Destruction (2016)

Promotional poster for Destruction in Tokyo, featuring various

**Destruction** was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) annually since 2007. In 2016, NJPW produced three events under the Destruction name; **Destruction in Tokyo** on September 17, **Destruction in Hiroshima** on September 22, and **Destruction in Kobe** on September 25. The events featured nine matches each, six of which were contested for championships. These were events twelve to fourteen under the Destruction name. All three events aired live worldwide on New Japan Pro Wrestling World with the Kobe event also airing on pay-per-view (PPV) in Japan.

## Production

### Background

2016 will be first year in which NJPW holds three events under the Destruction name. From 2007 to 2013, NJPW held one Destruction event per year, expanding to two shows in 2014 and 2015.

### Storylines

2016 was the first year in which NJPW holds three events under the Destruction name. From 2007 to 2013, NJPW held one Destruction event per year, expanding to two shows in 2014 and 2015.

The Destruction shows featured nine professional wrestling matches each that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

Destruction in Tokyo was main evented by KUSHIDA defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against BUSHI. The two previously faced off for the title on February 14 at The New Beginning in Niigata, where KUSHIDA retained the title. Afterwards, Bushi began eyeing a rematch opportunity with Kushida, which eventually came during the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, where Bushi defeated Kushida in their final round-robin match on June 6, eliminating the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship from the finals of the tournament. Following the match, Bushi made a challenge for a title match, which was made official on August 22, the day after Kushida had won the 2016 Super J-Cup. In the buildup to the title match, NJPW noted the similarities between the two wrestlers with both being 33-years old and having come to NJPW from other organizations (Kushida from SMASH and Bushi from All Japan Pro Wrestling). Despite having already been granted the title shot by NJPW, BUSHI suggested he would boycott the match unless he was nominated as the challenger by KUSHIDA himself. After being pinned by Bushi in a six-man tag team match on September 12, KUSHIDA officially appointed Bushi as his next challenger. Destruction in Tokyo would also feature another title match, where Katsuyori Shibata defended the NEVER Openweight Championship against Bobby Fish. This match was made as a result of events that took place at a Ring of Honor (ROH) event in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 20, where Fish successfully defended the ROH World Television Championship against Shibata. Fish would be the first junior heavyweight wrestler to challenge for the NEVER Openweight Championship since April 2014. In the week leading to the title match, Shibata was sidelined with a cervical spine injury, forcing him to miss NJPW's September 14 and 15 events. However, it was announced that the title match would go on as scheduled.

Destruction in Hiroshima was main evented by Kenny Omega taking on Yoshi-Hashi. On August 14, Omega defeated Hirooki Goto in the finals to win the 2016 G1 Climax, becoming the first foreigner to win the annual tournament. During the tournament, Omega suffered three losses, against NEVER Openweight Champion Katsuyori Shibata, IWGP Intercontinental Champion Michael Elgin and Yoshi-Hashi. Omega's loss against Yoshi-Hashi in their opening match on July 22 was considered a major upset, and after winning the tournament Omega called the loss humiliating and nominated Yoshi-Hashi as the first challenger for his G1 Climax winning prize; a contract for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match on January 4, 2017, at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome. The match was made official on August 22. Other featured matches included reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada taking on Bad Luck Fale. During the 2016 G1 Climax, Fale defeated Okada, who afterwards demanded a rematch with him. Due to Okada already being set to defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Naomichi Marufuji on October 10 at King of Pro-Wrestling, the title would not be on the line in the match with Fale. However, Fale stated that if he were to win at Destruction in Hiroshima, he wanted a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at NJPW's New Zealand event on November 12. Also on the card, reigning ROH World Champion Adam Cole returned to NJPW, taking on 2016 Best of the Super Juniors winner Will Ospreay. This would mark Cole's singles match debut in NJPW. On August 29, NJPW announced that the match would be contested for Cole's title. Destruction in Hiroshima's only title match would see The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) defend the IWGP Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson). The Young Bucks made a challenge for the "heavyweight" tag team title on August 21 after successfully defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against The Motor City Machine Guns. Though the two teams work in different weight divisions in NJPW, they had a history with each other from ROH, where the tag team division has no weight limits. This match would mark the first time in NJPW history that the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions challenge for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.

