Destruction series gets underway free!
Saturday September 8 sees the Road to Destruction get underway in Korakuen Hall. On top of key previews for the series to come, we get the NJPW World TV Championship on the line, and all for free!
Watch the Road to Destruction LIVE in English for free!
Main event: Just 5 Guys (Taichi & SANADA) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & SANADA)
The Road to Destruction series kicked off with a bang on Saturday September 8 in Korakuen Hall. The event not only featured exciting previews for upcoming matches, but also included the NJPW World TV Championship match, and the best part is, it was all free! Fans were treated to a thrilling main event between Just 5 Guys (Taichi & SANADA) and HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & SANADA). The match served as a double preview for the title matches that will take place in Kobe and Ryogoku.
One of the highly anticipated matches coming up is the Destruction in Kobe, where KOPW 2023 Champion Taichi will defend his title against SHO. SHO earned his shot at the title after a tainted victory in Ryogoku. It is expected that SHO will choose a ruleset that benefits HOUSE OF TORTURE, and the match in Korakuen Hall gave fans a glimpse of SHO’s devious designs.
Another exciting match to look forward to is the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match between EVIL and SANADA, which will take place in Ryogoku on October 14. EVIL has been a thorn in SANADA’s side, eliminating him from the G1 Climax 33 quarterfinals and even cuffed and hanged the champion by his injured arm. SANADA is determined to prove himself and regain his confidence as he prepares to headline Wrestle Kingdom 18. The tag team match in Korakuen Hall served as a heated preview for this upcoming championship clash.
In the semi main event, Zack Sabre Jr. defended his NJPW World TV Championship against Boltin Oleg. Oleg earned his title shot by winning the Young Lion Hattrick Challenge. Although Oleg showed great potential, Sabre’s experience and technical skill proved to be too much for him. Sabre has been holding the TV title for nine months and has successfully defended it 11 times. Despite Oleg’s impressive performance, Sabre emerged victorious and retained his title.
The event also featured an eight-man tag match between Los Ingobernables De Japon and United Empire. Callum Newman, the “Prince of Pace,” made his Japanese debut alongside United Empire. Newman’s high-speed footwork and style, honed by Will Ospreay, impressed the audience. However, Newman faced a tough challenge against the forces of Los Ingobernables De Japon. The match served as a tune-up for Hiromu Takahashi, who will defend his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Mike Bailey and Lio Rush on October 9 in Ryogoku.
Other matches on the card included a preview of the NEVER Openweight 6 man Championship match, a matchup between CHAOS and TMDK, and a special best of seven series between Strong Style7s and the combination of Yuji Nagata, Shota Umino, and Master Wato. The event provided fans with a taste of the action to come in the Road to Destruction series.
Junior heavyweight tag team action kicked off the event, with YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi taking on Just 5 Guys