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00:00Walker, you've been up and down the highways and byways over the last week, and
00:12well, you've been seeing, I mean, we talked a little bit about Resurgence earlier on,
00:17of course, one of the matches I'm most excited for is Tony Iriishi putting that strong
00:21overweight championship on the line against Driller Maloney, but it feels like there's
00:26somebody else that wants a bite at the Stone Pitfall in singles matches very, very soon,
00:32and that's Hiromi Takahashi. What's going on there?
00:35Ah, well, it's been all the way up and down the road to wrestling, Tantaku, and you see
00:41J2B even prior to this series got underway. Hinomo Takahashi and Tomohinoichi, any time
00:46those two are stepping into the ring, Chris, it is chop after chop after chop. If there's
00:51one man, if there's one unit that is going to test your chops, it is going to be Hontai
00:56in the year of 2025. Hinomo said, I'm not necessarily interested in your strong
01:01overweight championship, but if it takes a strong title match to have a singles match
01:06with Tomohiro Ishii, then I'd like it. And meanwhile, how about Ishii and Taichi? What
01:12a great match that was in Hiroshima. Incredible. Oh man, and they're next in line for the IWGP
01:18tag titles.
01:20as we talk championship opportunity.
01:27As we talk championship opportunity, we get into the conversation of what is to continue
01:50into 24 hours from now.
01:52Wrestling Zantaku 2025 semi-main event, Yuya Uemura challenging Yota Tsuji for the global
02:00heavyweight title.
02:01The first singles match between these two since Yuya's injury back in G1 last year.
02:06Well, look at Yuya Uemura.
02:10Pandering to the crowd here for Cocoa Walker.
02:12Yuya Uemura's got that gown here that's been made by local artisans.
02:23Of course, he wasn't born here, but his family's here.
02:34He's got a ton of family here.
02:35Yuya Uemura's been shaking every hand and kissing every baby and for Cocoa Walker the last week.
02:41Challenger, people score, Yuya Uemura!
02:49Well, from every hand and baby in Fukuoka to every hand and baby across the globe.
02:54Yuya Uemura IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship could be on the horizon 24 hours from now.
03:01Make sure that they DieC region is an draper, but they don't wanna bid in the others in the Christmas
03:25Oh my goodness, he's really pulling out all the stops till the last Tontzaka without overmask walker.
03:55Oh my goodness, he's going to go to the top of the top of the top of the top of the top of the top.
04:23Interesting, they said on the tape there, Hiromi Takahashi on his hands, L.I.J. last two.
04:32He would say Tranquilo.
04:53There is an inherent value to making a decision rather than having it made for you.
05:23Well, not to cut you off, but I think Tsuji was making a decision at Sakura Genesis, was he not?
05:41When he called out Yuya Umura.
05:43But before he could even get the words out, Umura was already in the ring.
05:48There are people that are destined to do it forever.
05:52Umura and Tsuji are two of them, and they're gonna do it tomorrow night, semi-main event.
05:57But just like Tsuji said, you could argue this is a main event anywhere in the world for that global championship.
06:04Following tonight, there will be only one more opportunity to see either Bushi or Tetsuya Naito on a New Japan Pro Wrestling ring competing in Pro Wrestling action.
06:23And it is the decisions that we make that guide us forward.
06:27Yota Tsuji makes the decision to call out Yuya Umura.
06:30Bushi and Tetsuya Naito make decisions to venture through Uncharted waters.
06:38But tonight, it is LIJ, as we know it, that will have one final dance into tomorrow, where it will all change forever.
06:50Tetsuya Naito has long said it is the unknown that's the most exciting thing about professional wrestling.
07:02I mean, Tetsuya Naito and Bushi as well, they know what they're doing next probably, but they ain't telling.
07:08They could be here, we could see them in the New Japan Pro Wrestling ring again many a time as freelancers.
07:16We just don't know it every time anybody asks Naito, the answer is, ah, it's in there.