Destruction in Kobe was main evented by Michael Elgin taking on Tetsuya Naito. The match was originally announced as a "potential" IWGP Intercontinental Championship match, provided that Elgin first successfully defended the title against Donovan Dijak at an ROH event on August 27. Elgin went on to defeat Dijak to make the main event of Destruction in Kobe for the title. The match stemmed from the 2016 G1 Climax, where Naito defeated Elgin. Afterwards, Elgin offered a title match to Naito, who accepted. Though he took part in the tournament to crown the inaugural IWGP Intercontinental Champion in May 2011, this would mark Naito's first ever shot at the title. The event also featured outside participation from the Pro Wrestling NOAH promotion with Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and Naomichi Marufuji teaming with Toru Yano to take on the CHAOS quartet of Gedo, Jado, Kazuchika Okada and Yoshi-Hashi. The match not only built up the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match between Okada and Marufuji, but also a GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match between champions Kotoge and Harada and challengers Gedo and Jado. Toru Yano, who teamed with the Noah trio in the match, was also a member of Chaos, but held the GHC Tag Team Championship with Marufuji in Noah. This led to problems between Yano and Marufuji with the latter beginning to question his partner's ultimate allegiance in the week leading to Destruction in Kobe. The event's second title match was scheduled to feature Matt Sydal, Ricochet and Satoshi Kojima defending the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship against the Bullet Club trio of Adam Cole and The Young Bucks. The champions had won the title on July 3 by defeating another Bullet Club trio, made up of The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. However, on the day of the show, the champions were stripped of the title due to Sydal failing to make the show because of travel issues with David Finlay replacing him in a new match for the now vacant title. Destruction in Kobe's undercard was also set to feature the culmination of a storyline, where Yoshitatsu had announced a fan poll on Twitter to decide whether Captain New Japan would get to remain a member of his anti-Bullet Club stable Hunter Club. Yoshitatsu had formed the group the previous April with Captain as its first member, but had recently become upset with his stablemates poor performances, which led to him creating the poll.

## Events

### Destruction in Tokyo

In the first title match of the show, Katsuyori Shibata defended the NEVER Openweight Championship against Bobby Fish. Throughout the match, Fish worked on Shibata's legitimately injured neck. At the end of the match, Shibata blocked Fish's brainbuster attempt, hit him with a headbutt and locked him in a sleeper hold, which he followed up with his finishing maneuver, the *PK*, to win the match and make his second successful defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship. After the match, Fish's reDRagon tag team partner Kyle O'Reilly entered the ring and challenged Shibata, which was accepted by the champion. Following the event, it was announced that Shibata would be taken off the rest of the tour and would be replaced in his scheduled tag team matches in Hiroshima and Kobe by Tomoaki Honma and Manabu Nakanishi, respectively.

In the main event of the show, Kushida made his sixth defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Bushi. Bushi was accompanied to the match by an unidentified new member of his *Los Ingobernables de Japón* stable, who had debuted earlier in the week. The man interfered in the match and, after a ref bump, Tetsuya Naito, another one of BUSHI's stablemates, entered the ring to also attack KUSHIDA. He was, however, attacked and taken away from ringside by Michael Elgin. Towards the end of the match, Kushida went for his finishing hold, the *Hoverboard Lock*, but Bushi countered it into a *Canadian Destroyer*. BUSHI then hit his finishing maneuver, the *MX*, twice to win the match and become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, ending Kushida's nine-month reign.

### Destruction in Hiroshima

The first title match of Destruction in Hiroshima saw the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks challenge The Briscoe Brothers for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. Towards the end of the match, The Young Bucks went for their finishing maneuver, the *Meltzer Driver*, but Jay Briscoe countered it into a *Jay Driller*, after which he pinned Matt Jackson following the *Doomsday Device* to win the match and retain the title. After the match, The Briscoe Brothers were attacked by the previous IWGP Tag Team Champions, Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa, who demanded a title rematch. The next match saw Adam Cole defend the ROH World Championship against Will Ospreay. Cole retained the title after pinning Ospreay following the *Panama Sunrise* and the *Last Shot*. The following match saw reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defeat Bad Luck Fale in a non-title match to avenge the loss he suffered during the 2016 G1 Climax.

