Tag: njpw dominion live results

NJPW Dominion live results: Goto vs. Shingo IWGP title match

Posted on by Corey Michaels

Hirooki Goto vs. Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship headlines today’s NJPW Dominion.

Goto will go for his sixth successful defense of IWGP gold in the main event, but Shingo holds a 3-1 edge over the champ in their four previous singles meetings.

In the semi-main, IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji defends his title against Gabe Kidd in a matchup of two of the company’s brightest young stars.

Bullet Club continues to implode as David Finlay of War Dogs faces House of Torture’s EVIL in a dog collar chain deathmatch.

NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends his title against Boltin Oleg/Oleg Boltin on the undercard.

Great-O-Khan and Callum Newman put their IWGP Tag Team titles on the line against Tomohiro Ishii and Taichi.

The IWGP Junior Tag titles are also up for grabs today with YOH and Master Wato facing SHO and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Hiroshi Tanahashi’s road to retirement continues with a singles match against Yuya Uemura.

Shota Umino and El Phantasmo take on Zack Sabre Jr. and Ryohei Oiwa in an undercard tag team bout.

In another War Dogs vs. House of Torture matchup, Taiji Ishimori, Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney, and Chase Owens face SANADA, Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, and a new mystery member of HoT in the main card opener.

A Young Lion tag team bout is set for the pre-show with  Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato vs. Daiki Nagai & Masatora Yasuda.

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Pre-show

Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato defeated Daiki Nagai & Masatora Yasuda

Murashima sunk in a deep Boston Crab on Nagai to near success. Yasuda valiantly fought out of an Avalanche Powerslam, but fell to another. Murashima kept him in the center of the ring in an unrelenting Boston Crab that tapped young Yasuda out.

These four Young Lions were already good, but they’re putting their own respective feels together so finely. They’re worth keeping an eye on, particularly Murashima and Nagai.

Main show

House Of Torture (Ren Narita, SANADA & Yujiro Takahashi) & Bad Luck Fale defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Chase Owens, Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori)

SANADA emerged during House of Torture’s entrance looking like Giant Gonzalez; however, it was new House of Torture member Fale who stole the limelight to Owens’s chagrin. Rechristened to Don Fale, he no longer represented Bullet Club after 12 years in the group. He leveled him out, in addition to Moloney. Takahashi held some of the War Dogs at bay, but Ishimori fought back, nailing it with an enzigiri to Takahashi. Fale handled Moloney on the outside despite Owens’s pleas and questionings. Connors trounced Fale with a tire, proceeding to Jeep Flip Takahashi.

Moloney executed a tight Spinebuster on SANADA, who countered with a Magic Screw off of the top rope. Moloney attempted to aid Owens to finish off SANADA with a guitar shot. Owens then hit Moloney with a low blow to the shock of Osaka. SANADA finished off Moloney with a guitar shot for the win. Chase Owens joins Bad Luck Fale as a member of House of Torture.

Not a fan of House of Torture, but this development provided a shock to open the main card. All I can really say as I think that Fale and Owens fit in fine there. At least the promoters got this out of the way immediately. I don’t want to call him Don Fale though.

TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated El Phantasmo & Shota Umino

Umino and Oiwa locked up into a stalemate, whereas continued Sabre controlled Phantasmo to ground his otherwise dynamic, well-rounded style. Oiwa joined his teammate in targeting Phantasmo’s limbs like they were playing musical chairs. Umino blasted into his hot tag with a fiery comeback that toppled Sabre with a Tornado-DDT. Phantasmo saved Umino from a united front by Oiwa and Sabre, nearly capitalized with a Moonsault.

A desperate Oiwa reached for a Doctor Bomb, which failed to secure the pin on Phantasmo. TMDK wore down their opponents with sleeper holds, yet ultimately staggered to synchronized enziguris from their foes. Umino and Sabre exchanged multiple pin variations with Sabre succeeding a final one in a flash for the victory.

