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00:00Well, folks, I'm being joined tonight at ringside by the one and only Defy World Champion, Clark
00:22Connors Park.
00:23Welcome to the booth.
00:24It's good to be back walking.
00:26I got a little whiskey in my eyes, but I think I just saw a little bit of LP's butt running
00:29up that ramp there.
00:32It wasn't just his.
00:33I'll remind you of that.
00:35Lucky you, he got a show.
00:36Well, lucky somebody.
00:50You know, it feels as though, Clark, the word of the decade for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
00:54Whether it's English or Japanese, that word is going to be changed.
00:57And there has been so much change just in the past year or two in NJPW, all alike.
01:05And Shota Umino hopes to be a part of that change going forward.
01:09Wants to revolutionize Hontai and his own idea.
01:12But his tag team partner tonight has a different vision for what Hontai should look like.
01:17Yeah, these are two of the guys that I came up in the dojo system with.
01:20I've known them for a long time.
01:22And they both have a chip on their shoulder from those days.
01:24Back in those days, the LA dojo used to run the show on them.
01:27And now they feel like it's their company and their home team to run.
01:30So it's very interesting to see where they go for here.
01:32And if I could, I would have shot myself in the foot saying it a year ago.
01:52But if you can believe it now, Yuya Umura truly serving as that youthful color to Hontai
01:59that Shota Umino no longer has.
02:01Donned in the white tonight as Umino.
02:03It's all business for Shota.
02:05We're going to see what it's like on the side for Yuya Umura as well.
02:07I do love that.
02:37But it reminds me of the Red Rooster, man.
02:40It's our very own Japanese Red Rooster.
02:43Big Terry Taylor guy, aren't you?
02:44Yeah, big Terry Taylor.
02:46Something about him, Cox, you know?
02:48Oh, God.
03:07We're going to see what it's like on the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the side of the
03:37Well, the word change does not just apply to units such as Bullet Club, United Empire,
03:57it also applies to Los Ingobernables de Japón.
04:00We're going to see them later on in your semi-main event.
04:03Konomo Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito of LIJ.
04:06So much conversation about the way Tetsuya Naito's recent announcement alongside Bushi
04:12could change the landscape of not just NJPW, the LIJ itself, and we have change upon us here.
04:19It's only the genesis of it.
04:21It really is.
04:22I think, like you were saying before, it's not just all of us young guys coming up right
04:25now and making their mark.
04:26It's the old guard leaving.
04:28You have Tanahashi, you have Naito, you got Bushi all heading out the door trying to do
04:32their new thing.
04:33It's anybody's ballgame to step up and become the top of this company.
04:38And while you have your present in a man like Shingo Takagi, your future will forever be
04:47safe in the hands of a man like Yota Tsuji should he retain that IWGP Global Heavyweight title.
04:54But Yuya Uemura, the dance of the sun and the moon, the sun will always shine.
04:58We'll see how Uemura affairs in Dantaku.
05:01Is that a haiku?
05:08Look on your poetry.
05:10IWGP Global Heavyweight champion, Gene Blast, Tsuji Yota!
05:26IWGP Global Heavyweight champion, Gene Blast, Tsuji Yota!
05:31IWGP Global Heavyweight champion, Gene Blast, Tsuji Yota!
05:48As we get into the action here tonight, special tag team matchup previews two singles matches
05:53to come at Wrestling Dantaku 2025.
05:58Night one is going to see singles action, Shota Uemura taking on Shingo Takagi.
06:02No monkey business involved with that one.
06:03It is indeed Shota Uemura who has had, well, been taking a beating from Shingo Takagi all
06:10throughout the road to Dantaku.
06:11Well, that's kind of been, since the last time we were together in the booth, we've been
06:15seeing Shota just take these ass whoopings, and it's changing this character, it's changing
06:19him into a new Uemura, someone who he thinks he can lead Hontai and lead this company, so
06:24let's see if it pays off for him.
06:28Shota Uemura, one of those few towns that definitely is all LIJ all the time, one of the only places
06:46that there's not enough War Dog merch, if you're asking me.
06:51First time for everything, man.
06:52Well, right.
06:53Well, the bell sounds, and we're officially underway tonight.
07:02Shota!
07:03Shota!
07:04Shota!
07:05Shota!
07:06Shota!
07:07Shota!
