NJPW Power Struggle Results: Chris Jericho Takes On EVIL, Super Jr. Tag League Finals, New Champion

By Joshua Gagnon

Welcome to the Wrestling Inc's live coverage of NJPW Power Struggle, which will begin early Saturday at 4am ET / 1am PT. You can watch live on NJPW World (about $9 to sign-up).

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- Kevin Kelly and Chuckie T are on English commentary.

Soberano Jr., Volador Jr., Tiger Mask, and Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin, and Ryusuke Taguchi

ACH and Tiger get things started, ACH puts back on the rugby helmet (whole team came out with them on) and football, does a pose, hands off the ball and takes down Tiger. In comes Sabin, tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and in comes Liger to a nice pop. Sabin out on the floor, baseball slide followed up by a rolling senton off the apron. Back in the ring, Surfboard submission on Sabin, Volador in and he flies around the ring. hits a nice handspring hurricanrana, sends Sabin out of the ring, Sabin with a cutter over the top rope, climbs to the top, missile dropkick, cover, two.

Henare tagged in, goes to work, stalled vertical suplex, pin, two. Misses a lariat, Volador tries for hurricanrana, stopped in midair, and dumped, lariat drops Volador. Soberano heads in with Taguchi, slips on the ropes, goes back up for a dropkick, hits a nice corkscrew splash on Taguchi. Taguchi now in the ring with all four opponents, he's able to back all four to a corner, then does traffic control with his teammates as they crush each opponent. Most of the team gets dumped out to the floor. ACH/Taguchi double hip attack on Soberano, jumping x-factor, cover, 1-2-3.

Winners: Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin, and Ryusuke Taguchi via Pinfall

KUSHIDA, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga

Eagles and Honma begin the match, Eagles with a spinning heel kick, Honma with a shoulder block, couple stomps, power slam, looks for a headbutt and Gedo nails him with a kendo stick as the ref is distracted. Crowd didn't appreciate that move. Eagles takes advantage and stomps away at Honma in the corner. Loa in now, couple elbow drops, goes for a pin, KUSHIDA breaks it up and runs quickly back to his corner. Loa with a power slam of Honma in the corner, Eagles in, charges Honma, tries for a pin, and KUSHIDA does the exact same thing. Tonga in the match, Honma tries for falling headbutt, but nobody home. Tanga mocks Honma's head taunt, Honma with a back drop on Tanga, tags in Makabe.

Makabe swings away on Tonga, Loa jumps him from behind, Makabe fights him off and lands multiple clotheslines in the corner. Eagles sneaks in and hits him from behind, chops to the chest, but gets a spinning slam for getting involved. KUSHIDA tagged in, all three get on their opponents in the corner and swing away. KUSHIDA with a cartwheel dropkick on Tanga, kicks to his side, Eagles with a flurry of attacks on KUSHIDA. Makabe dumps him to the floor, Guerrillas of Destiny try to take him down, no luck. Honma with a falling headbutt that lands on Loa. KUSHIDA holds down Eagles as Honma lands another headbutt, then a flying headbutt on Tanga.

Gun stun attempt by Tanga, KUSHIDA blocks it and goes into a hoverboard lock. Gedo gets up on the apron for the distraction, Tanga ends up hitting him, KUSHIDA gets rolled up, then pushed near Gedo again who cracks him with the kendo stick. Pin, 1-2-no! While the referee is again distracted (refs already being dumb in this one), Ishimori comes into the ring with his crutch (was said to be injured) and nails KUSHIDA from behind, KUSHIDA gets pinned and can't kick out.

Winners: Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa, and Tama Tonga

- Post-match attacks from Bullet Club, Makabe charges in with his chain to chase the group off.

Kazuchika Okada and Beretta vs. Jay White and Bad Luck Fale

Okada immediately goes after White with a splash over the top rope and down to the floor. He sends White into the barricade and then out into the crowd, hitting multiple european uppercuts. Beretta and Fale in the ring, Beretta with some strikes on Fale as White charges across the ring and knocks him down to the floor, White now throws Okada into the barricade and sends him into a bunch of chairs.

White sent into the barricade again, hits draping DDT on the floor to White! Beretta with a dropkick on Fale (who's now on the floor), suicide dive out to Fale. Back in the ring Beretta gets sent into the ring, big splash to his back, another splash to the mat, cover, two-count. Okada turns his attention to Gedo out on the floor, Okada looks to get back in the ring, but Gedo grabs him by the ankle. Fale looks to finish off Beretta with a powerbomb, he slips under, roll-up for the surprise victory.

