NJPW New Year Dash 2020: Results, Highlights, and Grades

Juice Robinson, David Finlay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kota Ibushi vs. Bullet Club ((Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa), Bad Luck Fale, & Chase Owens) w/ Jado

Chase Owens offered Ibushi a “Too Sweet” to start the match, trying to get him to be on friendly terms with the Bullet Club again. Ibushi refused, so Owens beat on him and tried to take the advantage early.

Ibushi floated over a corner attack and hit dropkick before tagging out to Tanahashi. Tanahashi hit a crossbody off the middle rope, but at a cheap shot from Tama Tonga as he hit the ropes.

This was enough for Chase Owens to attack, and Bullet Club soon took everyone to ringside and started beating on them. Fale threw Tanahashi into the barricade while Owens took Ibushi well into the audience and threw him into a guardrail.

Back in the ring, they got the heat on Tanahashi for awhile, with Tama Tonga and Fale both beating on him. Tama Tonga hit a dropkick and got a two count, as the crowd chanted “Go Ace!”

Tanga Loa came in and mocked the crowd before sending Tanahashi to the corner and clotheslining him. Loa tried to hit a brainbuster, but Tanahashi hit Twist and Shout and tagged in Juice Robinson who ran wild, smashing Tanga Loa with two lariats and a cannonball. Juice hit Loa with a huge left hand and went for Pulp Friction. Tama Tonga cut him off and hit the Tongan Twist.

David Finlay ran wild, hitting a running uppercut on Tama Tonga. Chase Owens cut him off and hit then hit a dive on Ibushi. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa started to double team Juice and Finlay, but they reversed an Irish whip and hit back suplexes. Fale cut both men off with a clothesline. Juice blocked an attempt at the Juice Box by Chase Owens and he tagged out to Ibushi.

Ibushi beat on Owens, but as he hit the ropes, Jado hit Ibushi with a kendo stick shot. Owens hit the Jewel Heist, but he kicked out at 2. Owens hit a running knee on Ibushi and got a two count again.

Ibushi went for a kick, but Owens caught him with a V-Trigger and went for the Package Piledriver! Ibushi fought out and rolled backwards and came back with a Bomaye! Tanahashi hit a sling blade and then hit a Kamigoye! Ibushi pinned Owens!

Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, David Finlay, & Juice Robinsson

Rating: **** (4 stars)

This was an absolutely excellent tag match that told a great story. Ibushi was clearly struggling with the losses at Wrestle Kingdom, and it seems like Tanahashi and Ibushi are going to be a tag team for a little while.

Tanahashi and Ibushi, upon celebrating with Finlay & Juice, asked them for a title shot! Finlay and Juice accepted. Ibushi and Tanahashi should be an excellent tag team. I’m excited to see what happens.