07:22It is not the dawning of the black hat or the white hat for Yota's season.
07:50But rather that of the red that has characterized his tenure so far in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
07:59Well, Tsuji characterizing himself as the moon and Yuya Umura the sun.
08:05One can shine at a time.
08:08They don't both appear in the sky at the same time.
08:11And I think that was something that both are very much aware of.
08:18And I'm sure we will delve into the histories in the past, the present and the future of Bushi and Tetsuya Naito tomorrow.
08:27But I think tonight the driving force of this one is going to be Tsuji and Uemura.
08:32And perhaps Hiromura and Ishii. I mean, there's a lot of personal issues in this ring right now.
08:37I mean, Tetsuya Naito might never leave, you know, because, I mean, it's just going to take so long to begin taking his time getting ready for the match that we'll die of old age.
08:56It's just like trying to get you to film a pre-show.
09:02Oh, and it's time for the reset.
09:05It is indeed a moment to bask in.
09:17Tetsuya Naito is such an unpredictable individual.
09:22It's hard to tell if he wants this moment to end, if he will want tomorrow's to end as well.
09:28Either way, we know for a fact tomorrow we'll see the final, at least as far as advertised, New Japan Pro Wrestling appearance for Naito and Bushi.
09:37Well, we've long talked about Tetsuya Naito's, all of our days are finite.
09:42Tetsuya Naito's time in professional wrestling is increasingly so.
09:47And, you know, now is the chance to do something that is never done before.
09:53You know, now is the chance to branch out whatever that may be.
09:58And, you know, I think that is something that not only New Japan Pro Wrestling management, but I think all the fans feel and know and love and support.
10:11Is this the last fist bump or the second to last? I don't know. Nobody knows.
10:23And as Yotasuchi will take charge in the blue corner tonight, there is no doubt about who will take charge in the red.
10:46I don't remember.
10:48All the way back in.
10:50I would say it was probably 2018. It was 2018. It was March that year.
10:55And it was New Japan Cup season.
10:58I was doing a little bit of work with New Japan at the time.
11:02I wasn't at the announced desk at that point in time.
11:05And I'd come by and I was watching the show with a friend of mine.
11:09And afterwards we managed to hang out.
11:12We had dinner with Kevin.
11:14And we sat down with Kevin.
11:16And Kevin said, man, that was a great show.
11:18I tell you what.
11:19There were two young guys.
11:20I think they're going to debut pretty soon.
11:22And, man, they're awesome.
11:23There's something else.
11:24And those two guys were Yu Yuuromura and Yotasuchi.
11:28And, you know, through all of that time, draw after draw after draw.
11:33And then after that, it was like the sun in the moon.
11:36One would be up.
11:37One finally got their first win over the other.
11:39It was Yuuromura who won first.
11:41Then Suji would win back.
11:42And then back the other way.
11:43And back they went.
11:44And they did the same thing after they came back from excursion.
11:47Yuuromura wins in the Tokyo Dome.
11:49Suji has to take Yuuromura's head.
11:51So Yuuromura gets a win back.
11:54But in the process, severs his triceps.
11:57And that's exactly the triceps that Yotasuchi is trying to target.
12:06It was indeed back in August of last year where these two did wrestle their final singles match against one another.
12:12Up to the point we come to tomorrow.
12:14We were in the closing stages of G1 Climax.
12:17Keep in mind Yuuromura still was alive with a chance in G1 at that point.
12:23And that chance was taken away by Yotasuchi.
12:25Well, yeah, and not through the results though.
12:28You know what I mean?
12:29Like he, with the win, he won despite having a torn triceps.
12:33And that was a real sort of shocker.
12:36It was, yeah, Yuuromura was forced to miss his last bout thanks to that arm injury.
12:42And he is gingerly, he is nursing that arm.
12:45I don't know whether that's physical pain or a little bit half mental.
12:49And Yuuromura has confessed to having that mental block, that mental trauma from that night, from that injury.
