New Champions Crowned In Sapporo
While WWE fans were sleeping, dreaming dreams of NXT and the Royal Rumble, NJPW began their annual New Beginning tour. The tour began with two live shows from Sapporo. There were four titles defended over the course of the weekend, and three new champions were crowned.
The first night saw Bullet Club retain the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Championship over Taguchi Japan. Then in the main event, Minoru Suzuki became the 17th IWGP Intercontinental Championship, when he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi by referee stoppage.
鈴木が関節地獄で棚橋の右膝を破壊!! 完全勝利でIC王座に君臨!!
1月27日(土)札幌大会をスマホサイト（https://t.co/7xh3nqaLQZ）で独占速報中!! #njpw #njnbg pic.twitter.com/1iHXbHYGiN— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) January 27, 2018
The second night saw Roppongi 3K become the 56th IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions, when they defeated The Young Bucks. Then in the main event “Switchblade” Jay White became the 2nd IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, after he defeated Kenny Omega.
Inevitable. pic.twitter.com/kbGNpoO5Y7
— Switchblade Jay White (@JayWhiteNZ) January 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/njpwyohei_k/status/957559706293223424
Hiroshi Tanahashi Injured, Set To Miss New Beginning Tour
After being stretched to his breaking point by Minoru Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi will miss the rest of the New Beginning tour. According to New Japan Pro Wrestling, the diagnosis is acute osteoarthritis in Tanahashi’s right knee. Whether storyline or legitimate, this will be the first tour Tanahashi has missed in quite a while. There is currently no word on how long Tanahashi will absent.
Togi Makabe is scheduled to replace Tanahashi in all of his New Beginning matches. Tanahashi joins Satoshi Kojima, who suffered an ACL injury and is currently replaced by Manabu Nakanishi.
Hiroshi Tanahashi off The NEW BEGINNING Tour with knee injuryhttps://t.co/gFPjqjjQOm
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 29, 2018
Continue onto NEXT PAGE for the full February live coverage schedule…
