Hiroshi Tanahashi will wrestle his final match on US soil on tonight’s NJPW Windy City Riot pay-per-view.
The all-time great and NJPW legend will face Konosuke Takeshita in the show’s semi-main event in Chicago, his final match in the United States. Tana is on a retirement tour, with his final career bout set for next year’s Wrestle Kingdom in the Tokyo Dome.
Tana and Takeshita have squared off once before, more than ten years ago when Takeshita was an up-and-comer in DDT.
Tonight’s show will be headlined by an IWGP World Heavyweight title bout, with Hirooki Goto defending against Shota Umino.
Two more title bouts are set for the show, with Gabe Kidd defending the NJPW Strong Championship against Tomohiro Ishii in a 30-minute Iron Man match, plus NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA defending against Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs of the World Class Wrecking Crew.
In a number one contender’s match, Mina Shirakawa faces AZM for the right to challenge Mercedes Mone for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship at next month’s Resurgence event.
**********
Pre-show
Zane Jay defeated CJ Tino
Jay chiefly held dominance in the first half, but Tino gained a smidge of momentum with a running lariat. Attempting to land a flying dropkick, Tino was instead caught by Jay, but a rope break prevented any exploitation. Driving Jay into the corner, Tino picked at him with kicks and forearms. Jay carved out some momentum with scoop-slams but collapsed after a dropkick and a suplex. After a failed Sharpshooter, Tino submitted to a Boston Crab by the tenacious Jay.
— Post-match: Jay congratulated Tino for a match well-fought, before relinquishing his STRONG Survivor Champion. Announcing he would be moving his attention to competing in Japan, believing the new talents of the New Japan Dojo to be ready and hungry for the new belt.
In previous American outings, Jay’s been a favorite, as was his story with Matt Vandagriff. Best of luck to him in Japan.
Main card
TJP defeated Tom Lawlor
Lawlor had the early advantage, keeping TJP grounded as he worked the United Empire member’s leg. TJP pushed with a Sharpshooter and soon gained traction after snapping Lawlor’s shoulder. Backing TJP into a corner, Lawlor aggressively threw forearm strikes but dropped to the mat and onto the floor after a couple of dropkicks. Lawlor crushed TJP with a Tombstone Piledriver. TJP eked out a comeback, ending the match with a Mamba Splash onto Lawlor’s prone body.
Decent opener. TJP and Lawlor executed their moves well, but I felt a lack of chemistry between the two.
Mina Shirakawa vs AZM in a double count-out
Shirakawa found an upper hand in the beginning, but a dropkick by AZM put a swift end to that. Smiling, Shirakawa redirected AZM’s flow by directing her attention to her opponent’s knees. A collision by AZM and an uppercut by Shirakawa sent both women to the mat at the same time. Shirakawa hoped for a leap to the outside on AZM, but she flopped her down, tangling her leg on the ropes. Shirakawa ensnared AZM into a figure-four leglock, nearly taking her out had it not been for a rope break.
AZM seized Shirakawa’s leg, but it was not enough; even a roundhouse kick to the face couldn’t quell her spirit. Shirakawa opted for a Tornado DDT on the outside as the ring announcer reached the 15-count. Both women lay helpless as he reached the 20-count.
— Post-match: AZM and Shirakawa ragefully reacted to the ending, as Chicago booed with them.
This match kept going and going in terms of pace and energy. Edge of your seat action. Whether this leads to a triple-threat or neither woman challenging Mone for her STRONG Women’s Championship at Resurgence, this ending was deflating. With how split Chicago was for both women, however, at least no one goes home happy or sad for this match.
The World Class Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) (c) defeated Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA) for the STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship
Nelson and KUSHIDA collided with Isaacs assisting the former with a sneak kick to the challenger. The Setters sent WCWC to the outside near a seated TJP. The champions pinballed Knight, with Isaacs flinging KUSHIDA into the barricades on the outside. Isaacs dropped Knight with a backbreaker assist by Nelson. Cartwheeling Nelson into a corner, KUSHIDA followed with a hurricanrana attempt but was caught—yet Knight finished the job. WCWC slammed Knight with a combined Powerbomb and played to the crowd, leading him to fell Nelson with a Satellite DDT. KUSHIDA did the same for Isaacs, KUSHIDA drove Isaacs into the referee, but suffered a suplex by him. The World Class Wrecking Crew retained the STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship.
