Juice Robinson
Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard

New Japan Need To Watch (4/20) Sengoku Lord *No Spoilers*

Photo Credit: AXS TV

Show is available on NJPWWorld.com.

FIRST MATCH: Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura

All four of these kids are gonna be stars. They’ve got spunk. They’ve got moxie. They’ve got what Old Hollywood types used to call “IT!”

Need To Watch Rating: (4.2)

SECOND MATCH: Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, Tomoaki Honma, Jushin Thunder Liger & Toa Henare vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & TAKA Michinoku)

Solid preview of Liger’s upcoming 30th anniversary match. Toa Henare getting to hang with the New Japan Dads is doing wonders for the young star’s confidence. Suzuki-gun are an unsettling delight, as always.

Need To Watch Rating: (4.2)

THIRD MATCH: Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Dragon Lee vs. Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Taiji Ishimori)

Solid three way tag match, previewing the upcoming Tag & Jr. Heavyweight Title showdowns on the horizon.

Need To Watch Rating: (1.0)

FOURTH MATCH: Mikey Nicholls vs. Chase Owens

This match was definitely solid. Not quite as good as either man’s New Japan Cup output, but still a fun midcard match.

Need To Watch Rating: (3.0)

FIFTH MATCH: Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Bullet Club (Jay White & Hikuleo)

There’s something mildly depressing about watching Jay White go from main eventing MSG with Okada, to feuding with Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi. These matches have done a lot for Hikuleo, but not a lot for the former-IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Still a solid outing.

Need To Watch Rating: (4.1)

SIXTH MATCH: CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, SHO, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI)

CHAOS and LIJ have been having thrill-ride 10-man tags up and down the Road To Wrestling Dontaku tour. This match is no exception.

Need To Watch Rating: (6.7)

SEVENTH MATCH: IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Match: Juice Robinson (c) vs. Bad Luck Fale

Fale’s best match in ages, and another hard-fought battle for Juice Robinson. This match is old school pro wrestling to the tooth, and benefits greatly from it. It’s not the flashiest match, but its simplicity makes for some pure thrills.

Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)

MAIN EVENT: IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Match: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre and Ibushi have truly amazing chemistry. This is a marathon of back and forth action, and not a second can be missed. Everything one expects from a New Japan main event, and then some.

Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)

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