Toa Henare has led a team of Young Lions to victory in the first New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) match of 2020.
Henare pinned Yota Tsuji in an eight-man pre-show contest at Wrestle Kingdom 14, with more than 40,000 fans watching inside Tokyo Dome.
Henare endured a three-on-one onslaught from Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, and Tsuji before rallying to annihilate Tsuji with a lariat.
Henare followed up with the Toa Bottom and pinned his rival, earning the win for himself, and LA Dojo Young Lions Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors, and Karl Fredericks.
Henare’s performance impressed former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Rocky Romero. Romero, providing commentary for Wrestle Kingdom 14, announced: “I expect big things for him in 2020”.
Henare is one of three New Zealanders in action at Tokyo Dome. Bad Luck Fale also competes in an eight-man tag team bout when Bullet Club meets Chaos, while “Switchblade” Jay White defends the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Tetsuya Naito.
.@HenareNZ 'Lariat'
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP#njpw #njpwworld #njwk14 pic.twitter.com/TjycFAerDJ— njpwworld (@njpwworld) January 4, 2020
