NJPW Sengoku Lord in Nagoya Results and Grades: Another all-action main event

Satoshi Kojima, Togi Makabe, and Ryuske Taguchi vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Toro Yano, and Gabriel Kidd

Result: Togi Makabe pins Gabriel Kidd with a bridging suplex.

Unfortunately, this match was changed at the last minute as Tomoaki Honma and Yota Tsuji both came in contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and were quarantined as a result. The card was adjusted taking this from an eight-man tag match to a six-man match which allowed for both Gabriel Kidd and Tomohiro Ishii even more time to shine.

Kidd continues to look like someone that NJPW is putting a TON of faith in going forward as he went strike for strike with both Satoshi Kojima and Ryuske Taguchi. Both veterans selling well for the young lion and allowing him to look quite strong.

At one point near the end of the match Kidd and Makabe traded several matt wrestling moves back and forth switching who had the upper hand at a moments notice and leading to several near falls before the veteran Makabe was able to get the upper hand suplexing Kidd into a bride and pinning him for the win.

Following his victory, Makabe continued to stare down Kidd in the center of the ring until Kidd pulled himself to his feet staring directly into the veteran’s eyes and seemingly wanting to fight again. Makabe was pulled from the ring by coach Toro Yano but I doubt their confrontation ends here.

Grade: C – 

Admittedly a better match than the first and a great match to continue to establish Gabriel Kidd to a Japanese audience that may be unaware of just how talented he is. The guys made the best of a bad situation with the late change to the card and delivered a decent performance.