12:54And it's something that we've seen in times past.
13:01You've seen this in times past too.
13:03Takahashi, oh!
13:04Passed by.
13:05And it's Yotasuchi with the shoulder tackle on the junior heavyweight.
13:09Hey, special shouts out, by the way, to Taka Taiji Mania.
13:13Coming up very, very soon on NJPW World.
13:16Yeah, May 7th, special pay-per-view.
13:19Lots of ways to catch NJPW World.
13:22Action.
13:24Has the tag made, and it goes to Tetsuya Naito.
13:28Well, Takamichinoku is wrestling in Takamashi.
13:31Yeah, not singles action.
13:32Yeah.
13:33Talked about political pull, huh?
13:34I want to talk about Zack Saber Jr. and Junaki on.
13:37Special tag team and Kato.
13:41That's Fushi.
13:43And we're hitting the classics tonight.
13:46Single leg for Tetsuya Naito right off the dome of Taka Mishinoku.
13:51And the cover here for Naito again will only find two.
13:54Yeah, playing the hits, that doesn't just mean, you know,
13:57running through your signature offense.
13:58It also means beating up Takamichinoku.
14:00Well, that's a hit right there.
14:03And speaking of, that is skull to boot for Hiromo Takahashi,
14:08who's going to make the tag.
14:13I think Hiromo was, you know, it was very poignant, his words.
14:16I think it was after Hiroshima seeing, you know, I mean,
14:18he wanted to say, and we made it clear in the Tokyo Dome,
14:22it was one and only for that Hiromo versus Naito match.
14:26And, you know, I think perhaps that decision has an added level,
14:31layer of poignancy now that we know Tetsuya Naito is walking away.
14:36And where Tetsuya Naito may walk to.
14:39All the questions surrounding.
14:44As the tag made, and it's to these two men,
14:47Tomohiro Ishii and Hiromo,
14:49going to wipe out Bushi and Naito in the process.
14:51And it's going to be hard pressed to stop Tsuji.
14:58Oh, Ishii runs right through the global heavyweight champion.
15:03You know, as many questions, Chris, as we have around Naito and Bushi,
15:07where they may go, what they may do.
15:09We have very similar questions surrounding what's to come with LIJ.
15:13Yeah, and I'm not sure we're going to get answers tonight.
15:17I mean, you would assume we'll have to have answers tomorrow, one way or the other.
15:22Is this something that continues on?
15:25If it does, does it continue under Hiromo, under Tsuji, under Shingo?
15:29I mean, all three of those are leaders in their own right.
15:32T-Tan himself is a great figure.
15:37That's always been the strength of LIJ,
15:39is that no one man is bigger than the group in many ways.
15:43Yes, Naito an incredible superstar warrior, but it's always been a cooperative.
15:52This has been pretty even back and forth as well.
15:55Hiromu and Ishii.
16:02Ever since Hiromu and Ishii Tangled, it was the 2020 New Japan Cup during the pandemic.
16:07And that was a hell of a hell of a match that Hiromu and Ishii had in that tournament.
16:12And Hiromu has been on and off driven ever since to finally get a singles win over Ishii.
16:17Oh, there was a close line.
16:32Jeez.
16:37And the tag can be made out here from Ishii to Taichi.
16:40It was an incredible night back in Hiroshima.
16:44Naito's adopted hometown.
16:47IWGP Tag Titles on the line in the main event in the semi-main.
16:52Tendinero out of Naito and Hiromu.
16:55Saw Naito and Hiromu down over Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii.
17:00Now, Taichi and Ishii want their own opportunity at the IWGP Tag Titles.
17:04Yeah, and certainly the challenge ishii, challenge is accepted.
17:08We just don't know when that might be.
17:10It might be a much harder match to make.
17:13Should Callum be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion tomorrow?
17:16We'll have to wait and see.
17:17That is an intensifying schedule for one Callum Newman.
