13 Ups & 3 Downs From NJPW Dominion 6.9 2019

11. Bullet Club Retain The Gold

Tama Tonga
NJPW

As a match, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa's defence of their IWGP Tag Team Championships against EVIL and SANADA was fine. It was a rock-solid tag bout that was as well laid out as it was performed. The teams have plenty of chemistry after clashing so often over the past few years, and while the bout suffered as a result of almost everyone who was watching it knowing what was going to happen beat for beat, in no way can your writer can consider it a "bad" match.

The opening stages saw SANADA and Tonga (their respective teams' speedsters, apparently) attempt to one-up each other. Things got beefier when EVIL and Loa hit the ring and started to bash into one another, before GOD's 'Master Heater,' Jado, cracked the 'King Of Darkness' with a kendo stick. This shortcut (and the outside beatdown that followed) allowed the Bullet Club side to gain a foothold. They kept EVIL isolated from there, before SANADA was finally unleashed, willing the crowd back to life after tying Loa in the Paradise Lock and taking Jado out at ringside, leading towards the third and final act.

A serviceable tag scrap concluded when Tama Tonga capitalised on the confusion caused by BUSHI's interference, as the LIJ junior heavyweight blinded Jado with his mist. Thinking on his feet, Tama scored the opportunistic roll-up, which, worryingly, leaves things open with a rematch.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.