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NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2025 (April 30) Live Results & Analysis: A Night of Chaos, Surprises, and Rising Tensions

By WatchWrestling

Date: April 30, 2025
Location: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Broadcast: NJPW World

The Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2025 hit another explosive milestone last night, delivering a card packed with hard-hitting action, shocking twists, and crucial developments just days away from one of New Japan’s biggest events of the year. Korakuen Hall was electric as rivalries intensified, new challengers emerged, and the landscape of NJPW shifted once again.

In this in-depth breakdown, we’ll cover every match, analyze the implications for Wrestling Dontaku, and explore the stories unfolding behind the scenes. Whether you missed the action or want a deeper dive into the night’s events, this is your ultimate guide to NJPW’s latest spectacle.

Match 1: Young Lion Showcase – Ryohei Oiwa vs. Katsuya Murashima

Winner: Ryohei Oiwa (Submission, Boston Crab – 8:22)

The night kicked off with the future of NJPW on display as two Young Lions clashed in a spirited contest. Oiwa and Murashima brought intensity, trading stiff strikes and grappling with the hunger of warriors looking to prove themselves.

Key Takeaways:

• Oiwa’s technical prowess was on full display, countering Murashima’s power moves with smooth transitions.
• Murashima showed impressive resilience, fighting out of multiple submission attempts before finally succumbing to the Boston Crab.
• Post-match, Oiwa bowed respectfully, but there was a fire in his eyes—could a Young Lion excursion be imminent?

Match 2: Six-Man Tag Team Action – CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto) vs. TMDK (Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita)

Winners: CHAOS (Ishii pins Fujita – Lariat – 12:45)

A hard-hitting six-man tag set the tone for the evening, with CHAOS’ veteran dominance clashing against TMDK’s relentless energy. Fujita, the young gun of TMDK, took the brunt of Ishii’s brutality, but not without landing some blistering strikes of his own.

Key Takeaways:

• Ishii was an absolute beast, no-selling Fujita’s offense before flattening him with a brutal lariat.
• YOSHI-HASHI and Goto worked seamlessly, cutting off TMDK’s double-team maneuvers.
• Post-match, Fujita demanded a singles match with Ishii—could we see a NEVER Openweight Championship challenge soon?

Match 3: Special Singles Match – El Phantasmo vs. DOUKI (Suzuki-gun)

Winner: El Phantasmo (Pinfall – CRII – 14:30)

A battle of high-flying tricksters and underhanded tactics, ELP and DOUKI brought a mix of athleticism and chaos. DOUKI relied on Suzuki-gun’s usual dirty tricks, but ELP’s speed and creativity kept him one step ahead.

Key Takeaways:

• ELP’s new finisher, the CRII (Corkscrew Roundhouse Impact), looks devastating—could this be his ticket to the Junior Heavyweight title scene?
• DOUKI’s aggression suggests he’s tired of being overlooked—will he target ELP or another junior in the coming weeks?
• Post-match, ELP cut a fiery promo calling out the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion—clearly, he’s gunning for gold.

Match 4: Tag Team Showdown – Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) vs. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney)

Winners: BULLET CLBC War Dogs (Moloney pins Loa – Drilla Killer – 16:18)

A battle of BULLET CLUB factions saw the War Dogs continue their dominant streak. Connors and Moloney’s brutal, no-nonsense style overwhelmed the veteran GoD, proving once again that the War Dogs are the future of the faction.

Key Takeaways:

• Moloney’s Drilla Killer finisher looks more lethal than ever—could a NEVER Openweight or Strong Openweight title shot be next?
• Tama and Loa showed flashes of their old dominance, but the War Dogs’ chemistry was too much.
• Post-match, Connors grabbed a mic and declared, “The old BULLET CLUB is dead. The War Dogs run this now.”—are we heading toward a full-blown faction war?

Match 5: NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship – House of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) (c) vs. United Empire (Great O-Khan, Callum Newman & HENARE)

Winners: House of Torture (EVIL pins Newman – Everything is EVIL – 18:05) (Retains Titles)

Typical House of Torture shenanigans were in full effect as EVIL, SHO, and Yujiro retained their titles through cheating, ref distractions, and outright chaos. United Empire fought valiantly, but the numbers game (and Dick Togo’s interference) proved too much.

Key Takeaways:

• Newman’s fiery performance proves he’s ready for bigger opportunities—could a NEVER Openweight singles run be in his future?
• HENARE’s rage post-match suggests he’s done playing games—will he challenge EVIL for the NEVER title at Dontaku?
• SHO’s continued evolution as a sadistic heel makes him one of the most dangerous juniors in NJPW.

Match 6: IWGP Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match – Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji) vs. Just 5 Guys (Taichi & Yuya Uemura)

Winners: LIJ (Tsuji pins Uemura – Death Rider – 20:30)

A thrilling, hard-hitting contest that saw LIJ secure their shot at the tag titles. Tsuji’s power and Shingo’s relentless offense clashed beautifully with Taichi’s cunning and Uemura’s technical mastery.

Key Takeaways:

• Tsuji’s Death Rider (a modified Death Valley Driver) is becoming one of the most protected finishers in NJPW.
• Uemura continues to impress—could a singles push be coming post-Dontaku?
• Post-match, LIJ called out Bishamon—will we see a title clash at Wrestling Dontaku?

Main Event: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Contract Signing – Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA (Confrontation)

No match, but the segment of the night saw Naito and SANADA come face-to-face ahead of their epic title clash at Wrestling Dontaku. The tension was palpable as both men exchanged words before SANADA shockingly SLAPPED Naito, leading to a wild brawl that required Young Lions and officials to separate them.

Key Takeaways:

• SANADA’s new aggressive edge suggests he’s done playing the cool, collected champion—he wants to hurt Naito.
• Naito’s smirk post-brawl indicates he’s unfazed, but SANADA’s mind games may be getting to him.
• This feud has reached a boiling point—Wrestling Dontaku’s main event will be an absolute war.

Final Thoughts & What’s Next for Wrestling Dontaku?

Last night’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku event was a perfect storm of storytelling, in-ring action, and rising tensions. With just days left before the big event, here’s what we can expect:

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Naito vs. SANADA is now more personal than ever. Will Naito reclaim his destiny, or will SANADA solidify his reign as a dominant champion?
• Tag Team Title Picture: LIJ vs. Bishamon seems locked in—will Shingo and Tsuji dethrone the veterans?
• Junior Heavyweight Scene: ELP is coming for gold, but who stands in his way?
• BULLET CLUB Civil War? The War Dogs’ dominance suggests a power struggle is imminent.

One thing is certain—Wrestling Dontaku 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable night.

What did you think of last night’s show? Who impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments below!