00:00We are live and loud in Corken Hall tonight in Tokyo, Japan.
00:05Welcome to New Japan Pro Wrestling Super Junior Tag League 2026,
00:08The Road to Power Struggle.
00:10My name is Walker, and I'm also at the supermarket next to Chris Charlton.
00:12Chris, nice to meet you.
00:15We are set tonight for Young Lion singles competition
00:19to kick off our Super Junior Tag League card.
00:27Yushin Hatazawa makes his lay down to ringside
00:30and will be going one-on-one with his debut opponent.
00:33Just one month ago,Tatsu Matsumoto.
00:42Yeah,I was in attendance,Tatsu Matsumoto Yushin Hatazawa to putting the test
00:48one month ago.
00:48There's Gedo who's far and away from being a Young Lion.
00:53I think it was about 7 minutes 40 right around that mark.
00:56I believe just off the top of my head.
00:58So we'll see whether Hatazawa can last longer here tonight.
01:01Waterfall 20 minute time limit.
01:03Only one singles match on record is the one you just mentioned Chris.
01:06September 9th,Night 2 on the Road to Destruction.
01:08And really for Yushin Hatazawa it's been a battle less against Tatsu Matsum
01:12oto
01:12and a man who is a little bit underneath Matsumoto.
01:15That's Young Lion Taisi Nakahara.
01:16Just saw the singles match between Nakahara and Matsumoto yesterday to kick off our broadcast.
01:21Yeah Nakahara is keeping a very close eye from ringside on this contest.
01:26I think Hatazawa is going to be yeah obviously closest to Nakahara.
01:30The level of timing sometimes.
01:33You know what I mean when you have two Young Lions debuting at the same time
01:36they're tied together forever.
01:38But in Hatazawa's case,Nakahara's case only debuting as individuals.
01:43It puts you in a difficult spot on the pecking order so to speak.
01:47But I mean I think for Matsumoto it's really all about trying to destroy the pecking
01:51order.
01:51Especially as Matsumoto's got a big opportunity in this tournament.
01:55Yeah we're going to talk all about those opportunities coming up and more.
01:58What a night we had yesterday for Super Junior Tack League 2026 opening night.
02:03And we are rolling into the action our top six matches of the evening featuring every side of Block A
02:07and Block B.
02:09That's Tatsuma Matsumoto looking to find some sort of control here tonight.
02:13Takes control of that arm and whips down.
02:16Yushin Hatazawa back to control here tonight from Matsumoto Chris.
02:20Yeah obviously Matsumoto has the benefit of in ring experience of well over a year.
02:25But also in terms of his athletic background, Hatazawa comes down.
02:29Hatazawa obviously as we talked about has a sumo background in high school which is relatively
02:35m.
02:35That's something where he'll normally try and use his size.
02:39Especially against someone like Nakahara trying to slow down the smaller man.
02:43Nakahara training his junior heavyweight.
02:45But Matsumoto is pretty much the same size as he is.
02:47Pretty much match when it comes to height and poundage here.
02:52Matsumoto trying to keep a strong grip on that side headlock.
02:56And Adazawa would love to utilize the power game tonight as a shoulder tackle.
03:01Look at the way for the senior young lion that is Matsumoto.
03:04But a shoulder tackle follows through to the younger lion and Hadazawa.
03:09Traditionally of course when you make your wrestling debut you have to shave your head completely.
03:15And that's like starting afresh in life as your pro wrestling life.
03:19Hatazawa is now starting to grow a little bit more fuzz.
03:21Well taken down.
03:25Full control here for Tatsu Matsumoto on the left arm, left shoulder of inline Y
03:30ushin Hadazawa.
03:31And able to break that grip.Expertly applied here for Matsumoto.
03:37And to the bottom row, Hatazawa is able to find himself.
03:42I think Matsumoto has been a great support player as a part of Roki Goto's
03:47Goto Revolutionary Army.
03:48We're gonna be seeing a lot of these young lions competing all across our undercard on the Super
03:52Junior Tag League.
03:53Yeah you're right you know I've seen his backstage comments yesterday and Matsumoto was saying
03:59Well if I was a junior heavyweight weight class I might be in this tournament sometime
04:05But I think maybe it's more on Matsumoto to set himself apart
04:11And maybe be a substitute and alternate for the World Tag League coming up
04:15For November and December.
