JPN
E neXus V's Rice or Bread, Tsukiyama Waka & Hanako, will face Cosmic Angels' Sakura and Sakura Aya & Kure Sayaka for the NEW BLOOD Tag Team Championship. This will be the champions' fifth title defense. Three days ago at Korakuen Hall, Tsukiyama challenged Mei Hoshiki for the High Speed Championship but failed to capture it, missing a chance to win two titles. Her partner, Hanako, holds two titles with the Future of Stardom Champion, but a joint double crown will have to wait. Still, they will be desperate to defend the NB Tag Team Championship. Challengers Sakura & Kure are well-prepared for their challenge. While Sakura is currently untitled, she is a former Senjo Junior Champion, and Kure is the winner of this year's Cinderella Tournament. Will these two be able to win the belts and bring a new vibe to NEW BLOOD, or will the reigning champions continue their long-term reign? This tag team championship match will have a major impact on NB going forward.
Natsupoi and Mizumori Yuna act as Sakura's seconds, welcoming them into the ring. Both teams stepped to the center of the ring and glared at each other, with Hanako and Sakura engaged in a staring contest. Tsukiyama announced himself as the starter, and Kuri came out. They started by wrestling for the arm, with Kuri applying a headlock. Tsukiyama threw him into the ropes, dodging a lariat and delivering a dropkick. Sakura blocked Tsukiyama's charge from the apron, and Kuri delivered a dropkick. Sakura hit Tsukiyama with a soccer ball kick, and Kuri applied a chinlock to force a submission, then transitioned to a camel clutch. Tsukiyama held on, and Kuri pinned him to the ropes and delivered a dropkick to his back. Tsukiyama countered, and Kuri charged with a crossbody. Hanako hits Kuri with a shoulder tackle, then hits Sakura who comes out, and body slams both Kuri and Sakura. When Kuri returns, Hanako applies a reverse crab hold. However, Kuri escapes. Tsukiyama hits Kuri with a series of hip butts. When Kuri returns, she turns around in the corner and hits a diving elbow attack. Sakura hits a thrust attack, a soccer ball kick, and then a triangle choke. When Tsukiyama escapes, Sakura hits a low kick and a body slam. Kuri hits Tsukiyama with a series of thrust drop kicks and an elbow attack. When Tsukiyama returns, Kuri applies a sleeper hold. However, Tsukiyama reaches the ropes. Tsukiyama counters Kuri's attempt at a brainbuster and hits a series of elbows. Tsukiyama charges in, and Kuri hits an elbow, followed by a hip attack. Hanako hits a big boot to Kuri, then drives her into the corner and delivers a thrust body attack. However, Kuri raises her shoulders. Hanako goes for a brainbuster, but Kuri dodges and jumps in for a sleeper hold. Hanako stands up and drives her into the corner. Kuri dodges a charge and delivers a thrust dropkick. Hanako catches a spear, but with Sakura's assistance, Kuri jumps in and applies a sleeper hold. Hanako tries to stand up, but Kuri goes to the ground. Hanako somehow manages to reach the ropes. Hanako charges, but Hanako hits a shoulder tackle. Kuri dodges a knee drop and delivers a Violet Shooting. Sakura delivers a dropkick and a series of middle kicks to Hanako. Hanako grabs her, but Sakura takes her back. Hanako shakes her off and goes for an elbow. 10 minutes in. After an exchange of elbows, Hanako takes down Hanako with a flurry of punches. Sakura jumps from below and applies a triangle choke. Hanako lifts her up and slams her into the corner, then charges at her with a thrust. Sakura dodges and Kuri hits a dropkick, followed by a diving knee attack. Hanako returns, Sakura lifts her up and charges with a low kick, a kick combination, and Hanako blocks and hits a body slam. Tsukiyama hits a crossbody, followed by a standing body press. Sakura returns, and Hanako drops Tsukiyama. With Kuri's assistance, Sakura pulls the ropes to throw Hanako out of the ring, and Sakura and Kuri fly out of the ring. Hanako hits a brainbuster on Sakura under the ring. Tsukiyama hits a plancha from the corner to the outside. Hanako lifts Tsukiyama up and drops him onto Sakura again. When Sakura returns, Hanako declares the finish and goes for an Argentine. She tries to go for a JP Coaster Coaster, but Sakura rolls her up repeatedly. She rolls up Sakura-chan, but Tsukiyama cuts her off. Hanako hits a lariat as Sakura charges. Sakura returns, and 15 minutes have passed. Hanako hits an Argentine on Sakura, who counters and takes her back. They exchange elbows, and Sakura dodges, and Kuri hits a missile kick, which Kuri also hits with a missile kick. But Hanako counters. Sakura hits a kick combination on Hanako, hitting her in the face, but Tsukiyama cuts off the cover. Sakura lifts Hanako up and takes her back. Hanako holds on, but Kuri hits a spear, and Sakura uses the recoil to hit a German suplex. But it only gets a two count. Three minutes left. Sakura holds with a modified German suplex. After the three count, Sakura pinned Hanako and the NB tag team moved.