07:08You talk about a lack of War Dog's merchandise, and while I might happen to agree with you on
07:12that point here in Hiroshima, how much LIJ merchandise will be sticking around with Tensia
07:17Naito one foot out the door?
07:18That's the question, man.
07:20That's what we're going to see.
07:21Are you going to step up as the leader of LIJ, if there's going to be an LIJ?
07:25These are all questions, and more can be answered on Dotaku.
07:28And we'll be trying to theorize, understand what's going through the mind of men like
07:34Shingo Takagi, men like Yota Tsuji.
07:36We know what's going through the mind of Hiromu Takahashi.
07:38We'll see him later on in our semi-main event, and we'll talk all about it.
07:41But the main thing, the point of focus for Tsuji cannot be the disruption in the guard
07:47with LIJ has to beat the IWGP Global Heavyweight title, a title that he worked so hard to earn,
07:53and it now has to work harder to defend.
07:55Yeah, you can't ever let up against someone like Yuya.
07:58Look at him right there.
07:59Everything he does is so fast and explosive.
08:01It's a true fiery babyface, and he can roll you up at any second and pick up a title.
08:05It all takes three seconds.
08:09Yuya has been doing everything in his power to try and build back the status
08:13that he was really on the way to earning during last year's G1.
08:17However, it was an unfortunate injury in a match with Yota Tsuji, mind you,
08:20that absolutely derailed what could have been the coming out party for Uemura in that tournament.
08:24Yeah, no, a lot of people have their sights set on him as a favorite coming into it.
08:28So this is his time to shine again.
08:30And here's one of those Tsuji slaps, man.
08:33These two have been doing this since they were young lions.
08:36They knew each other's dance more than anybody, I'd say.
08:39Hence the comments made not just by myself earlier, but Tsuji and Uemura alike.
08:46Comparisons of the sun and the moon.
08:50Uemura...
08:51Yeah, that's what they mean.
08:52Yeah, as the sun, Yota Tsuji says,
08:54well, if Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to appoint you the sun,
08:57the appointed sun of Huntai, then, well, I will be your man.
09:01I will be tied to your career forever.
09:03And that's going to be a threat in the side of Uemura for all of it.
09:06Yeah.
09:07That's beautiful, man.
09:09In the War Dogs, we just say fuck a lot.
09:11Well, I like you off air, but that's a different story.
09:15And Shingo Takagi gonna make the tag.
09:26We're back inside here.
09:28And it's Uemura who is going to do everything in his power to try and battle back.
09:32We have two of pound for pound some of the greatest athletes that are inside a New Japan Pro Wrestling roster right now.
09:40Takagi, I mean, one of the best of all time.
09:43Yeah, no, I mean, I got to give credit where credit's due.
09:46He really is.
09:47And it was actually really interesting to see that double tackle there.
09:49I just saw mirror images of Yoda Tsuji and Shingo Takagi.
09:53He really is like a young Shingo Yoda is.
09:56So to see where that leads him in the future of this whole situation is very interesting.
10:01That's clear.
10:02I you.
10:03Yeah.
10:04All right.
10:05Give it up.
10:06Yeah.
10:07Yeah.
10:08Yeah.
10:09Should go, grounding.
10:10Yuya, Uemura here.
10:11Just as much damage as Shingo would love to do to show to Uemura countless comments.
10:17Made all across social media, making their way into post-match comments.
10:21We know that Takagi has it out for Uno, and really all of Hontai by this point in nature.
10:27It's all about self-preservation in professional wrestling, Clark.
10:29I mean, I'd argue the War Dogs know that better than anyone.
10:32Yeah, man. We were built on that, you know.
10:34But someone like Shingo Wright, he's been a floater for a lot of his career in different companies.
10:39And when he came to Sidney home, he was kind of this outsider that Naito took in.
10:43And to see him without Naito here, he's become, obviously, a world champion in his own right.
10:50But to see where he ends up without L.I.J. being what it was before is very interesting.
10:54Like you said, self-preservation is the way of the Dragon.
11:01Fire has been the way of the Dragon just alike.
11:05And the heat that radiates off that fire coming in the form of Yuya Uemura here.
11:09Grounded by the body scissors and makes his way to the bottom rope just the same.
11:15That midsection's hurting, though. They've been working it well.
11:19That's a great strategy out of Yota Tsuji.
11:21That's a guy that has a lot of offense targeting that midsection.
