NJPW Destruction is upon us, and it will be this Sunday at Kobe World Memorial Hall. The show starts at 4 p.m. JST/3 a.m. ET live and direct on NJPW World.
From four originally slated title matches, this year’s card will now have five. Here are the exciting matches to look forward to on Sunday:
NJPW Destruction Results:
- Main event: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Ren Narita
- 7th match: IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship – Gabe Kidd (c) def. Shingo Takagi
- 6th match: Yota Tsuji def. David Finlay
- 5th match: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Championship – Hiromu Takahashi (c) def. Taiji Ishimori
- 4th match: IWGP Tag Team Championship – Yuto-ICE & OSKAR def. Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii (c)
- 3rd match: NEVER Openweight Championship – Boltin Oleg (c) def. Don Fale
- 2nd match: Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Great O-Khan
- 1st match: YOH, El Desperado, YOSHI-HASHI, Yuya Uemura, & Shota Umino def. SHO, DOUKI, Dick Togo, Sanada, & EVIL
Sabre Survives Narita & H.o.T
Zack Sabre Jr. remains the IWGP World Heavyweight champion with a win over Ren Narita. This marks his second successful defense in his second reign, avenging his G1 loss to Narita.
Narita relentlessly targeted Sabre’s knee throughout their match, with a bit of help from Yujiro Takahashi and Sanada when he was in dire straits. Even the champion was impressed by Narita’s performance, saying that he doesn’t need the House of Torture to win.
Now TMDK’s Frontman looks ahead to his next defense on October 13 at King of Pro-Wrestling against G1 Climax 35 winner Konosuke Takeshita.
Kidd Triumphs In Violent War Against Takagi
Gabe Kidd is still the IWGP Global Heavyweight champion after a violent affair against Shingo Takagi. Kidd clinched his second successful defense of his maiden reign as Global champion and evened up the singles match record between him and Takagi with two wins apiece.
Yota Tsuji would then step up to challenge Kidd, who was the man Kidd beat to become champion. Kidd accepted and named the date and place; October 13, Ryogoku Kokugikan for King of Pro-Wrestling.
Time Bomb Explodes On Bone Soldier, Eita Appears
Hiromu Takahashi succeeded in defending the GHC Jr. Heavyweight title for the first time against Taiji Ishimori. Ishimori tried to pull out all the stops, including a low blow, but Takahashi had an answer for everything.
Another surprise appearance from a NOAH wrestler happened, as Eita, Takahashi’s next challenger, snuck up from behind and hit him with the Imperial Uno superkick. Eita sent a loud message, to which Takahashi will get the chance to respond on October 11 at Wrestle Odyssey.
Knockout Brothers Clinch Huge Title Win
OSKAR and Yuto-ICE are now the new IWGP Tag Team champions after prevailing over Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii. K.O.B.’s victory makes for seven reigning champions who did not get past one title defense.
Things got more interesting after the match, as the team of Yuya Uemura and Shota Umino marched to the ring to challenge the new champions to a fight. Yuto-ICE accepted on their team’s behalf, and now we wait for the date when it will happen.
Oleg Retains Over Fale, Has EVIL Up Next
Boltin Oleg managed to retain the NEVER Openweight title against Don Fale, despite outside interference from Dick Togo and EVIL. The champion showcased his power during the match, with impressive feats of strength against the big Tongan.
After winning, Togo assaulted Oleg from behind with his signature choker and then handed him over to EVIL to finish the job. The King of Darkness would then pick up the NEVER belt, hoist it up, and declare himself the next challenger while stepping on Oleg’s fallen carcass.
NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya Challenges Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hiroshi Tanahashi toppled Great O-Khan in his final match at Kobe World Memorial Hall. After his win, NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya made a surprise appearance to speak with The Ace.
The leader of All Rebellion thanked Tanahashi for having him wrestle at Tanahashi Jam back in June, and proceeded to invite him to wrestle in NOAH in a singles match against him before he retires, to which Tanahashi responded with a resounding “let’s do it.” The match is slated for Wrestle Odyssey on October 11.
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