NJPW Invasion Attack 2016: Recap, results, full highlights

Recap, results, full highlights and more from NJPW Invasion Attack 2016

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is easily the second largest pro wrestling promotion in the world right now and, as other promotions just put on major shows, NJPW had a major pay-per-view with major implications throughout the roster on Sunday, April 10 at Invasion Attack 2016. The setting was Ryougoku Sumo Hall and the action was furious throughout the card.

With six titles being on the line on Sunday at Invasion Attack and with the biggest names in the company having their chance to shine, things were destined to get crazy and they certainly did on Sunday.

Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Juice Robinson & Ryusuke Taguchi

This match was nothing too crazy. The things of note were that Juice Robinson (formerly CJ Parker in NXT) really got to shine for quite a bit and that Bad Luck Fale is a big, powerful human being.

Winners: Bullet Club

Jushin Thunder Liger, Staoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. CHAOS (Kazushi Sakuraba, Toru Yano, Yoshi-Hashi)

Though not as short as the first match, the sophomore match on this card was still short and without a whole hell of a lot going on. Liger and Nagata looked strong, which was largely the point given some things that would happen later on.

Winners: Liger, Kojima, Nagata

CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Bushi & EVIL

In sort of the faction vs. faction preview for the main event of Invasion Attack CHAOS took on Los Ingobnerables de Japon in a match that was certainly better than I expected. Bushi is a ton of fun when engaged and Ishii might be doing the best work of his illustrious career. CHAOS got the win and there were some words and punches exchanged after the match.

Winners: CHAOS

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Matt Sydal & Ricochet (c) vs Roppongi Vice (Baretta, Rocky Romero)

Oh man, this match was a ton of fun. There were obviously a ridiculous amount of high spots given the four competitors in this match, but it was also a great story being told as Baretta and Romero continually tried to get Ricochet grounded. When they finally did so at the end of the match, they were able to put it away and take the belts off of Sydal and Ricochet.

Winners and New Champions: Roppongi Vice

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Kushida (c) vs Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay made his NJPW debut and honored his fallen friend in Kris Travis (RIP) with is tights as he took on Kushida for the Junior Heavyweight belt. This match was every bit as good as advertised as Ospreay looked like a young str ready to set the world on fire and Kushida continued to put forth some of the best work of his career.

Winner: Kushida

After this match, Liger came out and challenged Kishida for the belt. The champ expressed his respect for the legend and then accepted.

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship: The Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin, Yoshitatsu

What do you know, but The Elite were out and ready to steal the show in their match and they were undoubtedly able to do so with some crazy spots early as the fight between these men was incredibly intense. Worth noting that Cody Hall took a bad bump and had to be stretchered out, which you never want to see.

In happier news, Big Mike continues to look like the next big star in New Japan (more on this soon). It was Elgin who stopped a Meltzer Driver and then hit a Super Elgin-Bomb to pick up the win for Tana, Elgin, and Yoshitatsu.

Winners and New Champions: Tanahashi, Elgin, Yoshitatsu

Elgin wasted no time after taking the 6-Man belts away at Invasion Attack in getting under the skin of Kenny Omega regarding the IWGP Intercontinental title.

NEVER Openweight Championship: Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

This match was fine, but the outcome was quite obvious going into the match as Shibata was never losing the belt here. They still put on a solid show, though, as Shibata is another guy doing great work.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata

As seen in that last clip, Shibata essentially pin-pointed his next opponent as he antagonized Nigata and set up a readymade feud there.

IWGP Tag Team Championships: GBH (Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma) (c) vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga, Tanga Roa)

This match was incredibly enjoyable as these four mean absolute beat the crap out of one another. Tama Tonga is really coming into his own and (expectedly) works well with his family in the ring. They withstood a lot of onslaught from GBH and were ultimately able to explode to win the titles and make some change happen.

Winners and New Champions: Guerillas of Destiny

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito

Everything—that’s what this match was. This match featured two of the best guys in NJPW in the ring going at one another, but also featured Okada simply being better while Naito was willing to go to greater lengths. Throw in a surprise debut by Sanada as the newest member of Los Ingobernable de Japon to attack Okada at the end of the match with the ref incapacitated and that gave Naito the room to get the win in a wonderful match.

Winner and New Champion: Tetsuya Naito

That was the show for Invasion Attack 2016, which was fantastic throughout the card and really shook things up for the promotion—particularly in the main event where anything seems possible now that Naito and Los Ingobernables de Japon are now on top.