— Post-match: Nelson touted a successful second title defense before he and Isaacs were interrupted by TJP hoped to hand them a piece of paper.
After their increible performances with Dirty Work last year, WCWC’s defense against one of Japan’s best tag teams of the last year meshed very well.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Gabe Kidd (c) for the STRONG Openweight Championship in a 30-minute Iron Man Match
Champion and challenger wore themselves out quickly but Kidd’s steadily weakening series of forearms sent Ishii to the mat. Ishii plummeted Kidd with a forearm strike. The pair traded chest chops for an extended period before Kidd cornered him for more intimate, assertive chops. Ishii fired back in a comeback fueled by his own chops. Once more, Kidd unleashed a torrent of chops, crumpling Ishii in the corner. The challenger had enough, however, charging with a lariat to topple the champion.
Teasing a powerbomb, Ishii instead mockingly gave soft Kawada Kicks to Kidd’s skull. An insulted Kidd slapped Ishii so hard that he fell. Powerbombing Kidd from the top rope, Ishii’s strength had been depleted to an inability to follow up. Fans held up Ishii as Kidd delivered more punishment. Charging at Ishii, Kidd missed, steamrolling into a few rows of chairs. Chairs scattered, Kidd DDT’d Ishii onto a steady line of them. Both men moved onto retalitatory headbutts. Kidd gained the first pinfall thanks to a Doctor Bomb. Back to trading chops, Ishii eventually sent Kidd to the matt but couldn’t get the pin after a sliding dropkick. An Armbreaker by a bloody-nosed Ishii persevered with an extended Triangle Choke. With no escape, Kidd tapped to it. The pair were tied, thus leading to Sudden Death.
Sudden Death
A running lariat and piledriver almost finished Ishii, but his spirit denied him defeat. Ishii deployed a lariat of his own, met with a Brainbuster by the champion. Ishii ultimately, cathartically won with a Brainbuster, finishing Sudden Death as the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
I’m of two minds on this one. Half of this match consisted of little but chops to the chest. I’m a sucker for a good chop fest, but it did go on for some time. However, the story of it carried until later in the match with each man surviving through sheer will in a gritty battle. Each move and pin attempt as the finish drew nearer culminated in a pulse-pounding climax. Shock win, but a fun one.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Titan) defeated El Phantasmo & Rocky Romero
Romero had Titan struggling in the beginning, but Phantasmo’s bravado halted it. Naito and Titan had Phantasmo on the ropes, but he demolished Titan with a Tilt-A-Whirl. An energetic Romero sprinted with lariats in the corner, and dodged a double-clothesline for a double-lariat. Romero and Phantasmo, despite their earlier differences, dizzied Naito with a Dropkick + UFO. Romero used Phantasmo as a Slingshot to Titan, but he sent both of them flying with hurricanranas. Naito assisted Titan with a Splash on Romero, but Phantasmo sent Naito careening on top of Titan’s pin attempt. Naito incapacitated Phantasmo with a Destino with an extra Tope Suicida from Titan. A flying double stomp to the chest for the win.
— Post-match: Naito and Titan teased a fan dressed as Jushin Thunder Liger. He attempted to cross the barricade for a further interaction but security quickly descended upon him, sending him back.
