Catch 2/2

Francesco Akira (left) and TJP (right) in June 2023

**Catch 2/2** (キャッチ・ツー・ツー, *Kyatchi Tsū Tsū*, pronounced "Catch 2 2") is a professional wrestling tag team formed by Francesco Akira and TJP in June 2022, where they work for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), as part of the United Empire stable. The team works on NJPW's junior heavyweight division, where they are the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in their third reign and the winners of the 2023 Super Jr. Tag League.

## History

### Background

On March 28, 2022, in a pre-taped vignette, Will Ospreay teased a new member for the United Empire for NJPW's junior heavyweight division as is protègè under the mysterious person dubbed "Bruciare" (Italian for "Burning"). On April 9 at Hyper Battle, Francesco Akira made his debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling, being revealed as the mysterious Ospreay's protègè, "Bruciare", who had been teased for the past month, before announcing his participation in the 2022 Best of the Super Juniors. Following the tournament, Akira and TJP formed a team as part of the United Empire's junior heavyweight divison.

### Tag Team (2022-Present)

On June 3, Akira and TJP defeated reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Six or Nine (Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi) in a non-title match. Afterwards, both challenged Wato and Taguchi to a title match. In a rematch on June 20, Akira and TJP defeated Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Shortly after, they named their team "Catch 2/2". Akira and TJP then defeated Wato and Taguchi in a rematch on September 25 to make their first sucessful title defense.

On October 10 at Declaration of Power, a mystery wrestler helped *Los Ingobernables de Japón* defeat United Empire, after Akira and TJP tried to unmask BUSHI. Following the match, the mystery wrestler was revealed to Titán, who joined L.I.J. This led to Catch 2/2 making their second sucessful title defense against BUSHI and Titán on November 5. From November 21 until December 11, Akira and TJP took part in the 2022 Super Jr. Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record six wins and three losses, but were left behind them in the final standings due to losing to the Bullet Club's Ace Austin and Chris Bey on the final day.

After Yoh and Lio Rush won the 2022 Super Jr. Tag League, Akira and TJP confronted Yoh and Rush shortly after. This led to a title match on January 4, at Wrestle Kingdom 17, where Akira and TJP defeated Yoh and Rush to make third sucessful title defense.

On January 5, 2023, Catch 2/2 and Will Ospreay faced Taichi, DOUKI and Yoshinobu Kanemaru facing in a losing effort. Following the match, Akira and TJP were challenged by DOUKI and Kanemaru to a title match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, before a brawl broke out between both sides. On February 4, at The New Beginning in Sapporo, Akira and TJP defeated DOUKI and Kanemaru to make fourth sucessful title defense.

On April 2, in a pre-taped vingette, KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight challenged Akira and TJP for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Two days later, in a pre-taped vingette, Akira and TJP answered KUSHIDA and Knight's challenge by mocking the them, before accepting their challenge. On April 27, Akira and TJP lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA in their fifth title defense, ending their reign at 311 days. In May, Akira and TJP took part in the 2023 Best of the Super Juniors, wrestling in seperate blocks. Both men finished the tournament with a record of four wins and five losses, failling to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. During the tournament, Akira and Akira secured a direct victory over Knight and KUSHIDA, leading them to receive a rematch for the titles.

On June 4 at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Akira and TJP defeated KUSHIDA and Knight in a rematch to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After the match, they were confronted by Clark Connors, who teased a challenge alongside a mystery partner, before their United Empire stablemate, Dan Moloney, was revealed to be Connors' partner, after Moloney turned on them to join Bullet Club. On July 4 at NJPW Strong Independence Day, Akira and TJP lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney. From October 21 to November 2, Akira and TJP took part in the 2023 Super Jr. Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record six wins and three losses, advancing to the finals. On November 4 at Power Struggle, Akira and TJP defeated Sho and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the finals to win the 2023 Super Jr. Tag League.

On January 4, 2024, at Wrestle Kingdom 18, Akira and TJP defeated Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the third time.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing tag team moves**
	+ *The Leaning Tower* (Electric chair drop (TJP)/Springboard avalanche cutter (Akira) combination followed by an arm trap cross-legged STF (TJP))
	+ *2x2* (Double high impact running double knee drop (Akira)/running kneeling dropkick (TJP) to a kneeling opponent's head)
* **Akira's finishing moves**
	+ *Akira Sault* (Shiranui)
	+ *Fireball* (High impact running double knee drop to the back of a kneeling opponent's head, with theatrics)
	+ *Speedfire* (Single underhook corkscrew somersault cutter)
* **TJP's finishing moves**
	+ *Detonation Kick* (Fireman's carry dropped into an overhead kick)
	+ *Figure Four Deathlock* (Leglock cloverleaf)
	+ *Mamba Splash* (Frog Splash)
	+ *TJP Clutch* (Leglock inverted cloverleaf, usually preceded by a kneebar)
	+ *Pinoy Stretch* (Arm trap cross-legged STF)

* **Nicknames**
	+ "Bruciare" (Akira)
	+ "Public Enemy" (TJP)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro-Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (3 times, current)
	+ Super Jr. Tag League (2023)