Tanahashi, Nagata, Makabe, Ibushi defeat Douki, Taichi, ZSJ, Suzuki: June 15th New Japan Special

Result: Tanahashi, Nagata, Makabe, Ibushi defeat Douki, Taichi, ZSJ, Suzuki

Match

• This match previews three New Japan Cup opening matches
  • Ibushi vs. ZSJ
  • Tanahashi vs. Taichi
  • Suzuki vs. Nagata
• Suzuki Gun comes to the ring using Zack Sabre’s theme music (not Suzuki’s).
• Per usual, Suzuki Gun attacked before the bell. I forgot they do that every match. Nice to know that some things don’t change.
• Makabe pinned Douki using the King Kong knee drop from the top rope.

All Matches from June 15th New Japan Special

• Full Results
  • Yota Tsuji vs. Gabriel Kidd
  • Tomohiro Ishii and Yuya Uemura vs El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, Yoshi-Hashi, Honma vs. Taiji Ishimori, Jado, Gedo, Yujiro Takahashi
  • Evil, Sanada, and Bushi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, and Ryuske Taguchi
  • Douki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Junior, Minoru Suzuki vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, Togi Makabe, Kota Ibushi
  • Kazuchika Okada, Sho, and Yoh vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, and Hiromu Takahashi

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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