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This Saturday New Japan Pro-Wrestling presents the 2nd of their 3 big “Destruction” shows in September. Last weekend the promotion presented “Destruction in Fukushima” which featured Minoru Suzuki defending the NEVER Openweight title against Michael Elgin. The unscrupulous actions of Suzuki-Gun led to Suzuki’s successful title defence. This weekend NJPW presents Destruction in Hiroshima on New Japan World.

Saturday will also mark the most important match in the career of Zack Sabre Jr. The former semi-finalist in 2016’s Cruiserweight Classic will challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Intercontinental championship.

NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima Lineup and Preview

Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jado, Yoshi-Hashi and Hirooki Goto (CHAOS) David Finlay & Juice “Balls Deep” Robinson vs. Leo Tonga & Bad Luck Fale (Bullet Club) Juice Robinson challenges Kenny Omega for the IWGP US championship on September 24th (Destruction in Kobe). Omega was out with a knee injury, however, so Leo Tonga is filling in for him on the tour until his title match against Juice.

Leo Tonga is the “little” brother of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, although he towers over them in height. All 3 are sthe sons of Haku (aka Meng).

Bullet Club will want to soften Juice Robinson up for the match on the 24th. Roppongi Vice (CHAOS) vs. Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club) Takahashi has been taunting Beretta on shows lately, warning him not to go up to heavyweight.

This will be Roppongi Vice’s final match as a team. They announced on an ROH show not long ago that Beretta would be going up to heavyweight. They didn’t mention what Rocky will be up to, perhaps we’ll know more after this show. Kota Ibushi, Michael Elgin & Togi Makabe vs. Taka Michinoku, Takashi Iizuka & Minoru Suzuki (Suzuki-Gun) There was more interference in the main event of Destruction in Fukushima than has possibly ever occured in an NJPW title match before.

On multiple occassions the members of Suzuki-Gun interfered in Minoru Suzki’s title defence against Michael Elgin. It would be the “iron glove” of Iizuka’s however who ended Elgin’s title hopes. Elgin will want revenge for that. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match

Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi (Taguchi Japan)(c) vs. Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru This will not be a match Jim Cornette would enjoy, but others will! IWGP Tag Team Championship 3-way Match

War Machine (c) vs. the Guerillas of Destiny (Bullet Club) vs. the Killer Elite Squad (Suzuki-Gun) This will be the 2nd time this 3-way match has taken place on this tour. The 3rd and final one will take place at Destruction in Kobe.

War Machine won the first 3-way match to retain the titles. This match will determine who goes into the final match as the champions. 10-Man Tag

Gedo, Will Ospreay, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS) vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi, Sanada, EVIL, & Tetsuya Naito (LIJ) EVIL will get a title shot against Okada at King of Pro Wrestling in October so look for the members of LIJ to soften Okada up for that.

Naito will also be defending his G1 title match briefcase against Tomohiro Ishii on the same show, so this match will preview that as well. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship

Kushida (c) vs. El Desperado (Suzuki-Gun) Throughout the most recent tours, Desperado has been taunting Kushida, even stealing his title belt.

For Kushida this would be his 8th title defence, which would tie him with Kota Ibushi. He would still be light years behind Jushin Thunder’s 31 title defences however. IWGP Intercontinental Championship

Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (Suzuki-Gun) What an opportunity this is for Zack Sabre Jr.

ZSJ has won championships wherever he has gone, but this would be the biggest accomplishment of his career. PWG fans will disagree however.

ZSJ defeated Tanahashi on the opening night of the G1, earning him this title opportunity.