11:24You talk about the Gene Blast spear.
11:27Second-best spear on the roster.
11:30But it's effective, no doubt.
11:31It's definitely a very effective spear.
11:33And targeting those ribs is always a good move.
11:38Just the same, the power offense that comes out of Shingo Takagi.
11:42That cravat locked in right now.
11:43But it's not going to take long for Takagi to lay it in full force.
11:47Oh, and it's Umino who feeds that full force.
11:51I like that.
11:54I like that.
11:57Drawing the ire.
11:58Ataka Michinoki, you better watch out now.
12:00Get yourself a marigold driver.
12:02And Takagi wanted that Takagi combination, and instead Omura finds his way.
12:13See if Omura can get that tag.
12:14Those ribs are hurting.
12:16Landed right on him off that dropkick.
12:19You know it's going to hurt the ego, but it's got to be done for the win.
12:23Tag made, and it's Umino in.
12:25Yeah.
12:25Yeah.
12:26Yeah.
12:27Shultz, Umino has faced Shingo Takagi in singles competition before.
12:42Takes him back to G1 Climax last year.
12:45And we could see Umino repeat the fate Takagi met another victory in the form of Umino as that STF stepped through, and Takagi is in a world of trouble here, Clark.
12:55Yeah, he's been targeted in that knee since he came in the match.
12:58No!
12:58Another thing about these preview tags is they're not just trying to win this match tonight, they're trying to injure their opponents coming up here at the Takagi in the big matches.
13:07Takagi needs that knee for a lot of the explosive offense we're talking about.
13:10And now Shultz up, Fisherman Suplex finds the cover again.
13:17Not going to be enough on Shingo tonight.
13:26Things have gotten deeply personal between these two men, Shingo Takagi and Shultz.
13:30Umino.
13:32Shultz looking to prove Shingo Takagi's comments of not knowing who the hell he is,
13:37not knowing what he wants to do, who he can beat, to be wrong.
13:44Shultz woke up.
13:47Yeah, takes Umino all the way to the outside right in front of us, and it could get dangerous out here, Clark.
13:53Yeah, I know.
13:58Oh!
13:58God!
14:02Oh, we got it.
14:03Shingo Takagi made for Shultz, Umino to pay up early tonight.
14:13Oh!
14:13Oh!
14:15This is a different side of Shingo.
14:18This reminds me of when he came back into the company, came into this company, he was just a raw piece of just ass kicker.
14:23That's brutal.
14:29It's late in the match, too.
14:30I mean, you can't say it isn't warranted, though.
14:33L.I.J. has never been under more threat than, well, it's cornerstone.
14:37Tetsuya Naito now exiting the organization, not to mention one of the most stable pieces of the New Japan roster.
14:44And Bushi also to follow suit.
14:45But L.I.J. is going to change completely, and that's the unit that changed the game, so to speak.
14:52Yeah, man.
14:53Like you said, it's time for the change of the guard, and I'm excited to see what happens.
14:58Oh, here we go.
14:59Speaking of changing pace, no, we didn't know his feet.
15:01Yeah, Udo wanted that tornado DDT.
15:03Takagi's smarter.
15:06And they look for it in his own.
15:08DDT spikes in Shultz, Umino.
15:11Oh, boy.
15:28Looks like they're setting up for something here.
15:31Yeah, we're going to see what that can be.
15:33Hell of a standout team in World Tag League last year.
15:36And here comes.
15:39C.G.F. corner splashed in on Umino.
15:42Takagi with the corner bomber.
15:46Just a meeting in the middle.
15:47Watch for it now.
15:49Driving Umino, dead center of the ring.
15:52Find the cover here, and Uemura breaking it up.
15:55There he is.
16:00Uemura and Tsuji look to shine in their global heavyweight title match coming up.
16:05Whoa, it's with the G-blast, but he's out of there.
16:07Watch it now.
16:11Uemura serves Shingo up on the platter.
16:14Shingo denied it.
16:17Oh, meeting in the middle here.
16:22And don't turn your back on it.
16:24Drop kicks in stereo.
16:30It's just like the old lion days.
16:32And now we've got to find it here.
16:35And it is not found yet.
16:37A victory still on the horizon for one of these two teams.
16:40Uemura fired up.
16:45He's getting Shota fired up as well.
16:47You love to see it.
16:50Someone's going to be forced to take a loss here tonight.
