This article will cover my review of NJPW Royal Quest and previews for the upcoming 2019 Young Lion Cup and Destruction Tour this month.
Match #1 – Roppongi 3K def. Taguchi, Umino, & Narita
A fun opening match. It did what it needed to do which was to hype up the crowd and you can never go wrong with that with all six wrestlers involved. Shota Umino was the standout of the match for me, other than being great as usual, the chants of “Shooter” from the crowd must feel pretty good for him. SHO wins it for his team by pinning Narita with a Power Breaker Slam at the 8 minute and 19 second mark.
Match #2 – Kota Ibushi & Juice Robinson def. Yujiro Takahashi & Hikuleo
Surprisingly enough a tag-team consisting of Ibushi and Juice works perfectly! They really play off each other’s charismas and overall just fun to watch together. Hikuleo is currently having his excursion in RevPro and it’s cool to see him grow as a performer too, both literally and finally gaining some attitude. Yujiro does Yujiro things not much else needed to be said. Again, just another quick 8 minute matchup to add to the G1 Champion’s momentum and for Juice’s upcoming US Title re-match against Mox at the Destruction tour. A Kamigoye to Hikuleo gets the Bullet Club duo a defeat.
Match #3 – Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles def. El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori
A revenge match between members of CHAOS: Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles against the reigning IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag-Team Champions: Phantasmo and Ishimori of Bullet Club. As one would expect, it was a very fast-paced action considering the four individuals involved. Ospreay pins Ishimori with the Red Wing, earning them a shot for the junior tag belts at the Destruction tour. This rivalry is far from over.
Match #4 – Tetsuya Naito & SANADA def. Jay White & Chase Owens
Another tag match extravaganza this time an LIJ duo of Naito and SANADA went up against BC’s Jay White and Chase Owens. The pop for Naito during his entrance is pretty outstanding. I already know he is one of the most over wrestlers in the world right now but man, it really tells you something when even outside the borders of Japan, he continues to get such loud cheers and deservingly so. Him and Jay White have a little rivalry going on ever since Switchblade ended Naito’s hopes on winning this year’s G1. This is a buildup to their re-match as well in Destruction for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Decent match but nothing out of the ordinary which is fine. Chase submits to a Skull End at the 12 minute and 59 second mark.
Match #5 – Guerrillas of Destiny def. Aussie Open for the IWGP Tag-Team Championships
So far representatives of Bullet Club have been taking loss after loss but that all changes with this match. GoD successfully defended the IWGP Tag-Team titles against Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher of Aussie Open. They won the RevPro Road to Royal Quest Tournament to become No. 1 Contenders for the belts. It is my favorite match of GoD so far as it is a fresh matchup. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a match of them but this really did it for me. Aussie Open are over with the UK crowd and they gave the Tongan brothers a run for their money with this solid 12 minute match. However a Super Powerbomb was enough to pin down Fletcher. GoD still remains the heavyweight tag champs and are looking to be so until Wrestle Kingdom. We’ll have to wait and see.
Match #6 – KENTA def. Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight Championship
Another grudge match here for ya’ll. KENTA of course turned heel at the G1 Finals at the cost of Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. Now these two fought each other for the first time. Very action-packed especially when it was just down between the two of them. The sit down slap fest is such reminiscent of the old school strong style matches of the past but one would always wonder what if KENTA in his prime fought Ishii now? Man this would’ve been a lot better but with saying that, it was still a good match. The GoD interferences were fine, I didn’t mind them. It is what BC is all about anyways and it adds more heat to them as a group, especially to KENTA beating Ishii through dirty means. A Go To Sleep makes him NEVER Openweight Championship, capturing his first title in his New Japan run.
Match #7 – Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Zack Sabre Jr. for the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship
The boys have done it again! Hiroshi Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. had another fantastic match showcasing technical wrestling and quite fitting with the place they are at too. The crowd was very loud for both men but it is obvious that while Zack has the home country advantage, everyone’s hearts believed in The Ace of the Universe. From the early going Zack dominated and bent Tana as usual but it wouldn’t take long before the underdog makes his chase and comebacks which eventually leads to a victory. The fans in the Copper Box went wild as soon as Tana pins ZSJ clean with the High Fly Flow at the 17 minute and 39 second mark. RevPro aren’t afraid in giving their belt to established New Japan talent and what better way to add prestige to your title’s lineage than by giving it to arguably the greatest ever in NJPW history!
Match #8 – Kazuchika Okada def. Minoru Suzuki for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Last but not the least, the main event between Kazuchika Okada and Minoru Suzuki. Through the years we’ve seen this combo of the young top champion against the veteran master and they’ve always had great matches, this time is no different. Right from the entrances the crowd were still hot and man I really gotta give the UK fans their props for making this show a whole lot better, it wouldn’t be an event in the UK if it isn’t for such a loud and active crowd. Kind of a breath of fresh air from the usual quiet and respectful Japanese fans. But anyway, this might’ve also contained the loudest and in my opinion, greatest Kazi ni Nare chant ever! Once again the match was fantastic, very technical-focused but also some brawling here and there. Okada can have a good match against seemingly anyone and Suzuki despite his age, could still go with the best of them so it was a great way to conclude the first ever show of New Japan in the UK. The Rainmaker gains the victory after a solid 33 minute bout.