Titan was by far the star of the match. One of the best parts of LIJ matches, he’s a welcome presence in NJPW. Phantasmo and Romero’s bickering told its own story that kept the match moving at its pace. Naito at this point coasts on his much-deserved star power, perfect for his slowing body.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated David Finlay
Finlay fiercely fought in the beginning, but Sabre soon grasped control of his left fingers. Finlay carved out some space with an Irish Curse. Sabre offset Finlay’s newfound momentum with a suplex into the corner. Finlay hit Sabre with another Irish Curse and flipped him across the ring. The pair battled back and forth, trading pins and cradles—Sabre clutched with a Bridged Nelson pin. Oblivion by Finlay damages the back of Sabre, but wasn’t enough. They once more taded pins; Sabre broke up this trend with an armbar. Sabre withstood multiple powerbombs to cinch back the arms of Finlay. Chicago booed with disdain as the referee’s hand hit the mat three times after a Zack Driver, but got the pinfall with it moments later.
Two styles melded together quite nicely, with Finlay’s power offset by Sabre’s technical style. The way each tried to overcome the other’s strengths made the drama compelling, yet doesn’t quite reach “match of the night” status.
Hirooki Goto (c) defeated Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Goto persisted Umino’s opening offense, working his leg. The challenger returned the favor in kind, dropping his knee on Goto’s. He twisted Goto’s leg some more before employing the use of an STF. Goto reached deep to deliver a suplex and engage in a war of forearms. Umino laid out Goto with a pop-up powerbomb. Goto cranked Umino in with an overwhelming sleeper hold before proceeding with a gnarly soccer kick. Umino flew with a knee to Goto, and dropped him with a lariat. A GTR at last quelled his opponent for a 3-count victory.
Too soon for Umino to be placed back into the main event title picture, but he and Goto put on a neatly packed semi-main event. That said, though this match had little juice at first, but became something else entirely near the end. Goto, even on his weakest defenses, has proven himself worthy of the championship. An added benefit: Chicago seemed to LOVE him.
Young Bucks promo video
AEW’s Nick and Matt Jackson declared intentions of bringing a couple of friends with them to NJPW Resurgence in Ontario, California on March 9.
Based on their free agency and a post on X earlier in the day, this is most likely Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, the Good Brothers. They’ve accompanied The Elite in AEW and are Bullet Club stalwarts so it makes sense.
Konosuke Takeshita (c) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NEVER Openweight Championship
Tanahashi avoided early defeat courtesy of a Hammerlock DDT, but Takeshita’s youth and power proved hard to surpass. The champion trapped The Ace in the corner, striking and biting. Dropping Tanahashi with a Bastard Bomb, victory was nearly within reach. However, the challenger responded with a Sling Blade. Takeshita dropped him with a Brainbuster to a large thud. Tanahashi squeaked out a High-Fly Flow. Takeshita slammed Tanahashi with a Blue Thunderbomb, later seeking to steal his High-Fly Flow; Tanahashi kicked out at 1, to a huge ovation.
Fired up, Tanahashi attacked Takeshita with Dragon Suplexes. He ran with another Sling Blade and followed with two High-Fly Flows. Hoping for a Raging Fire finish, Takeshita was unsuccessful. Relying on multiple Power-Drive Knees, he still couldn’t overcome The Ace. At last, he overcame Tanahashi with a Somato and one last Raging Fire and the cathartic win was all his as Tanahashi lay in somber defeat.
— Post-match: Takeshita helped Tanahashi to his feet, and shook his hand. As he left for the back, Takeshita had a brief, awkward confrontation with El Phantasmo. The locker room emptied out to surround Tanahashi on the outside, chanting for him. Tearful fans joined them as Tanahashi emotionally exclaimed that though he’ll be retired and serving as NJPW President soon, the roster would be in good hands. He concluded by stating he’ll miss the American crowds and thanked them for their support.
What a final American performance from Tanahashi. Finishing on story beats from over a decade ago, these men hit the marks they were meant to hit. Since Takeshita is the ruling Japanese of the American side of wrestling, this means a lot. Tanahashi has given a lot. I’m grateful for him giving his everything to this final year.
An exciting night. The WCWC versus the Intergalactic Jet Setters rocked, Goto made Umino look strong, and Tanahashi put on an emotional bout against Takeshita. For its faults, Ishii versus Kidd hit all its beats in its 30 minutes and sudden death. The Young Bucks left a lot of intrigue heading into Resurgence. If you want a substantial stateside NJPW show, this will hit the spot.