Winners: Okada and Beretta via Pinfall

- Post-match White and Fals continue fighting. White and Okada brawl out on the floor as the Young Lions try to break them up, White ends up punching them all away and continues to go after Okada. Okada is even fighting the Young Lions as he looks to swing away on White. Bell ringer is ringing that bell! White gets on the mic and says he wants Okada one-on-one, anywhere, anytime. Okada says how about right now? White heads back to the ring from the crowd and just closes the barricade gate. Crowd boos, he backs away and smashes two Young Lions who are still hanging around him. White heads to the back.

Hiroshi Tanahashi and David Finlay vs. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi

Back and forth attacks from Tanahashi and Omega, everything ends in a stalemate. Both tag out Ibushi works the arm and goes into a side headlock, but Finlay lands a dropkick. Omega tagged in, Ibushi with a kick and Omega plants Finlay to the mat, Ibushi brought back in with a stomp to the back. Omega continues to work over Finlay, hammers him in the corner, goes for a cover, Tanahashi goes in to break things up. Omega sends him out to the floor, launches Tanahashi into the barricade. Omega back in the ring, flattens Finlay, then nails a splash out to the floor on Tanahashi.

Finlay is able to finally tag out to Tanahashi, flattens Omega, kicks Ibushi down to the floor, then hits a dragon leg screw on Omega. Tries for a slingblade, Omega avoid it, looks for a moonsault and his knee buckles a bit and Tanahashi immediately goes after that with a low dropkick. Omega able to recover, looks for one winged angel, nope, twist and shout by Tanahashi.

Finlay and Ibushi tagged in, Ibushi with a flurry of kicks, missed penalty kick right into a standing moonsault, cover, two. Crowd cheering Ibushi on. Back and forth forearm strikes, Ibushi with a massive kick to the chest. Finlay with a Uranage, but Ibushi with a german suplex, tries for a knee to the face, no, Tanahashi blasts Ibushi. V-trigger by Omega to Tanahashi. Double team move on Finlay, looks for the double v-trigger and Tanahashi with a splash to take out the Golden Lovers momentarily. He gets a v-trigger though, sending him out to the floor. Finlay gets a golden trigger and that will do it.

Winners: Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi via Pinfall

- Post-match, Omega taunts Tanahashi with the title and the briefcase. The two will meet at Wrestle Kingdom in January for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi vs. Sho and Yoh (Super Jr. Tag League Finals)

The Suzuki-gun members attack before the bell rings (big surprise...), match gets started with Desperado and Yoh. Desperado doesn't stay in there long as he tags out to BUSHI (anyone can tag anyone in this match). Takagi is tagged in and lands some hefty chops to Sho, follows it up with a big knee and a suplex, cover, two-count. BUSHI brought back in, double hip toss and leg drops, cover, two. BUSHI choking Sho with his t-shirt, Sho fights him off and tags in Yoh. Yoh with a backbreaker/neckbreaker combo, kip-up, charging elbow in the corner.

BUSHI gets tripped up by Desperado, Kanemaru tags himself in, knees to the midsection and dumps him to the floor. Desperado smacks Yoh with a plastic tray out on the floor. Back in the ring, things break down a bit as every team gets involved, bodies flying everywhere, eventually LIJ gets sent out to the floor, Desperado gets launched out with a suicide to, takes out LIJ and goes over the first barricade! Kanemaru and Yoh in the ring now, back and forth strikes.

Takagi really going to work on Kanemaru, pop-up DDT hits, cover, two. LIJ with a double team back cracker, cover, and it gets broken up by another wrestler. Takagi looks to finish off Kanemaru, Desperado in to break things up, Kanemaru with a pin, two. Kanemaru with a low dropkick to Takagi's knee. Sho tags himself in, running clothesline in the corner. Double clotheslines over and over. Dropkick lands by Sho. Yoh and Sho with a back cracker, kick combo. BUSHI gets involved with a back cracker of his own. Tough to say who's the legal man at this point.

Desperado and Takagi fighting, Takagi with a double clothesline, plants Sho, big lariat, cover, 1-2-no! Takagi tries for last of the dragon, no, Roppongi 3k drops him instead, look like they have him, and the referee gets yanked out of the ring. Desperado brings in a title belt and smacks Sho in the mouth. Desperado suplex on Sho, cover, nope. BUSHI with the mist on Desperado. Yoh with a flip over the top and down on two guys. Sho with a clothesline and last ride back cracker on Desperado, cover, two. Double wrist clutch pile drive on Desperado, 1-2-3.