16:53And will it be Shota?
16:55Here comes Shooter.
16:57Oh.
16:59I'm going to play this game with Shingo.
17:01Oh, boy.
17:03It's often a losing battle for anyone not named Takagi.
17:07And it's Uemura wins out in the end here.
17:10Oh, does he?
17:11Oh, sliding bomber.
17:13I'm going to play this game with Shingo now precarious position.
17:23DDT from Uemura again.
17:25Takagi back to his feet.
17:27Flattened down with the Lariat.
17:29Cover.
17:30Oh, Suji.
17:33Not letting it go down that easy.
17:35Saved by the second.
17:38Shingo Takagi by Yoda Suji here.
17:43You can even see it.
17:45Uemura just getting Shota more fired up.
17:47Every time he comes in that ring,
17:49Shota just got to have that energy,
17:50that fire that maybe Shota's been lacking.
17:53Maybe this is a tag team that can do something in the future.
17:56There's a lot of people that have been calling
17:58for a little fire out of Shota.
18:00And if there's one man that's going to bring it to you,
18:06it's the fire-breathing dragon.
18:07It's Shingo Takagi.
18:13Uemura typically doesn't fare well in the stand.
18:17No.
18:17But he's going to keep it close distance.
18:20Sitting in the pocket with Takagi.
18:24Hey, you don't turn your back on the dragon,
18:26nor on the roughneck.
18:28Now we're cooking.
18:38Shota with a huge lariat on Shingo Takagi.
18:46He has to follow up deep.
18:49Captured bomber.
18:50Caught him, caught him.
18:51Got him.
18:52And the win.
18:54Oh, man.
18:56Oh, I thought he kicked out.
19:10That's as close as it gets right there.
19:12Yeah, you're absolutely right about it.
19:15Shota Uemura believes the exact same thing,
19:17and Yuya Uemura in disbelief as well.
19:20What's Takagi doing?
19:21Look at his face.
19:23Oh, Takagi's not done.
19:24Takagi's not done.
19:25Bell's already sounded.
19:27Uemura's trying to run away.
19:28Look at this.
19:31You know what?
19:33I like this side of Takagi.
19:34Oh, boy.
19:35What the hell is this?
19:36Oh.
19:39Oh, Sabu.
19:41I'm with the table.
19:45Hey, Walker.
19:46If LRJ breaks up,
19:47I think the War Dogs might have a new spot open
19:49if he's going to keep acting like this.
19:51Oh, my God.
19:53Oh, my God.
19:54What?
19:55What?
19:56I'm going to call Boss Dog.
20:03I'm not entirely certain what the hell has gotten into Shingo Takagi here,
20:07but Shota Uemura has unleashed something dangerous outside of the Rampage Dragon.
20:14This is...
20:14Oh, man.
20:17That is a Lampage, my friend.
20:20Wow.
20:22Some of these kids at Ringside are in disbelief.
20:25But, of course, May 3rd, coming up, Shota Uemura, Shingo Takagi, May 4th.
20:36It is set to be your semi-main event of the evening.
20:39The IWGP Global Heavyweight title on the line.
20:42Yota Tsuji defends against Yuya Uemura.
20:45The IWGP Global Heavyweight title on the line.
21:15The IWGP Global Heavyweight title on the line is Shingo Takagi and Tsuji Yota Kumi.
21:18The IWGP Global Heavyweight title on the line is Shingo Takagi and Shota Uemura.
21:21You know, Clark, there's something about these interactions with Shingo Takagi and Shota Uemura
21:25that goes beyond tension.
21:27It's awkward.
21:28It's uncomfortable.
21:29And sometimes that's exactly what professional wrestling needs to be.
21:33I cannot wait for what we see coming up between those two on May 3rd.
21:37You're damn right.
21:38Hey, big boy.
22:03Yeah, I'll tell him.
22:08I'll let him know.
22:16Well, as big of a day, it's going to be on May 3rd for Shingo Takagi and Shota Uemura.
22:20Clark, you and the dogs have an even bigger one.
22:23Coming up.
22:23In the main event, Dog Pound Cage match actions.
22:28But four dogs against House of Torture.
22:30We're going to preview that even further than we already have tonight.
22:33It is six-man tag team action.
22:35The dogs versus the house.
22:37It's coming up next.
22:38We're going to be on May 3rd.