NJPW King of Pro Wrestling (9/10/17) Results: New champions crowned, Wrestle Kingdom 12 main event set
After a number of disappointing Destruction shows in September, New Japan Pro Wrestling returned to form this evening with King of Pro Wrestling. The uninspired booking that made the Destruction tour so forgettable was left in the past, as a flurry of great matches and exciting stories made this another show to remember.
The card featured three huge matches on top. Will Ospreay challenged KUSHIDA for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship yet again, before Tomohiro Ishii attempted to beat Tetsuya Naito for the third time this year and earn himself a Wrestle Kingdom main event in the process.
The IWGP Heavyweight Championship was on the line in the main event, as champion Kazuchika Okada took on the man who defeated him in this year's G1 Climax, EVIL. Here are the full results and review of the show.
#1 Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Leo Tonga
Hiromu went straight for Bad Luck Fale at the beginning of this one, looking for revenge following Fale's vicious destruction of Daryl a few months back, but the big man soon got the better of the junior heavyweight. Bullet Club controlled the majority of the match before SANADA was able to get the hot tag, hitting Tonga and Yujiro with a huge plancha to the outside.
The finish came as something of a shock. Fale looked like he was going to put BUSHI away with the Bad Luck Fall, only for Hiromu and Daryl to cause a distraction. Hiromu took out the ref, allowing BUSHI to hit the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion with the mist for the roll-up 1-2-3.
Result: Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & BUSHI def. Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Leo Tonga
#2 Hirooki Goto & Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
Your usual Suzuki-gun shenanigans started this one off, as Suzuki took it to Yano on the outside. TAKA and El Desperado kept Goto at bay on the outside as Suzuki and ZSJ mercilessly stretched Yano to the point of oblivion. YTR was able to survive, however, eventually making the tag to Goto.
ZSJ then went to work on Goto, stretching him as per before Goto was able to hit the Ushigoroshi before tagging in the Sublime Master-Thief. Suzuki was wise to Yano's tricks, but the NEVER Openweight Champion's desire to main Yano got the better of the champ once again. Suzuki tied Yano up in rope on the outside, but one low blow later Suzuki found himself counted out.
Yano stole Suzuki's championship after the match. The never-ending feud is set to start again.
Result: Hirooki Goto & Toru Yano def. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. by count out.
#3 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Funky Future [c] vs. Roppongi 3K
Sho and Yo were unveiled as Roppongi 3K, and the returning Tempura Boyz starting hot by hitting a pair of beautiful somersault planchas to the outside. After a quick Funky Future flurry, the returning duo took control.
Ricochet eventually made the hot tag and ran wild as only he can, proving himself once again to be one of the best junior heavyweights on the planet. The Future of Flight and 2017 PWG BOLA winner got a number of near-falls, but he eventually fell prey to a flapjack-flatline combo for the finish. We have new IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag champs.
Result: Roppongi 3K def. Funky Future
#4 IWGP Tag Team Championships: Killer Elite Squad [c] vs. War Machine vs. Guerrillas of Destiny
For the fourth time in four weeks, these three teams did battle, meaning it was truly hard to care about such a tired match. This was a tornado tag with elimination rules, and each team came perilously close to getting knocked out early as each team hit their finishing move.
G.O.D went first, Tanga Loa getting hit by a Killer Bomb after stupidly running into a chair positioned in the corner. Tama Tonga put a beating on Raymond Rowe after the fall, leaving War Machine in a pretty desperate position.
Rowe was immediately hit with a Killer Bomb, but Hanson managed to make the save from the top rope. Hanson brought a table into proceedings, but it was the hirsute warrior who found himself going through it. Davey Boy and Archer hit Hanson with a Killer Bomb, and that was that.
Result: Killer Elite Squad def. War Machine & Guerrillas of Destiny