Sakura: "Sakura and the others became the NEW BLOOD tag champions! Hanako, we had a lot of fights, we had a lot of disagreements and clashed, and there were times when I thought I really hated you, but the reason I, Sakura Aya the pro wrestler, was born in this NEW BLOOD ring was because of Hanako, who took the entrance test with me on the day I joined the team, taught me everything about pro wrestling, and was with me on the day I became a trainee, and has taught me so much about pro wrestling ever since. And Tsukiyama! I know you've been working hard to make NEW BLOOD even better. It was Tsukiyama Waka who negotiated with the staff about holding photo sessions, and who was "working behind the scenes" to entertain the fans who come to NEW BLOOD! Hanako, let's keep fighting a lot, get stronger and stronger, and see each other on the next stage."
Hanako: "The next stage? You think you've surpassed me just because you won this time? No, you're not! Today is the start of something new! I hate you. You still act like a hypocrite and it pisses me off! You can just show me your bitter face as my opponent for the rest of your life. I lost today, but from now on, I'll beat you, and I'll be waiting for you on the next stage."
Kure: "Sakura and the others have finally taken the NEW BLOOD (tag) belts! The two of you made this NEW BLOOD belt shine and make it a shining light. That's why we wanted it too, and seeing everyone happy when we wear it makes us really happy too. So next time, we'll do it our way and take this belt, and the NEW BLOOD (tag) belts. I will continue to make BLOOD shine brighter and brighter! And this Kanda Myojin tournament was made possible thanks to the connection with the "shadowy" Tsukiyama. It has been decided that NEW BLOOD will be held here again at Kanda Myojin around Christmas in December, so I would like to win as champion. (To Tsukiyama) Is there anything you want to say?
Tsukiyama: "Honestly, I don't even want to say a word. I'm sad... But Hanako said that today is the start, so I will start again here at Kanda Myojin!"
Kura: "Sakura won today, so I would like you to close the match! To all the wrestlers who competed today, please come up. I made a mistake, so we're holding (NB) at Shibuya Bellesalle instead of Kanda Myojin. But it's close. I'm really sorry. Well, Sakura." Sakura:
"Get in shape (in the ring). NEW You all know the closing theme of BLOOD, right? And I've already decided on the name of the original German song I just released. Blooming Dream, a dream that blooms in full bloom. Now I'll say the usual: Believe in your dreams and shine tomorrow, NEW BLOOD 26!
Comments from Tsukiyama & Hanako:
Hanako: "Today was my fifth defense, and if I had won I would have finally broken my record, but I lost. I was thinking that I would celebrate this victory with the biggest rice ball and bread I've ever had, but it turned out like this..."
Tsukiyama: "But Hanako-chan said that this is where it all begins. And I think that's true. Let's start again from here, from here. Let's set new goals and chase even bigger dreams. Right?"
Hanako: "I'm so happy to be able to wear this belt with Tsukiyama..."
Tsukiyama: "Thank you to everyone who supported me. Thank you Hanako-chan. Let's work hard again from here. Let's do our best, let's keep trying."
Comments from Sakura and Kura
: Sakura: "Sakura and the others have become the NEW BLOOD tag champions. We debuted in NEW BLOOD, and the main event of NEW BLOOD has always been a tag title match. Our goal was that someday, Sakura and the others would close the NEW BLOOD tournament and become the faces of the show. We haven't achieved that yet, but we will continue to map out our road to becoming champions. When we became Senjo Junior Champions, I realized that winning the belt is not the pinnacle, it's just the beginning. We will firmly protect the NEW BLOOD tag belt that the two members of Rice or Bread spun for us, and together we will create something even greater."
Kura: "Sakura and the others have finally won the belt. This is the first time I've worn the belt, so I'm extremely happy, and it feels great that we finally won it together, but more than that, now that we've become champions, we want to make this belt shine even more, and become the best of NEW BLOOD. We feel a sense of responsibility, or rather a weight, of having to lead BLOOD, so from now on, we hope to be able to portray the image of a champion that is unique to us, and make this belt shine in our own way. And just like Tsukiyama-san has woven connections at the Kanda Myojin tournament, we too, although in different ways, want to spread NEW BLOOD, Stardom, and pro wrestling even more, so we will move forward together with this belt.
I think there are still many challenges ahead for the champions, so let's climb even higher together.