’s carry position. Kushida levels Takahashi with an Over Head Kick.

Kushida floats over into the HoverBoard Lock. Takahashi with a German Suplex to Gordon. Takahashi sends Kushida crashing into Gordon with a Snap Over Head Belly to Belly Suplex. Takahashi with a Running Death Valley Driver into the turnbuckles. Takahashi kicks Gordon in the gut. Takahashi goes for The Time Bomb, but Gordon gets in the way. Gordon connects with a Spinning HandSpring Cutter. Gordon launches Kushida out of the ring. Gordon lands The 450 Splash to pickup the victory.

Winner: Flip Gordon via Pinfall 

Fifth Match: Chuckie T, Beretta, and Jay White vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle in a 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Taguchi and Castle are eating fish sticks before the bell rings. Castle and Beretta will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Castle backs Beretta into the turnbuckles. We have a quick stalemate in the corner. Beretta applies a side headlock. Beretta drops Castle with a shoulder tackle. Castle responds with a Hip Toss. Beretta with a side headlock takeover to Castle. Castle applies a headscissors leg lock. Castle ducks a clothesline from Beretta. Castle goes for The Bangarang, but Beretta counters with a Sunset Flip for a two count. Castle does his signature pose in the center of the ring. Beretta is hugging it out with Taylor. Taylor says that he’s going to take off Castle’s shirt. Castle tags in Taguchi.

Taylor applies a side headlock. Taguchi leapfrogs over Taylor. Taylor goes for a Sunset Flip, but Taguchi counters with a seated senton. Taguchi clears the ring. Taguchi Japan are triple teaming Taylor. Taguchi decks Taylor with a Leaping Hip Attack. Taylor dropkicks the butt of Taguchi. Taylor bounces Taguchi’s head on the top turnbuckle pad. Taylor tags in White. White is lighting up Taguchi’s chest. White with a Running European Uppercut for a two count. White hits The Saito Suplex. White tags in Taylor. Taylor with the lateral press for a two count. Beretta lands a Flying Double Axe Handle to the back of Taguchi. Beretta mocks Castle. Stereo Elbow Drops from The Best Friends.

Taylor with a Clubbing Fist Drop for a two count. Taylor bodyslams Taguchi. Taylor goes for a MoonSault, but Taguchi ducks out of the way. Taguchi dishes out a Running Hip Attack. Taguchi tags in Lethal. Lethal throws Taylor out of the ring. Lethal with a Corner Spear to Beretta. Lethal knocks Taylor off the ring apron with a SpringBoard Dropkick. Lethal slides under White. Lethal lands a Suicide Dive. Lethal connects with The Lethal Combination. Lethal applies the Figure Four Leg Lock. Castle decks Beretta with a Back Elbow Smash. Castle with a Saito Suplex to Taylor. Taylor side steps Castle into the turnbuckles.

Beretta fires off a Leaping Back Elbow Strike. Beretta hits The Tornado DDT. Lethal SuperKicks Beretta. Lethal and White are trading back and forth shots. Lethal uppercuts White. Lethal tags in Taguchi. Lethal goes for Lethal Injection, but Taylor counters with Sole Food. Taguchi lands a SpringBoard Hip Attack. Taguchi with The Shining Wizard to White for a two count. Taguchi goes for Dodon, but White counters with a Victory Roll for a two count. Taguchi gets White trapped in the Ankle Lock. White dishes out his lighting quick offense. White plants Taguchi with Blade Runner to pickup the victory.

Winner: Chuckie T, Beretta and Jay White via Pinfall 

Sixth Match: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. The Beer City Bruiser For The NEVER OpenWeight Championship 

Bruiser throws his cigar at Goto before the bell rings. Goto and Bruiser are running into each other. Bruiser drops Goto with a shoulder tackle. Bruiser dishes out an elbow strike across the face of Goto. Bruiser tells the referee to clean the ring. Goto kicks Bruiser in the jaw. Bruiser responds with a right hand which sends Goto crashing to the outside. Bruiser lands a Running Cannonball Strike off the ring apron. Bruiser drives Goto back first to the ring apron. Bruiser slaps Goto in the chest. Bruiser is chugging beer on the floor. Bruiser rolls Goto back into the ring. Bruiser with the cover for a two count. Bruiser locks in the Cravate. Bruiser rakes the nose of Goto. Bruiser with a Knee Drop for a two count. Bruiser with a One Legged Dropkick for a one count. Goto is grasping for air on the bottom rope.

Bruiser kicks Goto in the face. Bruiser spits at beer into Goto’s eyes. Goto creates distance with multiple bodyshots. Bruiser with a Knee Lift to Goto. Goto responds with a Big Boot. Goto follows that with a series of running lariats. Goto with forearm shivers to Bruiser. Goto hits the Spinning Heel Kick. Goto connects with a Saito Suplex for a two count. Goto goes for the Ushigoroshi, but Bruiser lands back on his feet. Bruiser runs through Goto with a Body Avalanche. Bruiser delivers another Cannonball Strike. Bruiser lands a Vader Bomb for a two count.

Goto locks in The Sleeper Hold. Bruiser blocks The PK. Bruiser with a SitOut PowerBomb for a two count. Bruiser ascends to the top turnbuckle. Goto connects with The Ushigoroshi for a two count. Goto goes for The GTR, but Bruiser counters with a Tilt-A-Whirl PowerSlam for a two count. Bruiser goes for a Frog Splash, but Goto ducks out of the way. Goto with a Running Lariat to the back of Bruiser’s head. Bruiser hits The Inside Out Lariat. Goto responds with a HeadButt. Goto plants Bruiser with The GTR to pickup the victory.

