Royal Fights for Royal Quest IV

Reveals, challenges and title matches in London

Crystal Palace hosted this years Royal Quest IV, where New Japan, RevPro and Stardom clashed on October 20, 2024 for the fourth time in London.

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Hotly anticipated in the opening match of the night was the reveal of Taiji Ishimori’s partner for the Super Jr. Tag League — none other than Robbie X, who had faced Ishimori in singles action last year. This newly-formed team gave fans an exciting preview of what to expect in this year’s Super Jr. Tag League 24, already displaying impressive tandem offense and taking an early lead in the match. Although Danny Black managed to land some impactful moves against the BULLET CLUB members, the BC duo showed why they could be a strong contender for this year’s Super Jr. Tag League, securing a decisive victory.

Six man tag team action saw Los Ingobernables de Japón face TMDK’s Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita, with Mascara Dorada as their third member. A raucous reaction for Naito in particular set a party atmosphere, but CMLL’s rivals Titan and Mascara Dorada were all business. Dorada had Titan primed for his Shooting Star Press, but it was Titan with a double stomp to secure another win over Dorada, their business remaining unfinished.

It was the one blemish for TMDK on the night, with Kosei Fujita very successful in singles action with Michael Oku. Oku, a well-known figure in the British wrestling scene with impressive victories over New Japan stars like Will Ospreay and Great-O-Khan, initially kept the action on the mat, playing into Fujita’s strengths. However, Oku began to shift the momentum by incorporating his aerial offense. Fujita responded with a barrage of kicks and strikes, leaving Oku’s chest red with impact. Despite the punishment, Oku’s fighting spirit remained unbroken. He gained control of the match with a patented Half-Crab, targeting Fujita’s base, but when he went to the hold again, he was countered with a quick cradle.

A highly anticipated rubber match between Shota Umino and Callum Newman saw a fast-paced bout open with each trying to outsmart the other. Shota managed to keep up with Newman’s incredible speed, countering many of the Prince of Pace’s moves. However, Newman displayed impressive resilience, gradually wearing down Shota with precision kicks and regaining his pace. As the crowd grew louder with each passing minute and mainly against Shota Umino, the Roughneck found his second wind, battling his way back into contention. In a thrilling conclusion, Shota hit the Death Rider to secure the victory and bring his record to 2–1 against Newman. Still the boos of the London crowd have to echo in Shota’s ears.

David Finlay welcomes such reactions, and as he prepares for his title defense against Taichi at Power Struggle, he got a preview by facing one of Just 5 Guys’ members — TAKA Michinoku. Before the match even started, Finlay took a moment to address the England crowd, a place he wasn’t too fond of. Unimpressed with TAKA as his opponent, Finlay sent his right-hand man, Gedo, in as a replacement, with Gedo starting the match by sneak attacking Michinoku from behind.

The bout quickly turned into a handicap match of sorts, with Gedo frequently interfering from outside the ring. However, Michinoku’s years of experience paid off, as he managed to submit Gedo. This left Finlay, still fresh, to step into the ring. The Bullet Club leader wasted no time, taking an easy win with the Overkill finisher on a worn-down Michinoku. Will Finlay use similar underhanded tactics when he faces Taichi? Only time will tell.

War Dogs were less successful but still as imposing when Drilla Moloney took on Yota Tsuji. Moloney was dominant over the Gene Blaster, forcing Tsuji to incorporate techniques he learned during his excursion in Mexico to beat a man who had his measure when he was on excursion in the UK. Suddenly, the roles reversed — Moloney began relying more on power, while Tsuji used his agility to turn the tide. In the end, Tsuji secured the victory, showing that the young Los Ingobernables de Japón member is a force to be reckoned with.

Dani Luna showed herself to be a force to be reckoned with in tag team action as she teamed with AZM to face RevPro Undisputed Women’s Champion Mina Shirakawa and Kanji. Luna, the powerhouse of the match, evoked a nostalgic sense of strength reminiscent of past eras of Japanese women’s wrestling, but she was caught off guard by Mina Shirakawa’s technical prowess. Meanwhile, the agility of AZM and Kanji kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, the match was decided when Dani Luna landed her signature Luna Landing, securing the win for her team against the champion.

The Royal Quest kickoff match featured Young Blood, currently on excursion in Europe, showcasing their newly honed skills against Greedy Souls — Brendan White and Danny Jones. While the Greedy Souls demonstrated solid team offense, it wasn’t enough to keep the German giant and his partner Yuto down. The Bloodrush double team ended the bout, setting the pace for the night ahead.