New Japan Pro Wrestling
World Tag League 2019 Night 6
November 22, 2019
Culttz Kawasaki
Kawasaki, Japan

Watch: NJPW World

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
JEFF COBB & MIKEY NICHOLS (6) DEF. SATOSHI KOJIMA & HIROYOSHI TENZAN (6)

Tenkoji has been one of the most consistent and fun teams to watch in this year’s edition of the WTL, the crowd is always into them and their matches are always 1o minutes or under – what more could you realistically want out of the fun dads? I get the feeling this match was designed to give Nichols some shine and even then he was still the third most impressive guy in the match, only pipping out the bloke with no ankles. I hate to shit on him constantly but he’s just not working for me in New Japan. Cobb did a fun spot where he hit Tenkoji with their own signature chops. Kojima was looking good to put another scalp away with his trusty Lariat…until Nichols countered it into a Mikey Bomb for the win, WTF? Fun opener though. ***

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
EVIL & SANADA (8) DEF. YUJI NAGATA & MANABU NAKANISHI (2)

This was the least offensive Nakanishi match so far, it was just average rather than bad. EVIL and Nagata had a fun exchange to kick this one off which unfortunately lasted all of 90 seconds. Nagata had his best showing for the tournament which also helped things a lot. Not really much else to say about this one, was short, competent and Magic Killers to Nagata and Nakanishi kept the LIJ duo on their undefeated streak. **1/2

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
TOGI MAKABE & TOMOAKI HONMA (6) DEF. TORU YANO & COLT CABANA (6)

This was one of the most Yano matches that has ever existed and it was ok. There was this one really cool spot where Colt had the Superman Pin on Makabe, the move in which he’s been winning every match with, only for it to get broken up by a Kokeshi. I thought Colt was going to win and he didn’t, sue me for buying into a pro wrestling spot. **1/4

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI (6) DEF. ZACK SABRE JR. & TAICHI (4)

Boring crowd brawling, boring heat spots, boring comebacks and a boring finish. I want to complain about Dangerous Tekkerz losing again but I guess because I think Goto should be winning more matches to build to his match with KENTA, I should be happy KENTA is winning his matches. **

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY( 10) DEF. SHINGO TAKAGI & TERRIBLE (4)

A short and sweet match, which had totally fine action. Can’t complain. What is more interesting than this 8-minute match, however, is the result. Finjuice have a 5-1 record and are outright table leaders, now they haven’t had their two byes yet and you’d think they have at least some losing to do in their remaining 9 matches. We may be in the midst of a pretty dull in-ring period here in the ‘Winter Classico’ but at least the outcomes are still interesting. ***

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
TOMOHIRO ISHII & YOSHI-HASHI (8) DEF. HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOA HENARE (4)

Far and away the best thing on this show, in fact, it probably belongs on the shortlist for match of the tournament. Fast-paced and crisp offense, great double team moves and a really good closing stretch. You probably think that Ishii was the man at the center of said closing stretch but you’d be wrong, it was actually YOSHI-HASHI…and Henare…with help from Tana and Ishii. You can’t take away from YH in this match though, he was really good and the closing stretch had some really exciting near falls and saves. It was so good that when YOSHI-HASHI picked up the win I was more impressed than wanting to laugh. This CHAOS duo is another really interesting going forward given they are now equal second on the points table. ***3/4

WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA (6) DEF. LANCE ARCHER & MINORU SUZUKI ( 4)

I really can get into this G.O.D run, they’re great on the mic, they’re extremely charismatic – especially Tama but I just don’t care for their wrestling matches. I do not care to see them get the comeuppance because they don’t really deserve it, they haven’t done anything dastardly, they are just obnoxious jocks. This started with a crowd brawl which was much better than the previous crowd brawl on the show, Suzuki and Archer just add a bit more intensity and aggression when they do it…then the brawling went to 5 minutes, was a bit over it by then, it then crossed into 8 minutes, very over it by this stage. things got back in the ring and the same wild intensity kept up, which was good.

There was a bit of sloppiness here and there but I wish this was the match G.O.D have every time. A minor complaint from yesterday’s show was that the tag champs were winning cheaply and as has so often been the case with this tournament, any minor gripe I have is fixed next day making me look silly. Tama pinned Suzuki with the Gun Stun after some Jado interference. Pretty good match but would’ve been much better if it had even two minutes less of the crowd brawling. ***1/2

FINAL THOUGHTS

This show was looking like a dog’s breakfast until the last two matches. definitely watch the semi-main and if you’re into G.O.D or Archer/Suzuki the main will be for you too. I think we have reached peak WTL doldrums but we return to Korakuen at the end of the week so we (I) just have to hang in there a little longer.