04:18You know that Matsumoto would love to have heavier desires
04:21But it's Yushin Hadazawa pushing back to the bottom rope to force the break tonight.
04:26Obviously nobody wants any injury at all least of all Matsumoto
04:30But you know if it's a case let's say Yoshi Hashi gets hurt or Goto gets
04:34tip
04:34Then he could be the easy call up on that side of the face.
04:37No doubt about it take a look at this cross arm
04:39Twists through and that's full control again
04:41I mean Matsumoto walked into this matchup Chris
04:44So the game plan targeting that left side of Yushin Hadazawa
04:48It's working out beautifully.
04:49And Matsumoto has an extensive even before he started his pro wrestling career
04:54Background in grappling and Jiu Jitsu
04:58And as well as of course being a personal trainer which you can see in the fact that he's
05:01cut down the granite
05:03Absolute stunning looking individual is Tatsumoto if I do say to myself
05:18Second ever singles matchup between these two fighters here in Corbin Hall
05:23And Tatsumoto and Yushin Hadazawa throwing bombs here tonight
05:28There's the wind up and the hit
05:34That needs a little bit
05:36I mean I think the work done on the front end of the left arm
05:39Actually made things dangerous from Matsumoto in the end
05:42As Hadazawa only got him halfway up on the body slam
05:45Dropped him right on his collarbone
05:46That was dangerous no doubt about it
05:48Tatsumatsu and Yushin Hadazawa throwing back and forth here brought out of the
05:52corner
05:53And Hadazawa again by that left arm but shoots out with a drop kick
05:58And taken down the senior young lion and Matsumoto
06:01And watch the Senton as well
06:03Great Senton on the Kid
06:04It's a Yushin favorite
06:05Here we go
06:06Covering a 2 on Matsumoto tonight
06:10It indicates has quite a precocious young talent
06:13And you know already at this phase of his career already has signature moves
06:16Shotgun dropkick, Senton
06:19Maybe a little bit big for his britches but it'll get even bigger for them if he
06:22can submit a senior young lion
06:24And really trying to grow into his own as Yushin Hadazawa
06:28Yeah
06:30As Matsumoto front facing right now
06:32But Tatsuya's got to try and claw forward to that bottom rope
06:36And that is going to be the saving grace for young lion Matsumoto
06:42Talk about young lion Taisei Nakahata watching on close from ringside
06:46It will be a rematch of Nakahata and Yushin Hadazawa coming up tomorrow
06:50And her opening match in Koraka Hall
06:52And certainly the result of this one could dictate the pace of the next
06:56And that is the story all the way up and down
06:59New Japan Pro Wrestling
07:03Oh nice
07:05Excellence in the dropkick for Matsumoto
07:08Still not there but takes a look one more time at the cross arm
07:12And that left arm has been targeted since the very sound of the bell for young lion Matsumoto
07:16And Yushin Hadazawa going to reach out with the other side and force the break here
07:23Matsumoto is not taking the foot off the gas pedal right now Chris
07:26And he's going to go straight for this Boston Crab
07:28And knee in the small of the back to help turn him over
07:33Deep old squat
07:34And then see if Hadazawa has the upper body
07:37Of course that left arm was worked over by
07:40Matsumoto earlier in this matchup
07:43And it collapsed there
07:44Oh it means
07:45This one is over
07:52I think he got the job done a little bit faster than he did the last time around
07:56So he's going to be chasing it to Hadazawa
08:01But we'll see whether he can pick himself up tomorrow night
08:04The young lion Yushin Hadazawa versus fellow young lion Taisen Akahata
08:12To kick off our action tomorrow
08:18Big win for Tatsu Matsumoto
08:21And we're going to see if the momentum carries all night long
08:23For any Hongtai duos as Westlake fans coming up next
08:26We are kicking it off into full gear
08:28It is a Super Junior Tag League 2026 action
08:31You're not going to miss our main event here tonight
08:33Eachiman Sweet Boys Kosei Fujin and Robbie Eagles take on The Swirl
08:37Blake Christian and Lee Johnson
08:39But we're kicking it into Block A right here on NJPW World
08:44The Swirl
