NJPW Wrestling Dontaku results: SANADA challenges Okada & more

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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The Holy Emperor Has Reached Another Level

Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, YOSHI-HASHI, Jeff Cobb & Toa Henare vs Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Color me surprised that Taichi defeated Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight Title. I didn’t see that one coming at all and, honestly, I’m more than disappointed that Cobb’s reign was so short-lived. I was hoping to see him built as a force in New Japan leading to a strong G1 run, so who knows what the future holds for Gachimuchi at this point.

In one of the biggest shocks of the night, the Suzuki-gun team decided to not attack their opponents before the bell and allow the match to start without incident! With the show starting at 1 AM local time, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t having some kind of bizarre dream about the most unrealistic scenarios in pro-wrestling.

Proving that all people truly do love YOSHI-HASHI and want him to succeed, Taguchi presented The Head Hunter with his scrum helmet. YOSHI-HASHI’s butt was now the official Funky Weapon of the contest. Unfortunately, Taguchi found himself whipped into YOSHI-HASHI’s humps. To add to the trauma, our brave boy was choked out by Minoru Suzuki but he did look like a real pro in that helmet.

Toa Henare told the story here of wanting to get the victory on Taichi to earn himself a future shot at the NEVER Openweight Title. Unfortunately for Toa, Taichi has apparently turned himself up to Ishii Gear since the tremendous Taichi/Ishii match in the New Japan Cup and could not be stopped.

With a swift superkick to Toa, Taichi picked up the win for the Suzuki-gun squad. There wasn’t much of note here other than Taichi getting a solid win for his unit as he begins his second reign with the NEVER Openweight Title.