Winners: Sho and Yoh via Pinfall to win the Super Jr. Tag League

Taichi (c) vs. Hirooki Goto (NEVER Openweight Championship)

Before the match gets started, Taichi with the sneak attack and hits a saito suplex. Goto looks to be out, referee is checking on him, Taichi goes for the pin and then lifts up Goto's head. He throws some light kicks at Goto and tosses the referee aside. Taichi takes him out to the crowd and throws him around a bit, this is a really weird start to the match. Goto nearly gets counted out, but makes it back to the ring. Taichi drops Goto, goes for the pin, Goto kicks out at two this time. Crown with a "Go home, Taichi! / Let's go Taichi!" chants.

Goto finally getting into this match, gets in some strikes, eye gouge by Taichi. Goto shoves him back to the corner, charges in, nope. Taichi tries for the buzzsaw kick, blocked, Taichi with some more leg kicks as Goto lands some forearms. Taichi drops Goto, hits some more disrespectful kicks and slaps to the face. Goto tries for a lariat, nope, enziguri lands right on Goto's forehead, buzzsaw kick, cover, two. Goto lands a ushigoroshi. Taichi with another eye gouge, Goto with a facebuster, cover, two.

Goto looks for GTR, ref gets knocked down, Taichi with eye gouge, lowblow, pin, two. Taichi with a lariat to the back of the head, single leg dropkick, last ride, cover, two. Taichi and Goto both go down, Taichi looks for his title and some help from his lady. Ref complains, gets shoved and acts like he just got shot. Ref takes the title away, Goto with a ushigoroshi, big kick to the chest, cover, two. Goto completely destroys Taichi, gets the pin, 1-2-3. New champ!

Winner: Hirooki Goto via Pinfall to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion

Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki (RevPro British Heavyweight Championship)

Immediate attacks from Ishii as the bell rings, multiple forearms in the corner, over and over again. Suzuki wakes up and gives it back to Ishii. As in previous encounters these two are just lighting each other up with some hefty strikes. Ishii gets knocked down and out to the floor, Suzuki sits in the middle of the ring and waits for Ishii to make his way back into the ring. Suzuki with a couple knees and Ishii calls for more. Ishii knocked down again, but tries to fight from his knees without much luck.

Suzuki with a hard punch to the ribs, sending Ishii back to the mat. Suzuki with some light boots to the head, Ishii hops up and lands a chop to the throat over and over. Suzuki crumples to the floor and Ishii then gives the light kicks business back to Suzuki. More back and forth strikes, neither man wanting to fall to the mat. Suzuki with a nasty forearm that echoed throughout the building, but Ishii still doesn't go down. These two usually throw bombs, but they are really lighting each other up as Ishii finally falls down to the ropes, Suzuki with one last smack and Ishii finally goes down to the mat. Suzuki tries to send Ishii into the corner and he just falls to the mat.

Suzuki lands some more shots, which eventually just angers Ishii and he gets back into the match. Suzuki sat up on the top rope, Ishii grabs him and hits a powerbomb in the middle of the ring. Suzuki back up and they are hitting open palm strikes, followed up by a massive boot to Ishii's face and both men are down. Ishii is busted open at the mouth. Suzuki looks for gotch style piledriver, nope, Ishii with a strike, does nothing, Suzuki drops Ishii like a stone. Ishii back up, drops Suzuki, hits a clothesline, headbutt to the jaw, sliding lariat, pin, two. Back and forth slaps, Suzuki with a rear naked choke, Ishii spins around with a kick to the head, lariat, and another one. Ishii hits a brainbuster, cover, 1-2-3! Brutal match between these two. Chuckie T is happy that CHAOS is 4-0 on the night.

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii via Pinfall

Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Naito really taking his time before the match, crowd fully behind the LIJ leader. Sabre with a side headlock and dumps Naito to the mat. Sabre gets Naito to the mat, head scissors, Naito slips out and tries for an armbreaker, nope, Sabre looks for a bow and arrow, Naito gets out of that and gives Sabre a tranquillo pose. Sabre flips him off, Naito heads out to the floor for a moment and comes back in the ring.

Sabre really working over Naito's arm and tells Red Shoes to ask Naito if he quits, he doesn't. The two end up out on the floor, Sabre now turns his attention to Naito's knee out on the ramp, Red Shoes starts his 20-count and it takes until 19 for Naito to get back in the ring. Sabre instantly ties Naito up like a pretzel until Naito can finally free up an arm for a rope break. Inverted atomic drop and a hurricanrana by Naito. Sabre charges into the corner, nope, Naito catches a kick, back breaker, reverse DDT, cover, two. Naito selling a left knee injury at this point in the match.