Winner: Still NEVER OpenWeight Champion, Hirooki Goto via Pinfall 

Seventh Match: Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi and Chase Owens vs. Cody Rhodes, Marty Scrull and Hangman Page in a 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Rhodes spits at a Golden Lovers sign before the bell rings. Rhodes is trying to egg on the Korakuen Hall Crowd. Ibushi and Page will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Page backs Ibushi into the ropes. Page shoves Ibushi. Page dodges a buzzsaw kick from Ibushi. Page applies a side headlock. Page drops Ibushi with a shoulder tackle. Ibushi leapfrogs over Page. Ibushi dropkicks Page. Owens tags himself in. Owens with a Snap Vertical Suplex for a one count. Owens tags in Omega. Following a snap mare takeover, Owens and Omega are double teaming Page. Owens and Omega delivers Stereo Elbow Drops for a one count. Rhodes knocks Ibushi off the ring apron. Page kicks Omega in the gut. Page tags in Scrull.

Page tells Scrull to get in the ring. Scrull with a waist lock go-behind to Omega. Omega responds with a waist lock takedown. Omega floats over into a front facelock. Scrull applies a side headlock. Omega transitions into a wrist lock. Following the duration of this grappling exchange, we have a standoff in the center of the ring. Omega drops Scrull with a shoulder tackle. Rhodes kicks Omega in the back. Omega takes a swing at Rhodes. Scrull stomps on Omega’s hand. Scrull refuses to snap Omega’s finger. Ibushi kicks Scrull in the back. The Golden Lovers and Owens are triple teaming Scrull. Owens connects with a Double Knee GutBuster for a two count. Rhodes throws Ibushi out of the ring.

Owens is trying to negate the tandem offense from Bullet Club. Rhodes drop toe holds Owens into a Sliding Dropkick from Scrull. Page follows that with a Standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. Scrull stomps on Owen’s elbow. Scrull tags in Rhodes. Rhodes lands a Flying Double Axe Handle. Rhodes with multiple closed fist strikes to Owens. Rhodes drags Owens to the corner. Rhodes tags in Page. Page is mauling Owens on the middle rope. Page whips Owens throat first across the top rope. The Bullet Club are cutting the ring in half. Scrull connects with a Shoulder Twist. Owens responds with a Big Boot. Owens clears the ring. Scrull hits The SuperPlex. The Golden Lovers are sent crashing to the outside.

Stereo Suicide Dives from Rhodes and Page. Scrull thrust kicks Owens from the ring apron. Rhodes rolls Owens back into the ring. Rhodes with the cover for a two count. Rhodes with a Delayed Front Suplex to Owens. Owens fires back with a chop/forearm combination. Owens throws Rhodes to the other side of the ring. Owens delivers an innovative backbreaker to Rhodes. Owens tags in Ibushi. Stereo Leapfrogs from The Golden Lovers. Ibushi decks Scrull with a Buzzsaw Kick. Omega follows that with The Kotaro Krusher. Page goes for a Flying Clothesline, but The Golden Lovers counters with Stereo Dropkicks. The Golden Lovers continues this sequence with Stereo Golden Triangle MoonSaults.

Omega PowerBombs Scrull into a German Suplex from Ibushi for a two count. The Golden Lovers goes for a V-Trigger/Kamigoye Combination, but Rhodes drags Ibushi out of the ring. Page drops Omega with a Discus Forearm Smash. Owens responds with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Rhodes with a DDT to Owens. Ibushi levels Rhodes with The Pele Kick. Scrull takes down Ibushi with a NeckBreaker. Omega responds with a V-Trigger. Omega and Rhodes are trading back and forth shots. Rhodes kicks Omega in the gut. Rhodes follows that with a Drop Down Uppercut. Rhodes goes for Cross Rhodes, but Omega counters with a Snap Mare TakeOver. Omega hits The Leaping V-Trigger. Omega connects with a Snap Dragon Suplex. Omega goes for another V-Trigger, but Page counters with a Slingshot Inside Out Lariat.

Rhodes goes for Cross Rhodes, but Ibushi counters with a SpringBoard Dropkick. Ibushi brings his lighting quick offense to Page. Page creates distance with a Forearm Smash. Scrull hits The Last Shot. Scrull locks in The CrossFace Chicken Wing. Page lays out Owens with a Shooting Star Press off the ring apron. Ibushi places his boot on the bottom rope to create separation. Ibushi goes for a Standing MoonSault, but Scrull gets his knees up in the air. The Bullet Club connects with The Doomsday Dropkick for a two count. Rhodes clotheslines Omega over the top rope. Scrull tags in Page.

Ibushi with a Hurricanrana to Scrull. Ibushi drops Page with a Leg Lariat. Ibushi tags in Owens. Owens with a HammerLock Lariat for a two count. Owens goes for The Package PileDriver, but Page counters with a knife edge chop. Owens with a Big Boot to Page. Page responds with a SuperKick. Owens takes down Page with The Inside Out Lariat. Owens goes for The Package PileDriver, but Page counters with The Rite Of Passage to pickup the victory. After the match, Omega is brawling with Rhodes on the floor. The Young Bucks and Ibushi are trying to play peacemakers.

Winner: Cody Rhodes, Marty Scrull and Hangman Page via Pinfall 

Check out Episode 94 of The Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast