We’re back at Korakuen Hall for one more both-block mega-show before the tour leaves Tokyo. They’ll be back, though – the last two nights of block action are at Korakuen, and the final is also in Tokyo.

B Block: KUSHIDA (2 points) vs. Jakob Austin Young [United Empire] (0 points)

Walker Stewart is back in the saddle on play-by-play, along with Chris Charlton on color. KUSHIDA gets jumped by Zane Jay as he makes his entrance, and he and Young attempt some double-team offense in the ring, but get a springboard back elbow and a plancha from the top to the floor for their efforts. KUSHIDA puts a sock on his hand and applies the mandible claw to Jay, but Young attacks from behind to break up the hold. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA goes for a roll-up, but Young reverses for a near-fall. KUSHIDA gets the baseball punch, but Jay (who KUSHIDA trained, of course) trips him up as he hits the ropes, which causes KUSHIDA to chase Jay around the ring and take a dropkick to the outside from Young. Young hits a hammerlock DDT on the floor, and then another in the ring for the pinfall. KUSHIDA never got out of his entrance gear.

What’s next? Young (2 points) has Daisuke Sasaki on Saturday in Himeji, while KUSHIDA (2 points) has Hyo on the same show.

A Block: Jun Kasai (2 points) vs. Daiki Nagai [Unbound Co.] (0 points)

Nagai jumps Kasai before the bell, knocking Kasai out of the ring and hitting a tope suicida. Back in the ring, Kasai is selling his knee. Nagai hits a corner dropkick for two and then applies the Boston Crab, but Kasai makes it to the ropes. Nagai goes for a brainbuster, but Kasai catches him with a guillotine choke. Nagai escapes, however, and once again applies the Boston Crab; Kasai again makes it to the ropes. Nagai hits a brainbuster for two, then misses the diving headbutt. His knee magically healed, Kasai hits a running lariat for two and then applies an inside cradle for the pinfall.

What’s next? Kasai (4 points) has Robbie X on Friday in Osaka, while Nagai (0 points) has Nick Wayne on the same show.

B Block: Robbie Eagles [TMDK] (2 points) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru [House of Torture] (2 points)

Kanemaru jumps Eagles before the bell and targets the knee that Desperado worked over on Sunday. Kanemaru beats up Eagles on the outside and then uses the ringpost to injure the knee. Back in the ring, Kanemaru applies a figure-four, but Eagles makes it to the ropes. Kanemaru goes for a kneebreaker, but Eagles counters with a sunset flip for a two count, followed by another cradle for two. Eagles hits a tijeras, a leg lariat and a mid-kick, then hits the running knees in the corner for two. Eagles misses a 450 but hits an Asai DDT for two. Eagles tries for the Ron Miller Special, but Kanemura gets an inside cradle for two. Eagles begins to apply the figure-four, but Kanemaru shoves him off into ref Yuya Sakamoto. Eagles and Hartley Jackson tend to Sakamoto, and Eagles goes for a springboard something or other, but Kanemaru catches him with a reverse atomic drop and then rolls him up with a headscissors for the surprise (and oddly clean) pinfall.

What’s next? Kanemaru (4 points) has Taiji Ishimori on Saturday in Himeji, while Eagles (2 points) has YOH on the same show.

A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi (6 points) vs. Nick Wayne (2 points)

Taguchi’s back seems to be killing him. Taguchi quickly goes for Wayne’s knee and applies the ankle lock, then hits the Bum-a-ye for two. Taguchi re-applies the ankle lock and then goes for Dodon, but Wayne resists and Taguchi instead shoves him into the corner. Taguchi goes for the hip attack, but gets caught by an atomic drop, then Wayne hits a pair of hip attacks of his own, but only gets a one count. Wayne hits a roundhouse kick and then Wayne’s World for the pinfall. They shake hands after the match.

What’s next? Wayne (4 points) has Nagai on Friday in Osaka, while Taguchi (6 points) has Titán on the same show.

B Block: Taiji Ishimori [House of Torture] (2 points) vs. Daisuke Sasaki (6 points)

Sasaki offers a handshake, which Ishimori accepts, but Sasaki turns it into La Mistica into the crossface; after a long struggle, Ishimor makes it to the ropes and rolls out of the ring. While ref Kenta Sato tends to Ishimori, Sasaki undoes the turnbuckle pad, and when Ishimori rolls back in, Sasaki whips him into the exposed buckle. Ishimori rolls outside, but when Sasaki follows him out, he turns the tables and sends Sasaki into Japanese-language play-by-play man Haruo Murata. Sasaki then uses Murata as a human shield, so Ishimori goes over and grabs Milano Collection AT and uses him to demand Murata’s release. (Gedo is sitting in the middle of this trying not to laugh.) Sato eventually breaks it up, but Sasaki throws Murata’s chair at Ishimori while Sato’s back is turned. Back in the ring, Sasaki continues to dominate with a kimura and a neckbreaker, which gets two. However, Ishimori turns the tables with a handspring kick. Ishimori hits double knees in the corner, then a fireman’s carry driver into a thrust kick for two. Ishimori goes for a tijeras, but Sasaki stuffs it and counters with the crossface, which Ishimori reverses into the Bone Lock. Sasaki escapes and re-applies the crossface, which Ishimori reverses into a near-fall, then Ishimori transitions back into the Bone Lock. They fight over their holds for a bit, with Sasaki ending up with the crossface locked in, which he then transitions into a Pedigree. Sasaki goes for La Mistica, but Ishimori catches it and goes for Cipher UTAKI, which Sasaki counters with a stiff tombstone piledriver for two. Sasaki goes for something in the corner, but Ishimori escapes and drives Sasaki’s head into the exposed buckle, but Sasaki baits him in and Ishimori hits his head on the same buckle. After a double-down, they exchange strikes, then Ishimori tries for Bloody Cross but Sasaki grabs Sato and tries a low blow, but Ishimori avoids it. Ishimori then hits a low blow of his own while Sato recovers and applies the Gedo clutch for the pinfall. This was a fun heel (and heel-adjacent) battle. 

What’s next? Ishimori (4 points) has Kanemaru on Saturday in Himeji, while Sasaki (6 points) has Young on the same show.

A Block: Titán [Unbound Co.] (6 points) vs. Valiente Jr. (2 points)

Valiente is apparently okay after his knee scare on Sunday; his injury was a hematoma that formed after contact with Taguchi’s knee. Valiente is wearing gear that appears to be inspired by Jushin Thunder Liger. They shake hands to start, but Valiente holds on to the grip and sends Titán into the corner, but he kicks out and hits his backflips, then gets a springboard tijeras that sends Valiente to the outside. Titán misses the baseball slide, but then cuts off a dive by Valiente, sending him to the outside, and hits a crazy top-rope Asai moonsault. Back in the ring, Titán gets two with a springboard splash. The two trade loud chops and Valiente hits a knee strike, but Titán counters with a tornado DDT, which Valiente no-sells. Titán hits a leg lariat for the double-down, which gets to an eight count from Sato. Valiente hits a victory roll into a splash and hits the Valiente Special for two. Valiente tries the Valiente Special again, but Titán counters with a DDT and a brainbuster. Titán hits the double stomp for two, then applies a crazy lucha leglock, but when he tries to transition to Llave Inmortal, Valiente breaks the hold. Titán goes for a hurricanrana, but Valiente catches it and applies a Boston Crab, of all things, and then transitions to a heel hook. Valiente slams Titán into the turnbuckle pad, then goes for something up top, but gets caught and double-stomped by Titán for two. Titán then applies the scorpion deathlock and bridges into the Gideon for the submission. They bow to each other and shake hands afterward. This was good, although you could tell Valiente was a little hesitant to go all out.

What’s next? Titán (8 points) has Taguchi on Friday in Osaka, while Valiente (2 points) has Francesco Akira on the same show.

B Block: El Desperado (4 points) vs. Hyo (2 points)

Hyo offers Desperado a rose; he seems smitten. They trade strikes to start, and after some running around on all fours and some backflips, Hyo takes control with a leg lariat. Hyo stands on Desperado and does some squats, but Desperado eventually says enough of that, and knocks him off and attempts to apply Numero Dos; Hyo makes it to the ropes, however. Desperado drags Hyo outside and tosses him into a seating section, then slams his knee into the ringpost. Desperado slams Hyo’s knee with a chair, then tosses Hyo back in the ring and goes for a pin, but Sato refuses to count, to which Desperado essentially says, “Fair enough.” Desperado hits a kneebreaker and applies a leglock, but Hyo makes it to the ropes. Hyo slips out the back of a brainbuster attempt, but his knee is still injured; he still tries to charge Desperado in the corner, however, and gets tossed over the top, after which he immediately hits a cutter over the top rope. Hyo hits a tope con hilo, then tosses Desperado back in and hits an elbow in the corner, a low dropkick and a senton for two. Desperado regains control with a kick to the knee and hits a backdrop, then applies Numero Dos, but Hyo gets to the ropes. Desperado gets two with a brainbuster, but Hyo slips out of Guitarra del Angel and hits a DDT. Hyo hits a stunner, but Desperado stuffs the Samson Driver, though Hyo keeps fighting and eventually gets it for two. Hyo calls for Hunting, but Desperado dropkicks his knee and goes for Pinche Loco. Hyo fights out and the two exchange strikes, then Hyo hits a bridging backdrop driver for two. Hyo tries for Hunting again, but Desperado counters with a uranage for two, then transitions into Numero Dos; after a long struggle, Hyo taps out. The two shake hands after the match. This was another solid Desperado match.

What’s next? Desperado (6 points) has SHO on Saturday in Himeji, while Hyo (2 points) has KUSHIDA on the same show.

A Block: Master Wato (2 points) vs. Francesco Akira [United Empire] (2 points)

Akira jumps Wato before the bell and tosses him into a seating section. Back in the ring, Wato strikes back with a dropkick and some strikes, but Akira regains the advantage with an arm wringer. Akira works over Wato’s shoulder and arm at great length. Eventually, Wato catches Akira with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then hits a hurricanrana and a dropkick. Wato goes for a tope, but Akira ducks out of the way; Wato sees it in time, however, and hits him with a plancha instead. Back in the ring, Wato gets two with a facebuster, but Akira reverses a waistlock for the Ground Tarantula; Wato quickly makes it to the ropes, however. Akira attacks the arm again, but Wato hits a leg lariat. Wato knocks Akira to the outside and tries for the tope again, but Akira hits a cutter into the ring for two. Akira teases the Fireball but instead kicks the arm, but when he hits the ropes again, Wato catches him in the crucifix position and hits Recientemente for a near-fall. After a brief fight over their German suplex variations, Wato tries to apply Vendeval, but can’t lock it in, and Akira counters into the Ground Tarantula; Wato manages to make the ropes, however. Akira goes for the Firebolt, which he has yet to hit this entire tournament, but Wato slips out and Akira has to settle for a Buzzsaw kick and Speedfire for two. Akira again goes for the Firebolt, but Wato again slips out the back and hits the Tsutenkaku German for the pin. I think Akira should maybe stop screwing around with that Firebolt, I dunno. This was good.

What’s next? Wato (4 points) has Kosei Fujita on Friday in Osaka, while Akira (2 points) has Valiente Jr. on the same show.

B Block: YOH (4 points) vs. SHO [House of Torture] (6 points)

