Juice Robinson
Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard

New Japan Need To Watch (2/23) Honor Rising Night 2 *No Spoilers*

Tama Tonga
Photo Credit: TV Asahi/NJPW

Show is available on NJPWWorld.com

FIRST MATCH: Toa Henare & Jonathan Gresham vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Solid spotlight for Jonathan Gresham. It will be a huge shock if he’s not in Best of Super Juniors this year. His exchanges with Sabre are *chef’s kiss* fantastic.

Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)

SECOND MATCH: Marty Scurll vs. Robbie Eagles

Scurll and Eagles have a balls-out, high octane sprint of a match. Eagles is clicking way better than during Super Jr. Tag League, and is starting to really shine. Scurll is developing on his own, away from The Elite, and gaining serious confidence because of it. All of this makes for a fun watch.

Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)

THIRD MATCH: Toru Yano & Colt Cabana vs. Cheeseburger & Delirious

Magnificent comedy match. Cabana and Yano make a great team. Cheeseburger is always a delight. Delirious is…well, Delirious.

Need To Watch Rating: (4.1)

FOURTH MATCH: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & Will Ospreay) vs. Jeff Cobb & Dalton Castle

Solid tag match. Goto and Cobb are always great together. Castle is broken but valiant, which makes for some great face-in-peril antics. Ospreay is starting to develop a heavyweight style that doesn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Need To Watch Rating: (3.0)

FIFTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) vs. The Kingdom (Vinny Marseglia & Matt Taven)

The Kingdom fit way better in the middle of the card. Taven and Naito have great chemistry. Takagi continues to be a heavyweight, I will not be convinced otherwise. I want a weigh-in. I’m serious, the man is a heavyweight. Does no one else see this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Shingo Takagi is a heavyweight.

Need To Watch Rating: (4.5)

SIXTH MATCH: Ring of Honor World Championship Match: Jay Lethal (c) vs. TK O’Ryan

A brisk match that never builds any narrative momentum. Lethal and Taven’s rivalry are central to ROH programming, and it robs this match of any discernible drama.

Need To Watch Rating: (3.0)

SEVENTH MATCH: IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA) (c) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)

Easily the best match of the night. LIJ and GOD have been at odds for the past year, and while that has been frustrating, the matches have been stellar. A tag title match that could main event any card.

Need To Watch Rating: (9.0)

MAIN EVENT: Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship Match: Mark Briscoe & Jay Briscoe (c) vs. Lifeblood (Juice Robinson & David Finlay)

A solid main event, ruined by an impromptu finish.

Need To Watch Rating: (8.1)

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