The main event of the show featured Kenny Omega defending his contract for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 11 against Yoshi-Hashi. The match featured outside interference from Omega's Bullet Club stablemates The Young Bucks. Towards the end of the match, Yoshi-Hashi landed his finishing maneuver, the *Swanton Bomb*, but Omega kicked out of the resulting pinfall attempt. Omega then hit Yoshi-Hashi with a reverse hurricanrana, a knee and then pinned him for the win with the *Katayoku no Tenshi*. After the match, Yoshi-Hashi's CHAOS stablemate Hirooki Goto entered the ring to challenge Omega for his contract. Omega, who had defeated Goto in the finals of the 2016 G1 Climax, responded by telling him to "Go to Hell".

### Destruction in Kobe

Prior to the match between the Hunter Club team of Yoshitatsu and Captain New Japan and the Bullet Club team of Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi, Yoshitatsu announced the result of his poll; fans had voted Captain out of the group. This led to Captain turning on Yoshitatsu, attacking him with Owens and Takahashi, ending the match in quick fashion. In a backstage interview, Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega welcomed Captain New Japan to the stable, but called his character ridiculous and told him to come up with a new name and costume. The first title match of the show featured the Bullet Club trio of Adam Cole, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson taking on David Finlay, Ricochet and Satoshi Kojima for the vacant NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. The match ended with Ricochet pinning Nick with a shooting star press to win the match and the title. Following the match, Finlay challenged The Young Bucks for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in the ring, while backstage the new champions were challenged themselves by the Chaos trio of Beretta, Rocky Romero and Will Ospreay.

