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LIVE FROM LONG BEACH: NJPW'S "DESTRUCTION" DELIVERS IN CALIFORNIA

In front of a sold-out crowd of 3,007 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, New Japan Pro Wrestling's "Destruction" event lived up to its billing, featuring a stacked card that showcased some of the best talent from both sides of the Pacific.

The night began with a high-flying opener as ACH, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated CHAOS (Rocky Romero, SHO, and YOH) in a thrilling six-man tag team match. The action was non-stop, with all eight competitors showcasing their skills.

The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) followed up with a strong showing of their own, taking down Chase Owens and Hangman Page in a competitive tag team match. While the result may have been expected, it was great to see these two teams get some time to shine.

Chris Sabin, Flip Gordon, and Jeff Cobb then teamed up to take on CHAOS and Chuckie T in another six-man tag. This one was a real barnburner, with all eight men giving it their all. In the end, the trio of Sabin, Gordon, and Cobb emerged victorious.

The first half of the show closed out with Suzuki-Gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, and Zack Sabre Jr.) taking on Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito) in a highly physical six-man tag. This one was all about the strong-style wrestling, with plenty of big moves and near-falls.

The first round of IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament semi-finals saw Marty Scurll take on Will Ospreay in what was arguably the match of the night. These two competitors have a long history together, and it showed in their intense encounter. In the end, Scurll emerged victorious, but don't be surprised if we see Ospreay back in the tournament soon.

The main event of the evening saw Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) put their IWGP Tag Team Titles on the line against the Young Bucks. This one was a real clash of styles, with the powerhouses of GOD facing off against the high-flying Bucks. In the end, the champions emerged victorious, but it's clear that this rivalry is far from over.

The evening's second title match saw Cody put his IWGP United States Heavyweight Title on the line against Juice Robinson. This one was a real test for both men, with Cody looking to prove himself as a dominant champion and Robinson seeking to dethrone him. In the end, Cody emerged victorious, but don't be surprised if we see Robinson back in the title picture soon.

The night closed out with a tag team main event that lived up to its billing. Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) took on CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii) in what was essentially a match for the ages. These four competitors have a long history together, and it showed in their intense encounter. In the end, the winners of the evening emerged victorious, but don't be surprised if we see these two teams at it again soon.

All in all, "Destruction" was an excellent show that showcased some of the best talent in professional wrestling today. With a stacked card like this one, it's no wonder that NJPW has built such a strong following on both sides of the Pacific.

Card Details

  • Date: 30 Sep 2018
  • Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Arena: Walter Pyramid
  • Attendance: 3007
  • Type: TV-Show
  • Broadcast Type: Live
  • Broadcast Date: 30 Sep 2018

Matches

  1. ACH, Jushin Thunder Liger and Ryusuke Taguchi defeat CHAOS (Rocky Romero, SHO and YOH) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 08:55

  2. The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) defeat Chase Owens and Hangman Page in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 08:14

  3. Chris Sabin, Flip Gordon and Jeff Cobb defeat CHAOS and Chuckie T in a Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 12:04

  4. Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer and Zack Sabre Jr.) defeat Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 09:27

  5. Gedo and Jay White defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi and KUSHIDA in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 08:52

  6. Marty Scurll(C) defeat Will Ospreay in a IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament Semi Final Match
    Match Time: 16:38

  7. Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa)(C) defeat Young Bucks in a IWGP Tag Team Title Match

  8. Cody(C) defeat Juice Robinson in a IWGP United States Heavyweight Title Match

  9. Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) defeat CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii) in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 23:06

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