NJPW Destruction in Kobe: Results, Grades, and Analysis
https://twitter.com/njpwworld/status/1043751591306616832
On September 23, NJPW presented the final show in their Destruction tour, with a main event featuring two of the biggest stars in NJPW.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchia Okada have had one of the most storied rivalries in the last 20 years of wrestling. They met again in the main event of NJPW Destruction in Kobe. Hiroshi Tanahashi used to have Okada’s number, defeating him in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom twice. However, Okada finally defeated him in 2015 at Wrestle Kingdom. Since then, Tanahashi was unable to defeat him, and the two other times they wrestled they went to a draw. Tanahashi, upon winning the G1, knew that he had to defeat Okada to show that he was still the Ace. In the main event, he had his chance to show it. As always, this show can be viewed in its entirety on NJPW World.
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
#njdest 神戸大会がスタート！第1試合は伝統の一戦！ヤングライオン対決、辻陽太 VS 上村優也！
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) September 23, 2018
視聴＆登録▷https://t.co/NxJKtVK94f #njdest #njpw #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/AeAH736tN1
These two young lions went the full 10 minutes in a basic match, seeing them come to yet another draw.
Result: Draw
Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)
Ren Narita & Shota Umino vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) (CHAOS) w/ Rocky Romero
#njdest 神戸大会！第2試合は #RPG3K VS ヤングライオン組！@njpw_shota & @rennarita_njpw が見事なコンビプレーで昨年のJr.タッグリーグ覇者 @njpwShowT & @njpwyohei_k を追い込んでいく！
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) September 23, 2018
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This one went pretty much exactly as you would predict, with RPG 3K defeating the young lions after a few minutes. This was a really solid tag, showing that we might see a nice feud between SHO & YOH against Narita and Umino in the future.
Result: RPG 3K
Rating: **1/2
Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
.@Liger_NJPW 'Avalanche Frankensteiner'#NJPWWorld Watch now▶︎https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) September 23, 2018
9.23 #njpw #njdest pic.twitter.com/JVxBgsrWGk
Suzuki-gun immediately attacked Liger and Tiger Mask while they were walking to the ring, stopping Liger’s theme from playing, which is a crime against humanity. Liger and Tiger Mask briefly regained the advantage when Liger hit a series of palm strikes. The rest of the match saw Liger and Mask completely dominated by Suzuki-gun, but Tiger Mask managed to cradle Kanemaru and get the pinfall out of nowhere! It looks like Liger and Tiger Mask are going to get a title shot against Suzuki-gun (who are the reigning champions).
Result: Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask
Rating: **3/4 (2.75 Stars out of 5)
Thankfully, Liger’s theme played after the match, which makes up for it being cut off early.