Minutes to Bell Time

Ryuske Taguchi, Sho, Yoh, and Jon Moxley defeats Douki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, and Minoru Suzuki

New Beginning February 2

This match previews two matches:

  • Jon Moxley’s defense of the U.S. Heavyweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki on 2/9
  • Sho and Yoh’s defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships against El Desperado and Kanemaru on 2/9

Suzuki met Moxley in the crowd and the referee called for the bell. Moxley and Suzuki teased a table spot on the outside. Moxley and Suzuki continued for a long time on the outside. In the ring, Kanemaru and El Desperado held Sho and Yoh in a pair of submission moves. After Yoh was beaten down in the ring, he finally got a tag to. . . .Moxley.

Now Moxley and Suzuki in the ring and legal, Moxley got a two count following a vertical suplex. Suzuki answered a few moments later with a PK. Back on their feet, Suzuki and Moxley traded forearms, chops, headbutts, and kicks before both men went down.Both tagged out, but continued the fight on the outside.

Sho and Yoh got taken out and Taguchi got triple teamed on the inside. Kanemaru and Desperado battled Sho and Yoh on the outside, so Douki and Taguchi battled on the inside. Taguchi missed a hip attack bringing others back into the ring.

Suzuki and Moxley came back in and traded palm strikes. Taguchi stumbled around in the ring until Moxley and Suzuki both kicked him. Suzuki and Moxley went to the outside and everything came down to Douki and Taguchi. Taguchi got the submission victory with an ankle lock.

This was an absolute car wreck. . . .

Match Ratings

Six dimensions combine to make up the overall rating. Matches score ratings of 1-10 only if the match lasts for a minimum of 5 minutes.

  1. Match Quality– Was the match well wrestled or sloppy?
  2. Audience Engagement– Did the live audience care about the match?
  3. Competitiveness– Was the match competitive or one-sided?
  4. Stakes – Did the match matter?
  5. Finish– Did the match end in a satisfying manner?
  6. Performance: (1) Poor (2) Below Average (3) Average (4) Above Average (5) Excellent
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