{"id":85666,"date":"2021-02-26T15:00:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T20:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=85666"},"modified":"2021-02-26T12:21:55","modified_gmt":"2021-02-26T17:21:55","slug":"njpw-castle-attack-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/02\/26\/njpw-castle-attack-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: NJPW Castle Attack 2021 (2\/27\/21 – 2\/28\/21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Japan Pro Wrestling<\/strong> is starting a brand new tour in February known as <\/span>Castle Attack<\/b><\/em>. This tour will be headlined by two major shows in <\/span>Osaka Jo-Hall<\/b> which will be happening this weekend. On this tour’s first night, we will see two rivalries possibly end as Bullet Club<\/strong>‘s top members face off against CHAOS<\/strong>‘ top workers, with the theme of this show being Bullet Club vs. CHAOS. On Night Two, we will see a new champion crowned, a possibility of the ending of the IWGP double titles, and more. Let’s get into this preview of <\/span>Castle Attack<\/em>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Full Cards for<\/b> Castle Attack<\/h2>\n

Castle Attack – Night One<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Will Ospreay, Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Yoshi-Hashi vs. Tanga Loa<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga<\/span><\/li>\n
  • KOPW 2021: Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Jay White vs. Tomohiro Ishii<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Main Event: Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Castle Attack – Night Two<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Will Ospreay and Jeff Cobb vs. Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Evil, Jay White and Chase Owens vs. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano<\/span><\/li>\n
    • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa (c) vs. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI<\/span><\/li>\n
    • NEVER Openweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Great O-Khan<\/span><\/li>\n
    • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – Vacant: El Phantasmo vs. El Desperado vs. BUSHI<\/span><\/li>\n
    • IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Castle Attack Night One<\/b><\/h2>\n

      KOPW 2021 Match<\/b><\/h3>\n

      Toru Yano<\/b> looks to defend his KOPW 2021 trophy against Bullet Club member <\/span>Chase Owens<\/b>. Both men have a short history together, with just recently both men being part of the KOPW 2021 match at Wrestle Kingdom 15<\/em><\/strong>. With Toru Yano winning that match, as of recently, the match’s stipulation has been hinted at as a strap match. With the history of Yano and the trophy, he is a heavy favorite in this match and could win easily.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"Tomohiro<\/p>\n

      Jay White vs. Tomohiro Ishii<\/b><\/h3>\n

      At Wrestle Kingdom 15<\/em>, Jay White would lose in his double title match against Kota Ibushi. This match would cause Jay White to announce his departure from the company and would leave in a five-star match featuring Bullet Club vs. CHAOS. During this match, White was pinned by <\/span>Tomohiro Ishii. <\/b>Three weeks later<\/span>, <\/b>White would make his return to New Japan, going after Ishii and the <\/span>NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship. While the match was a losing effort for White, “The Switchblade” wanted Ishii. Jay White will get Tomohiro Ishii in the semi-final of the first night of <\/span>Castle Attack<\/em>.<\/p>\n

      The background of these two histories has been based in G1 Climax<\/em><\/strong> matches, with Tomohiro Ishii defeating Jay White <\/span>twice. The match seems to heavily favor Ishii, considering the match record. However, White has become more ruthless since he came back and could start gaining victories over top talent. This may start following his match against Ishii.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"Castle<\/p>\n

      Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL<\/b><\/h3>\n

      On the last <\/span>New Japan Cup Show of 2020<\/b>, Kazuchika Okada would face Evil in the finals of that tournament. This match seemed like an easy win for Kazuchika Okada. However, it would lead to a major upset with <\/span>EVIL <\/b>defeating Okada and later turning on him to go after Naito and the championship. After that turn, Evil and Kazuchika Okada would go separate ways until <\/span>January <\/b>of this year with an angrier more dedicated Kazuchika Okada. Kazuchika Okada has been calling out EVIL for multiple weeks, wanting to have a singles match against EVIL.. this would all come to a head at <\/span>Night Two<\/b> of <\/span>New Beginning In Hiroshima.<\/b><\/p>\n

      Both men faced each other in a tag match. This match would end via d<\/span>isqualification and would eventually become a singles match, which would also end with DQ. Evil doesn’t see the point of this match and walks to the back with Okada coming in, hitting Evil with a chair. The main event of Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL will be the seventh match of the series and will be the second time these two have faced off in Osaka Jo-Hall in singles action. This match does have a possibility of crowning a possible contender for Tetsuya Naito or Kota Ibushi soon. Just considering it\u2019s the main event.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Castle Attack Night Two<\/b><\/h2>\n

      \"NJPW<\/p>\n

      IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match<\/b><\/h3>\n

      When Jay White made his return to NJPW, he would do it with the help of Tama Tonga<\/strong> and Tanga Loa<\/strong>. From there, they went after CHAOS’ <\/span>NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Titles. This would lead to the trios match where YOSHI-HASHI<\/strong> picking up the victory in that match. Afterward, Hirooki Goto<\/strong> faced off against Tonga and Loa. Yoshi-Hashi has been on a winning streak in title matches as of late. Thus, this match could lead to another major moment with YOSHI-HASHI possibly winning his second ever championship in NJPW. <\/span>Hirooki Goto<\/strong>, a tag team specialist in his own right, looks to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the first time since 2015. This is also the second title defense for Tama and Tanga.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great O-Khan II<\/b><\/h3>\n

      At <\/span>Wrestle Kingdom 15<\/em>, <\/span>Hiroshi Tanahashi<\/b> would defeat The <\/span>Great O-Khan<\/b> in a special singles match on Night One. With this victory, Tanahashi would challenge for the NEVER Openweight Championship against Shingo Takagi at <\/span>New Beginning in Nagoya<\/b><\/em>. Hiroshi Tanahashi would defeat Shingo Takagi<\/a> to hold the <\/span>NEVER Openweight Championship<\/b> for the first time in his career. However, Great O-Khan would attack Tanahashi after the match, challenging him for the NEVER Openweight Championship. While Tanahashi is the Ace of New Japan, in recent title runs, he hasn’t been so lucky; his last three championship reigns have ended in the first title defense. Could this bad luck with championship reigns continue or will the Ace conquer O-Khan once again?<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n

      Sunday! The first three way IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match since April 2019 will crown a new champ! <\/p>\n

      Watch the match made in Korakuen Hall!https:\/\/t.co\/FUTL5COqwW<\/a>#njpw<\/a> #njcattack<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FKpYytWH2x<\/a><\/p>\n

      — NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 26, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n