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NJPW Wrestling Dontaku results: SANADA challenges Okada & more

ByCorey Collins|
OSAKA,JAPAN - FEBRUARY 11: Kazuchika Okada enters the ring prior to the match between Kazuchika Okada and Bad Luck Fale during the New Beginning of NJPW at Edion Arena Osaka on February 11, 2019 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
OSAKA,JAPAN - FEBRUARY 11: Kazuchika Okada enters the ring prior to the match between Kazuchika Okada and Bad Luck Fale during the New Beginning of NJPW at Edion Arena Osaka on February 11, 2019 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
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From (Young Lion) Boys To (Young Lion) Men

Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs Yuyu Uemura & Yota Tsuji

As expected, the show kicked off with the usual Young Lion fare as Yuyu Uemura and Yota Tsuji took on the seasoned rookies Shota Umino and Ren Narita. Narita, sporting tape on his shoulder, was fired up as he worked through a sprain suffered earlier in the tour. On commentary, Chris Charlton noted that Narita had given himself a deadline of “the end of the Best of the Super Juniors” to make something big happen for himself.

Shota and Narita are clearly the two standouts of the current Young Lion class. Tsuji is a firm third-place Young Lion for me with Uemura bringing up the rear. Something about Tsuji’s look and intensity really put him on another level, but we could always see Uemura break out of his shell as he continues to develop.

Shota picked up the win for his team which wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was notable that Narita returned to the ring post-match to deliver a flurry of stomps to Uemura. Could Narita’s plan to make a name for himself come at the expense of another Young Lion in the coming months?

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