NJPW Destruction in Kobe: A Solid End to the Destruction Tour

The insane Weekend of wrestling ended for me with The Destruction show in Kobe. Well, that's a bit of a lie. I watched it in parts at work. It was slow, but I definitely think it helped me enjoy the show a bit more. Four hours is still a lot of wrestling to intake, no matter what company it is. Regardless of that factor, I think Kobe still brought a more than adequate ending to the trio of shows that needed a good ending more than anything.


Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Hirai Kawato vs. Tomoyuki Oka and Katsuya Kitamura
We got to hear Tenzan's theme in this match, which was a plus. Apparently, according to English Commentary, Kitamura and Oka are now known as Monster Rage. Which I guess makes Oka the Rage. I drool over these two a lot, but Kawato is definitely my favorite Young Lion at this point. I've really warmed up to him, and his personality is really defined at this point. Hirai is hungry and determined to get that first, defining win of his career. He didn't pick it up here, Tenzan put the Anaconda Vice on Oka and it was over, but one day he will. Maybe it'll be in the Young Lion's Cup?
*1/2


Togi Makabe, Ricochet, Ryuske Taguchi, Jushin "Thunder" Liger and Tiger Mask IV vs. Suzuki-Gun (Takashi iizuka,Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado and TAKA Michinoku)
I didn't know Taichi had a death wish, but with the way he was getting in Makabe's face he must. This whole match had two purposes; Taguchi comedy, and setting up Makabe as the next challenger for Suzuki. I'm so pumped for the latter, and the former wasn't entirely bad. Taguchi finally got revenge on Taichi by jamming the bell hammer up his Sopp-Gunn region. Broke down, Makabe killed TAKA with a King Kong Kneedrop, match ends. Every junior on Suzuki-Gun's side not Taichi deserves better.
*1/4

CHAOS (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI) vs Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens)
With each passing week, it looks more likely we're getting Goto and YOSHI as a tag team in the Tag League this year. I'm still not sure how I feel about this, but they seem to be progressively clicking more as the weeks go on. Chase Owens continue to push for the most underrated Club member, going at 50 Miles an Hour and making it look effortless. Unfortunately, he ate the fall to YOSHI with the Karma. It felt like Fale was barely in this match, and it was really one of the biggest throwaway matches of the tour.
*

Baretta vs Yujiro Takahashi
The best part about this match was Yujiro's escort. My God, the difference that regular clothes make vs. a gimp suit. This was Baretta's debut as a singles, heavyweight wrestler, and both men brought their working boots. It's been almost unanimously agreed that this was Takahashi's best match in a while, and he pulled out some moves we haven't seen in a long time as well. Though the fact that he hasn't had a significant singles match in a while probably accounts for both of these attributes. I have serious concerns about Baretta continuing to pull out the ramp dive that almost killed him, or at least saving them for big matches. Yujiro did everything and a half to put Baretta away here, and made him look very good in doing so. The Pimp fell to the Dudebuster, a Reverse, Cradle Tombstone deal that lends itself into a pinning combination. It's a little contrived, but there's potential for a lot of unique lead ins if done correctly.
**1/2

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships [3rd Title Defense]
War Machine (Hanson and Raymond Rowe) vs. Killer Elite Squadron (Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith, Jr.) vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa)
This was a feast for the lover of Chaos. The match started practically all over the arena, with three separate pairs fighting each other. The brawled hither, and yon, and here, and then back. The action in and around the ring was on par with the Hiroshima match, but it flowed even better this time. Unlike the match between Punishment Martinez and Jay White from Death Before Dishonor, the violence and the measures taken by the teams built up steadily. When Davey Boy Smith was put through a table, and Hanson ate a table as well near the end of the match, it was significant in it's timing and effect on the match in whole. "Hardcore" spots can be good when done right, and here they were used as means to an end, which was Killer Elite Squadron winning the Tag Titles by pinning Rowe. at least we're done with the multi-mans.
...What? They're doing an elimination three way at KOPW? Shit.
***3/4

Kota Ibushi and David Finlay vs Hiroshi Tanahashi and Michael Elgin
Well, this was an unexpected treat. as we work our way to Ibushi and Tanahashi's match to determine the prettiest man in New Japan, and the Intercontinental title I guess, we get this tag match that was fucking great. After the initial Tanahashi/Ibushi tease, what we got was an excellent series between elgin and Finlay. Elgin decided this was a good night to humble the Celt, and did as much as he could without using the Camel Clutch. He was extremely physical with david, and it must have been a relief when Tanahashi was tagged in, and he could make it to Ibushi. Elgin and Tanahashi, speaking of, are still a really good tag team. I'm hoping that this'll be the year that they walk out of the Tag League with the Trophies and the Title Shot at The Dome. They're treating Ibushi's knee like a killer of men, as it should be. It's a really interesting parallel to Omega's V-Trigger, where one is used 6-7 times in a match, and the other is a defining finish to the bout. After breaking down, and a beautifully done deadlift Falcon Arrow, Elgin finished Finlay with the Buckle and Elgin bomb. I can't do this match justice.
***, the highest possible marks I can give a nothing tag match in good conscience. Go watch it.

CHAOS (Tomohirio Ishii, Toru Yano, and Rocky Romero) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, and BUSHI)
And
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL and Hiromu Takahashi)
Look, I've done write ups on the LIJ vs. CHAOS multimans all month. The whole tour has been about building the main matches of King of Pro Wrestling. It's been a great distraction for all the men on both teams, and there's been bits here and there that have been really good. I'm much more excited for Ishii and Naito than I am for Okada and Evil. The results aren't in question for me, but the matches will both be very good. There's nothing else I can really say here that you can't look back and find in my other Destruction write ups. Both matches get,
**1/4

IWGP United States Championship [1st Title Defense]
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Juice Robinson
If you've been reading my Destruction reviews, and my other work on Enuffa.com, you may have already picked up on what I consider when rating a match on the star scales. I mentioned above that Ibushi/Finlay and TanaMike got the highest possible rating for being a filler match. I also mentioned how much I loved it. I'm a firm believer that the action can be great, the moves varied, but if the story leading up to and during the match is weak or non-existent, the match doesn't have a good chance with me. A great story can make up for inadequate action, but great action has a much harder time making up for a minimal story.The point is, Juice and Kenny did an excellent job telling a great story of two personalities. Juice, the valiant hero getting his third chance to hold gold, and after the first two failed attempts the pressure is getting to him. Kenny, who has a massive chip on his shoulder after being pinned by Robinson, who had to work through a freshly scoped knee through the whole match. both men came out of this match with multiple dimensions on their character, beyond some contrived Shades of Grey analogy. The crowd was very into this match, more than just cheering for high spots. They were concerned for Omega, they were ashamed of Juice. When the champ kicked out of Pulp Friction, the cheers and shock through the crowd was wonderful. Drastic times called for Juice to bring his opponent to the top, but Kenny turned this in his favor, and he delivered a One-Winged Angel from the middle rope.
I'll vaguely remember Elgin/Suzuki being good till the ending. I'll remember liking Sabre working over Tanahashi. But I'll be remembering stretches of this match vividly for a long time to come.
****1/4

Overall, was the Destruction tour great? No, but it was good. Fukushima would have benefited from just being a Korakeun Hall show, and the multi-man tag matches all began blending together after the third week. But the good matches from all three shows are worth watching on their own. As we look towards October and King of Pro Wrestling, we can begin to cherry pick our favorite moments from September.