12 Biggest Stories From New Japan's Power Struggle And What They Mean Going Forward
9. Taiji Ishimori Attacks Kushida And Challenges For Junior Heavyweight Title
It was announced prior to the twelfth and final day of the Road to Power Struggle shows that Taiji Ishimori was suffering from an ankle injury. As such, the Bullet Club OG star was forced to miss the last day of the Super Junior Tag League tournament -- though he and partner Robbie Eagles were already out of contention for the finals.
Saturday's Power Struggle saw Ishimori accompany his stablemates to the ring for their six-man bout with Kushida and Great Bash Heel. The junior heavyweight star was dressed in street clothes and walked with the aid of a crutch. However, by the tag bout's end, Taiji revealed that it was all a ruse when he entered the ring and broke the crutch over Kushida's back. He then grabbed Kushida's Junior Heavyweight title and got in the champion's face - an apparent challenge for the belt being laid down.
On Monday, during a press conference addressing January's Wrestle Kingdom, it was announced that Ishimori will get a shot at the prestigious title in the Tokyo Dome. With the ankle injury merely a deception, Taiji is likely to prove a genuine challenge for Kushida - who only just captured the belt last month.