NJPW returns after a short break following the grueling G1 tour with Road to Destruction set to kick off this Friday, 6 September. Five electrifying nights of action have been announced so far with major title matches, heated rivalries, and critical confrontations setting the stage for the upcoming Destruction in Kobe event on September 29.
Let’s take a closer look at the big matchups scheduled for the tour and some of the history behind these encounters:
Big Matches on Nights 1-5 of the Tour:
- Jeff Cobb (c) vs Yota Tsuji – NJPW World TV Title (Tag 2 – 9/8/24)
- HENARE (c) vs Hiromu Takahashi – NEVER Openweight Title (Tag 3 – 9/9/24)
- DOUKI (c) vs Taiji Ishimori – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title (Tag 4 – 9/11/24)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi, Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano (c) vs House of Torture (EVIL, Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi – NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Titles (Tag 5 – 9/14/24)
- Los Igobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI) vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr & Kosei Fujita) (Tag 2 – 9/8/24)
- Los Igobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman, HENARE, Jakob Austin Young & Jeff Cobb) (Tag 1 – 9/6/24)
- CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii) & Tomoaki Honma vs Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Jake Lee & Gedo)
Announced Destruction in Kobe (9/29/24) Card Thus Far:
- David Finlay (c) vs YOSHI-HASHI – IWGP Global Heavyweight Title
- Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Great-O-Khan – IWGP World Heavyweight Title
Cobb and Tsuji Battle for Redemption
Jeff Cobb will defend his NJPW World TV Title against Yota Tsuji, a promising young star who recently reached the final of the G1 Climax before falling short. Cobb, himself, narrowly missed a spot in the G1 quarter-finals, making this match a critical opportunity for redemption.
While Cobb and Tsuji have yet to meet in a significant singles match, their paths crossed during G1 action, where Tsuji showed no fear against the established powerhouse. Cobb, a former Olympian, has been a dominant force in NJPW with his blend of power and agility, while Tsuji looks to prove himself against a world-class competitor who he beat in the G1.
This will be a true test of Tsuji’s growth and resilience against the hard-hitting Cobb.
G1 Winner vs Champion
Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japón take on TMDK’s Zack Sabre Jr. and Kosei Fujita in what could be a defining match of the tour. Naito and Sabre share a storied history, with their rivalry dating back to numerous clashes in tournaments like the G1 Climax, where each has scored crucial wins over the other.
Most recently, ZSJ defeated Naito in the G1 and, with his victory, he earned the right to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. This tag match is the first step in their renewed rivalry, setting the stage for a likely title bout.
Meanwhile, Fujita, under ZSJ’s mentorship, will seek to prove his worth against the experienced BUSHI, making this an intriguing mix of established talent and rising stars.
Naito leads LIJ to battle with Great-O-Khan’s United Empire on Opening Night
This ten-man tag main event of night 1 brings together some of NJPW’s top talents, with Naito leading Los Ingobernables de Japón against the United Empire. The main focus will be on Naito and Great-O-Khan.
The two have been on a collision course since O-Khan defeated Naito on the final night of the G1 Climax block stage, knocking him out of the tournament and advancing to the quarter-finals himself. Naito is set to defend his IWGP World Heavyweight Title against O-Khan at Destruction in Kobe.
Meanwhile, faction pride is on the line, with the LIJ and United Empire members each bringing their unique styles and fierce competitiveness to the bout.
YOSHI-HASHI lays down Global heavyweight challenge
The feud between CHAOS and the Bullet Club War Dogs has escalated in recent weeks, with YOSHI-HASHI and David Finlay’s rivalry at its center. After CHAOS defeated the War Dogs on the final night of the G1, David Finlay and YOSHI-HASHI are set to clash for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at Destruction in Kobe.
This eight-man tag match serves as another battleground for their intense rivalry, with Finlay looking to gain a psychological edge before their title match.
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