ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING
ROYAL ROAD TOURNAMENT 2022
AUGUST 16, 2022
HODOGAYA PUBLIC HALL
YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

Watch: AJPW.TV

NON-TOURNAMENT MATCHES

  • Suwama Def. Ryo Inoue (3:06)
  • Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda Def. Evolution (Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura) (9:10)
  • Yoshitatsu, Cyrus & TAJIRI Def. Shuji Ishikawa, Ren Ayabe & Izanagi (9:49)
  • Yuma Aoyagi, Atsuki Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori Def. Nextream (Kento Miyahara & Rising HAYATO) & Oji Shiiba (14:17)

GAORA TV CHAMPIONSHIP
TOSHIZO © DEF. BLACK MENSO~RE (10:10)

First, credit is due here for the fact there was not Voodoo Murders shenanigans. There was some cheating teased when Toshizo took off his weight belt, but he dropped it before the referee finished the five count.

As for the match itself, it was rather dry for the first half. Perfectly competent work but nothing flashy. The last few minutes were decent with both guys getting some near falls on each other. Toshizo won with a Fisherman’s Buster.

Very basic stuff, but it was refreshing to see no bullshit in a Voodoo Murders match. This was Toshizo’s V1 defense of the title. ***

ROYAL ROAD TOURNAMENT 2022 QUARTER-FINALS
NAOYA NOMURA DEF. TAKAO OMORI (10:45)

They got right down to business. While brawling on the outside, Omori accidently gave an Axe Bomber to the ring post after Nomura got out of the way. From that point Nomura went after Omori’s right arm.

Omori did get a comeback near the end, including hitting an Axe Guillotine Driver. But when he want for the Axe Bomber, Nomura caught him in an armbar and got the submission.

Simple but fun stuff. Omori worked hard for a guy his age to try to establish Nomura and All Japan’s prodigal son established that he is now a submission threat. ***½

ROYAL ROAD TOURNAMENT 2022 QUARTER-FINALS
JAKE LEE DEF. TAKUYA NOMURA (15:14)

Lee, despite basically turning face, still subtly worked as a heel here. He took a few cheap shots at Nomura early on.

The first half of the match was fine but lacking intensity. Things did pick up and they really hit each other hard, but at no point did Lee ever feel in trouble. Lee won after a Backdrop and the D4C for the pin. This was underwhelming given the talent involved. They simply did not work to the level they were capable of apart from some stiff strikes later in the match.

After the match, Naoya Nomura came out to confront Lee as they face each other in the semi-finals on August 20. ***¼

FINAL THOUGHTS

There wasn’t a whole lot to this show and it didn’t help that the main event disappointed. If you do have time, go back and watch the six-man tag featuring the Aoyagi Bros. and Miyahara. That was a legitimately great match.

At least they have set up a very interesting final show of the tournament. Naoya Nomura vs. Jake Lee and Kento Miyhara vs. Yuji Nagata and then the finals should deliver. I’m still sticking to my prediction that we’re getting a Miyahara vs. Nomura finals, with Miyahara winning.

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