Apparently, these two brawled in the arena while the crowd was filing in. SHO cuts a promo before the match, taking YOH to task for handcuffing him to the ropes to watch a video with Togi Makabe explaining the rules. They start out fast, with YOH teasing Everything Is EVIL several times before knocking him out of the ring with a shoulder block. SHO uses fruit juice to fake being busted open and hits YOH on the shoulder with the timekeeper’s gavel while ref Marty Asami is putting the juice away. Back in the ring, SHO continues going after the shoulder, getting two with a leg trip before tossing him outside and getting two chairs out from under the ring; Tetsuya Matsumoto points this out to Asami, so SHO hits Matsumoto and tosses him in the ring to distract Asami while he hits YOH in the shoulder with a chair. SHO then tosses YOH into a seating section. YOH gets back in the ring at the 19 count, and SHO continues going after YOH’s shoulder, tying his arm into the turnbuckle pad and hitting a knee strike. SHO applies the Fujiwara Armbar, but YOH gets to the ropes. SHO kicks YOH’s shoulder twice, but a third attempt is caught and turned into a dragon screw. YOH hits a pair of running forearms and a neckbreaker. They do a comedy sequence where both guys keep shoving Asami in front of the other while they run the ropes, ending in Asami getting a headscissors takeover on SHO, to the delight of the crowd. YOH hits a falcon arrow for two, then goes for a superkick, but SHO shoves Asami toward him and uses the distraction to hit a knee strike and a lariat. SHO hits a gut-wrench Dominator for two, then goes for Shock Arrow; YOH battles out, but SHO responds with a cross armbreaker, which he turns into a triangle armlock. YOH eventually makes it to the ropes, but SHO ties him in the ropes and beats on his shoulder. SHO hits the ropes, but YOH shoves Asami into him and then hits a superkick and a lariat. YOH tries a Magic Killer with Asami as the other half, but SHO kicks Asami down and hits YOH with a spear. SHO gets the wrench, but YOH shoves SHO into Asami, hits SHO low, takes the wrench, hits the mat with it, hands the wrench back to SHO and takes the Eddy Guerrero “I got hit” bump; Asami sees the bump and DQs SHO to the delight of the crowd. After the match, YOH is stretchered out by the Young Lions and laughs at SHO as he leaves the arena. SHO, of course, is incensed. This was fun, and it’s nice to see the House get a taste of its own medicine every now and then, especially during a spring where it feels like the House has been relentlessly going over everyone in matches like this.

What’s next? YOH (6 points) has Eagles on Saturday in Himeji, while SHO (6 points) has Desperado on the same show.

A Block: Robbie X [Unbound Co.] (2 points) vs. Kosei Fujita [TMDK] (4 points)

Red Shoes invites them to shake hands before the match, but Fujita declines. They start off with chain wrestling and quickly proceed to strikes. Fujita charges, but X flips out of the way while Fujita falls outside. X hits a PK, followed by an Asai moonsault into the front row. Back in the ring, X takes control with strikes, then hits a flipping neckbreaker for two. X applies a neck crank, but Fujita battles out and the two exchange strikes. X goes for X Marks the Spot, but Fujita follows him in with a kick to the chest, then slams his knee from the apron to the floor to take control. Fujita gets two with a PK, then applies the Boston Crab, which he turns into a Lion Tamer, but X gets to the ropes. Fujita continues working on X and charges him in the corner, but X hits an enzuigiri and a senton atomico for two. X misses a kick and Fujita picks him up for the thrill ride, but he flips out and jams his knee again, so Fujita kicks the leg and hits a standing moonsault for two. Fujita applies the Nemosu Special, but X bites Fujita’s thumb to break it. Fujita goes for a wheelbarrow suplex, but X turns it into a poison rana, and both guys are down. After they recover, X hits a clothesline in the corner and a spin kick to the back of Fujita’s head. X manages to get Fujita on his shoulders and hits a Kamkaze, then goes for the X Express, but Fujita gets his knees up. Fujita tries the Nemosu Special again, but X rolls him up for two. X tries the flip kick, but Fujita catches it and hits a wheelbarrow suplex, which X no-sells. Fujita hits a lariat and gets one; X pops right up but gets caught with a bridging German suplex for two. Fujita tries the Thrill Ride again, but X slips out. X tries for X Marks the Spot and gets caught by Fujita, who tries for a suplex, but X slips out again and hits a DDT into a bridging kimura; Fujita eventually gets to the ropes. X struggles to the top to try for the X Express, but Fujita catches him and the two battle on the top rope. Fujita tries for the Thrill Ride from the top, but X counters into a sunset flip power bomb for one, followed by X Marks the Spot for two and the X Express for the pinfall. This was very, very good.

After the match, X thanks Fujita, but Fujita doesn’t want to hear it. X thanks the crowd and tells them that they haven’t seen anything yet.

What’s next? X (4 points) will be forced to prove that the X stands for “extreme” against Kasai on Friday in Osaka, while Fujita (4 points) has Wato on the same show.