The semi-main event of the show saw the Chaos team of IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, Gedo, Jado and Yoshi-Hashi take on their stablemate Toru Yano and the Pro Wrestling Noah trio of Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and Naomichi Marufuji. Yoshi-Hashi won the match for his team by pinning Harada for the win. Afterwards, Okada and Yoshi-Hashi challenged Yano and Marufuji to a match for their GHC Tag Team Championship on October 8, two days before Okada and Marufuji face off for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The main event of the show saw Michael Elgin defend the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Tetsuya Naito. Late in the match, a ref bump led to outside interference from Naito's *Los Ingobernables de Japón* stablemates Bushi, Evil and Sanada as well as Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kushida, ending with Elgin powerbombing BUSHI over the top rope onto his stablemates. Elgin then went to hit Naito with his finishing maneuver, the *Elgin Bomb*, but Naito countered it into his own finishing maneuver, *Destino*, then hit the move a second time to win the match and become the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Destruction in Tokyo  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-17.
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 ja:【9月22 日（木・祝）広島・全カード決定！】メインはケニーvsYoshi！ オカダvsファレ！ オスプレイvsアダム・コール！ ブリスコ兄弟vsヤングバックス！ (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-08-22). Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 ja:【9月25 日（日）神戸・全カード決定！】エルガンvs内藤！ オカダvs丸藤がタッグ戦！“6人タッグ王者”小島＆リコシェ＆サイダルにコール＆バックスが挑戦！ (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-08-22). Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DestructioninHiroshima`
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Destruction in Kobe  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
6. ↑ NJPW Destruction . *Pro Wrestling History*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
7. ↑ Namako, Jason 2014-09-23. 9/23 NJPW Results: Okayama, Japan (Okada/Anderson) . *Wrestleview*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
8. ↑ NJPW Destruction . *Pro Wrestling History*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
9. ↑ Namako, Jason 2014-09-23. 9/23 NJPW Results: Okayama, Japan (Okada/Anderson) . *Wrestleview*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
10. ↑ Grabianowski, Ed. How Pro Wrestling Works . *HowStuffWorks, Inc.*. Discovery Communications. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Caldwell, James 2016-08-22. New Japan sets huge title matches post-G1 Climax – Okada vs. Marufuji, Omega’s Tokyo Dome rights, new ROH World champ Adam Cole & more ROH stars in big title matches . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Daily Update: NJPW, Bayley to Raw, Ratings improve, Razor Ramon, Goldberg . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2016-08-23). Retrieved on 2016-08-23.
13. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2016-02-13. NJPW New Beginnings: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kenny Omega for the IWGP IC Title . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
14. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2016-06-06. NJPW Best of the Super Juniors results: Block winners determined for tomorrow's finals . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 ja:【9月17 日（土）大田区大会・全カード決定！】Kushidaの“IWGPジュニア”にBushiが挑戦！“NEVER選手権”柴田vsフィッシュも実現！ (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-08-22). Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
16. ↑ *ja:【新日】IWGPジュニア王者Kushida　正式にBushiを挑戦者指名* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-13). Retrieved on 2016-09-13.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Crockett, Paul 2016-08-22. Deailed New Japan Pro Wrestling Destruction event previews . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-08-23.
18. ↑ *ja:【新日】ＮＥＶＥＲ王者・柴田　頸椎負傷で青森大会を緊急欠場* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-14). Retrieved on 2016-09-14.
19. ↑ *ja:【新日】柴田勝頼　１７日のＮＥＶＥＲ防衛戦強行* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-16). Retrieved on 2016-09-16.
20. ↑ *ja:【新日Ｇ１】初出場初優勝！ケニー・オメガが史上初の外国人覇者に* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-08-15). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
21. ↑ Macklin, Matthew 2016-07-22. New Japan Pro Wrestling 2016 G1 Climax day 2 report . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
22. ↑ *ja:【新日】Ｇ１覇者ケニー　防衛戦の相手にYoshi-Hashi指名* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-08-15). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
23. ↑ *ja:オカダがファレに“豪快雪辱”を宣言* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-10). Retrieved on 2016-09-10.
24. ↑ ja:9.22広島大会で“ROH世界王者”A・コールにオスプレイが挑戦！ 9.25神戸大会のエルガンvs内藤は“インターコンチ選手権”に！【DR16】 (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-08-29). Archived from the original on 2016-08-29. Retrieved on 2016-08-29.
25. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2016-08-20. Super J-Cup 2016 finals live results: Will Ospreay vs. Matt Sydal . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
26. ↑ Destruction in Hiroshima  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-22.
27. ↑ Johnson, Mike 2016-08-27. Ring of Honor Field of Honor results from Brooklyn, NY . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-08-28.
28. ↑ *ja:新日・内藤 エルガンの指名受諾！ＩＣ王座に照準* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-08-19). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
29. ↑ *ja:【ノア】越境タッグ王者 丸藤＆矢野組に亀裂！？* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-21). Retrieved on 2016-09-21.
30. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2016-07-02. NJPW Kizuna Road 2016 live results: Katsuyori Shibata defends NEVER title, Young Bucks, Kenny Omega . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
31. ↑ *ja:【お知らせ】マット・サイダル選手が飛行機トラブルのため9.25神戸大会を欠場。デビッド・フィンレー選手が代打出場でNEVER6人タッグは「王座決定戦」に変更* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-09-25). Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
32. ↑ Invasion Attack 2016  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
33. ↑ Road to Destruction  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Rose, Bryan 2016-09-17. NJPW Destruction in Tokyo results: Shibata vs. Bobby Fish; Kushida vs. Bushi . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-09-17.
35. ↑ *ja:【新日】柴田勝頼　首の痛みこらえＮＥＶＥＲ王座Ｖ２* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-18). Retrieved on 2016-09-18.
36. ↑ *ja:【お知らせ】柴田勝頼選手欠場に伴う、対戦カード変更に関して* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-09-20). Retrieved on 2016-09-21.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 9/17 New Japan “Destruction in Tokyo” Results – Big title change, ROH stars heavily involved, Bullet Club vs. Chaos . *Pro Wrestling Torch* (2016-09-17). Retrieved on 2016-09-17.
38. ↑ *ja:【新日】BushiがKushida撃破　まさかのIWGPジュニア戴冠* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-18). Retrieved on 2016-09-18.
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DestructioninHiroshimaWON`
40. ↑ *ja:【新日】丸藤とのＩＷＧＰ戦へ弾み　オカダがファレに雪辱* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-23). Retrieved on 2016-09-23.
41. ↑ *ja:【新日】ケニー　実現させるぞ！「ジャパニーズドリーム」* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-23). Retrieved on 2016-09-23.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DestructioninKobeWON`
43. ↑ Destruction in Kobe  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
44. ↑ *ja:【新日本】ＮＥＶＥＲ無差別級６人タッグ王座は小島組が王座奪回* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-26). Retrieved on 2016-09-26.
45. ↑ *ja:【新日本】オカダが丸藤との前哨戦制しＩＷＧＰ戦へ弾み* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-26). Retrieved on 2016-09-26.
46. ↑ *ja:【新日本】ＩＣ王座奪取の内藤「中邑色を消す」* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-09-26). Retrieved on 2016-09-26.