Sabre sat on the top rope, hurricanrana by Naito, but Sabre rolls through it and goes right into an STF submission. Naito able to find the ropes again. Sabre selling a sore neck as he just stomps away on Naito's already banged up knee. Naito up and dumps Sabre in the corner, sliding dropkick lands. Both up, back elbow, springboard tornado DDT on Sabre! Naito with a side suplex, cover, two. Destino attempt, Sabre kicks his arm, octopus stretch locked in on Naito in the middle of the ring. Sabre trying to work over the knee, but Naito slips his foot behind Sabre's neck to put pressure on it. Naito is able to rolls to the rope and get away. Sabre undoing the taping around his fingers.

Sabre with a big penalty kick, cover, two. Sabre with an ankle lock, Naito stands, spins, german suplex. Naito with destino and Sabre kicked out. Naito looks for it again, Sabre tries to slip under, Naito sits down on him, two-count. Sabre instantly bridges over Naito for a very close three count. Naito with a brainbuster, destino, cover, 1-2-3. Naito had lost the previous two singles matches against Sabre, finally gets back a win.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito via Pinfall

Chris Jericho (c) vs. EVIL (IWGP Intercontinental Championship)

Jericho heads out and has two masks on, before he can take off the second one EVIL gets right after him. EVIL beats up the champion and sends him out to the floor, things spill out to the crowd for a moment as EVIL continues to go to work. Back near ringside, EVIL hits a suplex on the floor. Table is already brought out to the floor. EVIL looks to powerbomb Jerich, but gets back body dropped and then sent into the barricade. Jericho takes the camera from the camera man, gets up close to EVIL with it and stomps him. Jericho chokes EVIL with his shirt, sends him over the first barricade where the announcers are and gets him on a table. Jericho yells "Everything is Jericho!" and DDTs EVIL on the table, which doesn't budge, of course. Jericho swats at one of the Young Lions and dumps EVIL back ringside. Jericho launches a table and shoves Red Shoes. Jericho grabs a NJPW banner and blows his nose with it, crowd boos.

Back in the ring, Jericho goes up top and hits a crossbody. EVIL trying to fight back, Jericho with a kick to the face, nails a lionsault, cover, two. Power slam and a flexing pose to the crowd. Jericho with some kicks to the back, heads up top, but EVIL catches him on the way up. EVIL gets bounced back, Jericho with a diving back elbow, cover, two-count. Jericho mocks the crowd some more and receives boos in return.

EVIL with a clothesline, sending Jericho out to the floor and launches him into the barricade. EVIL looks for a chair under the ring, hits Jericho in the midsection, put it around his neck and sends him into the ring post. The chair remains around his neck and EVIL swings for the fences with another chair, Jericho crumples to the ground. In the ring, EVIL with a fisherman's buster, cover, two. Crowd cheers on the LIJ member. Jericho looking for walls of jericho, EVIL flips the champ away. EVIL on the apron now, Jericho with a springboard dropkick. Table is directly behind EVIL. He looks to suplex Jericho through the table, blocked, Jericho ends up on the apron.

Back and forth strikes, EVIL with an STO sending Jericho through the table. Red Shoes starts up the 20-count, gets to 16 before EVIL brings Jericho into the match. EVIL heads to the top rope senton splash, cover, two. Jericho recovers and locks in the walls of jericho, EVIL is able to make it to the ropes and break the hold. Jericho thinks he won, and yells at Red Shoes, gives him a shove. Jericho turns around, EVIL hits him with a lariat, cover, two. EVIL looks for another, Jericho with a back elbow, nobody home, EVIL hits darkness falls, Jericho kicks out out.

Jericho will a quick roll-up, tries for a codebreaker, double lariats and both are down. Back and forth strikes, some misdirection by Jericho and lands a codebreaker, cover, and EVIL kicks out! Crowd thought it was over. Everything is evil gets blocked, STO does hit, cover, two. EVIL with a big lariat, Jericho up and goes for a lowblow. Everything is evil gets reversed into walls of jericho in the center of the ring, EVIL claws close to the ropes, Jericho trying to walk him away and then locks in more of the old school lion tamer variation and EVIL is forced to tap out.

Winner: Chris Jericho via Submission

- Post-match, Jericho puts in the walls of jericho again. Out from the back comes Tetsuya Naito and he hammers away on Jericho. Jericho is able to bail out of the ring and head up the ramp to the back. Jericho questions if Naito wants the title and Naito holds the ropes open, inviting him back in the ring. Jericho walks to the back holding his title up. Naito gets on the mic and says he'll be the next to challenge for Jericho's title. Backstage, Jericho calls EVIL a tough s.o.b. and says he's already beat Naito and there won't be a rematch anywhere. Jericho said that was EVIL's first classic match, but for him it was just another classic in a long list of classics. Notes he's still undefeated in NJPW.

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