Road To Invasion Attack 4/2/15

[shoe]

Yohei Komatsu vs Sho Tanaka

 

These guys work each all the time. So they've developed a great chemistry. Some real crisp mat work to start. Digging Komatsu holding on to the headlock. Komatsu starts working the back. Loving Tanaka's running forearm. The story of the match is the Boston Crab. A really heated rope break. Tanaka showing so much fight. Now Komatsu cinches in a 1/2 crab for the win. A really strong opener. 3 1/4*

 

Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger & Tiger Mask & Jay White vs KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley & Ryusuke Taguchi

 

On paper this looks like a potential show stealer. Liger and Kushida start out. The vet just putting the youngster through the paces on the mat. Fun sequence. Taguchi and TM pair off. I've said it before but Taguchi is so much more entertaining in 6 mans. This was really nothing here. White and Shelley now pair off. White is a guy with huge upside. Liger again is in to punish Kushida. TM is in and he continues to work over Kushida. They are using quick tags to keep Kushida down. he tries a comeback to no avail. The 2 nd time he gets it. Taguchi with butt butts. All 3 run the gauntlet on Shelley. Time Splitters get a little pay back on Liger. The work in this was solid. The finish felt kinda flat. 2 1/4*

 

Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Cody Hall

 

Everyone is all over the place to start. It settles down and we see the faces work over Anderson's arm along with their traditional spots. Chop exchange that Kojima gets the best of. Gallows in and he takes over. Kojima sells. Tag to Hall. Hall with some basic work. That really was bad. Tenzan works well with the champs. Overall, something was missing. 1 3/4*

 

 

Mascara Dorada & Captain New Japan vs Tama Tonga & Kenny Omega

 

This was the tale of 2 matches. 2*

 

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma & Katsuyori Shibata & Togi Makabe & Hirooki Goto vs Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii & Kazushi Sakuraba & YOSHI-HASH

I will say the Tanahashi/Yano interactions are pretty entertaining. Plus it gives Yano's bullshit some real meaning. In the past Yano would do his schtick just because . Now he's doing it to piss Tanahashi off. Loving Shibata and Sakuraba shooting for submissions. The Shibata/Honma stuff continues. Honma as FIP is good stuff. Chaos is doing a good job of punishing Honma. Big comeback by Honma that gets stopped in its tracks. Makabe and Ishii go through their stuff. Goto and Nakamura take center stage. These guys are having a great exchange. We get a 2nd FIP with Goto. Comeback time. Tanahashi misses a dive onto Yano. Finishing run is phenomenal. This match was awesome with everyone getting a chance to look great, well except Tanahashi. They combined good story telling, with great moments. 4 *

Rocky Romero & Baretta & Kazuchika Okada vs Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson & Bad Luck Fale

Both Bucks fall to Okada early so that brings Fale in. Bucks take control working over Romero They're real; Dicks here. Fale sits on him. Bucks infuriating Baretta Their were some nice cuy off spots. Finally, Romero hot tags Okada. Okada is a great hot tag with all his spots that are over. We get some momentum shifts, Eventually Bullet Club gets the win. 3 1/4*

Kota Ibushi & Tetsuya Naito vs AJ Styles & Yujiro Takahashi

We get some parity exchanges with Styles and Ibushi. Naito and Takahashi go at it with Naito with the early advantage. Takahashi starts rough housing. Styles in and he seems to be in control of Naito. Naito is FIP which he does ok. Hot tag to Ibushi. He's a whirlwind till Styles cuts him off. Some more back and forth. 2 1/4*

A real solid show from NJPW.

 

 

 

[bradhindsight]

Who took the fall in the main?

[shoe]

Naito