17:20Ooh, man, that was an intensifying basement dropkick.
17:25Oh, might be the last time we see this.
17:27Oh, cut down by Taka Mishinoku.
17:31Oh, well, this Fukuoka audience, none too pleased about it.
17:40Not to see the rocket launch yet before Pushi.
17:52All the time, though, is some chase being given on the floor.
17:55Every time there is a gap, an interruption, a crisis, there is an opportunity.
18:02Bushi's exit made opportunity for Robbie X to debut in Best of the Super Juniors.
18:07And I think he's going to kill it in that tournament.
18:09And the cover for Taichi, and it's not enough on Bushi here.
18:22Well, if Axe Bomber doesn't do it, this one will.
18:27This one will, Seitei Jujuro.
18:36Get Hiromu and Ishii folks.
18:38You're not seeing it on camera shot, but they're right out.
18:41They're still scrapping in front of us.
18:44Oh, and the snap of the arm, Morka.
18:46Oh, Morka.
18:47Oh, well, this is not at all where Yuya Uemura wants to be.
18:53Maybe this is.
18:55This is how Uemura is going to look to bring it back right here.
18:58Tsuji definitely wants to target that still sore arm,
19:03but at the same time, that's playing into Uemura's classical wheelhouse, Morka.
19:07And meanwhile, Taichi is going to get dangerous.
19:09Wait a minute.
19:10Wait, wait, wait.
19:11Bushi, they're all through the cover.
19:12Wait, wait, wait.
19:13Oh.
19:14Oh, nearly stole it.
19:15Oh, and Hiromu and Ishii right in front of us.
19:17Ishii's going nuts.
19:20That's one more royalty check to Rocky.
19:22Oh, now.
19:24Taichi got the shot in on Bushi.
19:26Watch this. Ishii Lariat lays out.
19:29And now the world held at bay.
19:37Watch this, Chris.
19:39It's a dangerous backdrop.
19:44And a cover for Taichi tonight.
19:47And the win.
19:48Great team play on the park of Ishii and Taichi.
20:10And it is going to be just four guys.
20:12Team Hontai with the victory here tonight.
20:15And a momentum heading in on multiple levels.
20:18The final match for Los Ingobernables de Japon as we know it.
20:22Coming up 24 hours from now for night two of Wrestling Dantaku 2025.
20:28Not to mention, there you see it.
20:30Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura set tomorrow.
20:34The IWGP Global Heavyweight title is on the line.
20:45But there was an awful lot of respectful words and handshakes yesterday at the press conference, Walker.
20:55And I think now inside the ring we're seeing the real physical tension between Murimura and Tsuji.
21:03Only one could shine.
21:06But meanwhile, Naito's light, at least in New Japan Pro Wrestling, has only one more chance to shine tomorrow.
21:21As Hontai continues to gain the strength which they have, a lot to look forward to.
21:38If you are every single member of this team.
21:40Tomohiro Ishii May 9th, the Strong Openweight Championship will be on the line.
21:44the line resurgence ontario california against drill a maloney thick available right now at
21:49njpw1972.com and this is worth your price of admission alone how dare you talk over the most
21:57electrifying moment of the night walk oh give me a break see that little smoochy face he did that
22:10was a neat you wish well we do not know what comes next for lij tetsuya naito bushi or any
22:23alike but coming up for taichi and tomohiro ishii takka taichi mania for taichi tomohiro ishii take
22:30on zack saber jr and juda akiyama live in cork and hall that's going to be right here on njpw
22:36world pay-per-view japanese coverage only and it's going to be a wonderful night for all involved
22:41on the evening it's going to be a wonderful wonderful semi-main event tomorrow
22:50and we just previewed the iwgp global heavyweight title how about we jump right to it the iwgp world
22:55heavyweight championship conversation in this next match six-man tag action fishamon and
23:01riyusuke taguchi take on united empire it's coming up next
23:22he was smoldering so hard he smoldered he nearly burned out