Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs. Oleg Boltin, Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima

[4.0] "Eh, I guess it was an okay opener, the veterans got a win over the rookies in a fine wrestle match, that's all"

[5.0] "Pretty standard opening match with young lions and veterans that have nothing to do in 2023. It doesn't look great on TV when these young powerhouses are getting their asses kicked by Tenzan, but the comeback had some nice energy that made it feel like an upset was possible. Kojima hit the Lariat stopping Nakashima dead in his tracks which usually isn't a finish I enjoy, it works for Kojima and his Lariat though. **1/2"

[4.0] "This is pretty much what you should expect by an opener of a Road to -... nothing in this case opener. Some veterans against the Young Lions in an adequate bout and yet again they lost against the "history". Strange booking, I think NJ doesn't give a fuck of these boys. **1/4"

[4.0] "Satoshi Kojima got the winning by pinning Yuto Nakashima after a Lariat. While the result of these opening matches featuring a team of Young Lions tends to be a foregone conclusion, they're very important for the Young Lions in developing their personas. And I feel like this team of elder statesmen of New Japan, Togi Makabe in particular, are really good at helping that to happen. This was a nice, short match that did what it set out to achieve."