NJPW 40th Anniversary Destruction 2012

NJPW's "Journey to the Top" PPV Delivers Thrills and Spills in Kobe

The sun set over the World Hall in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan last night as New Japan Pro Wrestling presented its latest pay-per-view extravaganza, "Journey to the Top". A sold-out crowd of 8,000 enthusiastic fans witnessed a stacked card that featured some of the best matches and moments from the world of professional wrestling.

The evening began with CHAOS duo Takashi Iizuka and Tomohiro Ishii defeating Captain New Japan and Tama Tonga in a solid opening tag team match. The bout lasted 9:16, showcasing the technical prowess of both teams.

Next up was the Time Splitters-BUSHI-Forever Hooligans-Gedo six-man tag team match, which saw BUSHI and his partners emerge victorious at the 9:37 mark. This encounter featured a plethora of high-flying maneuvers and hard-hitting exchanges between the competitors.

Low Ki made a successful debut in NJPW by besting Daisuke Sasaki in a singles match that lasted 8:45 minutes. The American grappler impressed with his agility and submission skills, leaving many wondering if he'll become a regular fixture on the promotion's roster.

Suzuki-gun, comprising Harry Smith, Lance Archer, and Minoru Suzuki, dominated TenKoji and Yuji Nagata in a six-man tag team match that clocked in at 12:02. This encounter highlighted the strength and cunning of the Suzuki-gun trio, who have quickly become one of the most formidable factions in the company.

Togi Makabe scored an impressive victory over Kengo Mashimo in a singles match that lasted 9:02 minutes. The victor's powerful offense and defensive skills made him look like a force to be reckoned with in the NJPW heavyweight division.

Laughter7, consisting of Katsuyori Shibata and Kazushi Sakuraba, defeated Hiromu Takahashi and Wataru Inoue in a tag team match that concluded at the 3:03 mark. This encounter was marked by quick tags and explosive moves from both teams.

The main event saw Kota Ibushi successfully defend his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Ryusuke Taguchi, besting him in an intense 17:06-minute contest. The bout featured a thrilling array of high-flying spots and submission attempts, solidifying Ibushi's position as one of the top junior heavyweights in the world.

The evening culminated with Hiroshi Tanahashi successfully defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Naomichi Marufuji, prevailing in an epic 23:35-minute battle. The match featured a blend of technical grappling and powerful strikes, cementing Tanahashi's status as one of the greatest heavyweights in NJPW history.

Overall, "Journey to the Top" was a resounding success, featuring a diverse range of matches that showcased the best of what NJPW has to offer. Fans left the World Hall buzzing with excitement, eager to see what the future holds for this esteemed promotion.

Card Details

Date: 23 Sep 2012
Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Arena: World Hall
Attendance: 8000
Type: Pay Per View
Broadcast Type: Live
Broadcast Date: 23 Sep 2012

Matches

CHAOS (Takashi Iizuka and Tomohiro Ishii) defeat Captain New Japan and Tama Tonga in a Tag Team Match
Match Time: 09:16
Time Splitters and BUSHI defeat Forever Hooligans and Gedo in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 09:37
Low Ki defeat Daisuke Sasaki in a Singles Match
Match Time: 08:45
Suzuki-gun (Harry Smith, Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki) defeat TenKoji and Yuji Nagata in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 12:02
Togi Makabe defeat Kengo Mashimo in a Singles Match
Match Time: 09:02
Laughter7 (Katsuyori Shibata and Kazushi Sakuraba) defeat Hiromu Takahashi and Wataru Inoue in a Tag Team Match
Match Time: 03:03
Kota Ibushi(C) defeat Ryusuke Taguchi in a IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Match Time: 17:06
Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson and Tetsuya Naito defeat CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura and Yujiro Takahashi) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 15:08
Hiroshi Tanahashi(C) defeat Naomichi Marufuji in a IWGP Heavyweight Title Match
Match Time: 23:35