The biggest challenge yet in YOH’s run as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has been passed.
YOH took down three-time champ Taiji Ishimori on Wednesday night, overcoming him in a 22-minute battle to headline today’s NJPW Road to Destruction show from Sapporo.
The back-and-forth battle, which saw Ishimori rely on underhanded tactics at times to stay in the fight, eventually went the way of the champ. After connecting with a La Mistica, YOH followed up with his Direct Drive finisher for the pinfall victory.
YOH’s first-ever run as junior heavyweight champion started in June, dethroning DOUKI as part of this year’s Dominion card. Wednesday was his second time successfully defending the title. He previously retained in a 26-minute showdown against Francesco Akira over the summer.
Ishimori was looking to begin his fourth reign with the junior heavyweight title this week. He hasn’t carried the singles belt in years, with his last reign coming to a close at the company’s 2023 Wrestle Kingdom card.
Shortly after winning his title, YOH issued an open challenge for who wants to face him next. Answering the call was Unbound Company’s Robbie X, the tag partner of Ishimori. The veteran British wrestler, who is gunning for his first-ever junior heavyweight title reign, had his challenge quickly accepted.
Mistico & Despy retain junior tag titles in co-main
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Desperado and Mistico had to go into deep waters to take down House of Torture’s SHO and DOUKI in the co-main event.
After going over 20 minutes, the luchador tag team of Desperado and Mistico applied dual submissions to their opponents. A Numero Dos from Desperado caused SHO to verbally tap, bringing an end to the tag showdown.
As is always the case in House of Torture bouts, lots of interference and cheap tactics were utilized along the way. Dick Togo getting involved, the referee being pulled from the ring, and a turnbuckle being exposed all took place en route to the finish.
Desperado and Mistico didn’t come into this week with the plan of defending their junior heavyweight tag belts. But after House of Torture stole both their masks on an earlier Road to Destruction tour event, they decided to wager their belts against the rivals. Mistico and Desperado got their masks back after retaining on Wednesday.
