NJPW - FEBRUARY 3 - NEW BEGINNINGS IN SAPPORO AT THE HOKKAIDO SPORTS CENTER - 6,089 SELLOUT

By Bryan Alvarez

Stars by Dave Meltzer

Notes: The two nights together did 10,957 paid with one sellout up from 10,002 last year. Tanahashi & Okada as The Dream Team vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale did the same as Tanahashi vs. Suzuki did last year for the IC title but paid was much higher this year for Naito vs. Taichi in Taichi’s hometown than for Kenny Omega vs. Jay White for the U.S, title last year, although both were sellouts. They did a big angle at the end to both get people behind Naito rather than Taichi and make people think Taichi could win. They definitely bought some near falls but didn’t tear the house down either.

1. Toa Henare vs. Yota Tsuji. There was nothing wrong with it. Henare’s offense looked good and he’s better than how he’s positioned. Tsuji showed promise but the crowd wasn’t into it like they would be in Tokyo. Henare won with the Toa bottom, which is a rock bottom. 7:07 *1/2