Sabre’s way of snatching a surprise win from the ground is why he’s such a compelling watch.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Yuya Uemura

The match saw Tanahashi’s technique being seasoned to test Uemura, but not fast enough to keep up. Uemura worked the arm of The Ace, yet incurred the shock of a Flying Crossbody and Back Body Drop with a middle-rope Senton for extra measure. Uemura countered a Sling Blade into an attempted Deadbolt Suplex, but dropped from Tanahashi’s Dragon Screw Leg Whip. A successful Sling Blade teetered the match in Tanahashi’s favor.

Tanahashi baited Uemura into rage, with Uemura temporarily tiring out from a stiff exchange. He dove for Tanahashi but landed on his elbow, weakening it. Tanahashi stopped Uemura with a Dragon Suplex. The Ace almost succumbed to a juji-gatame, had he not wisely leveraged the weight of the two to sneak a pinfall.

Tanahashi taking measured approaches to overcome the spry Uemura for a win was an excellent story, as he visibly analyzed his next steps after the initial grappling. Hopefully they revisit this before Tanahashi hangs up his boots.

House Of Torture (SHO & Douki) defeated Master Wato & YOH (c) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

Prior to the bell, SHO blamed Wato for the injury suffered by advertised partener Yoshinobu Kanemaru before revealing his new partner, a returning Douki. The pair immediately dispatched YOH on the outside. SHO set Douki up for a Basement Dropkick to Wato as he held up the champion’s legs. Kanemaru revealed his injury was a ruse when he chopped Wato in the crotch from the top rope before wrapping up his arm again. Wato, distressed, crawled for a rope break during a nasty Single-Leg Crab courtesy of Douki.

He and SHO continued wearing down the lonesome Wato before they dropped to his double-clothesline. YOH made the hot tag, unloading on SHO with aerial maneuvers. Wato delivered a plancha to Douki, dazing him enough to slingshot him into the barricade. Kanemaru swung with his whiskey obttle and SHO with a screwdriver but missed the champions and hit each other. Douki leveled the playing field, swinging a pipe on Wato after Kanemaru spat whiskey in YOH’s face. Douki secured Wato’s arm and knee into a hold that strained both to tap him out as SHO forced YOH to watch.

An unexpected turn from Douki and an unexpected title change. House of Torture boosted their roster tonight and I’m not overly fond of this recruitment. Still, I think the paring of Douki and SHO could bear fruit and be a net positive for the stable.

Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan) (c) for the IWGP Tag Team Championship

Newman exploded onto Taichi, overwhelming him with the quickness. Khan furthered the punishment, with a Big Sit to pour salt in the wound. Ishii barreled in with the tag, blasting through Khan and Newman, emphatically dropping the former with a vertical suplex. Khan used Ishii’s own momentum against him; he flipped the challenger over for an arm hold.

Taichi endured Newman’s flurry of attacks, grabbing a comeback with a lariat and excitedly throwing off his longer pants to reveal his short trunks. Building up to an attack, Taichi fell instead to Khan, who booted Ishii in the face when he tried to make the save. This set up Newman for a Shotgun Knee to plummet Taichi to the outside. Khan sacrificed himself to take Ishii out on the outside, leading Newman to a Spanish Fly on Taichi. Khan’s efforts were thwarted, however, as Ishii rescued Taichi. With that, Taichi sent Newman to the mat with a Black Mephisto for the win.

After the House of Torture updates, this is a welcome return to form on the level of Uemura versus Tanahashi. Though I wish Newman had more time with the belt after the confusion with Jeff Cobb months ago, he and Khan put up a valiant effort. Seeing Taichi celebrate with some gold was heartwarming though, and I’ll not say no to Two-Belts Ishii.

G1 Climax entrants announcement

Block A: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg, Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji, David Finlay, EVIL, SANADA, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and two winners of qualifying matches.

Block B: El Phantasmo, Shota Umino, Shingo Takagi, Zack Sabre Jr, Great-O-Khan, Gabe Kidd, Ren Narita, Konosuke Takeshita, and two winners of qualifying matches.

Oleg Boltin defeated Konosuke Takeshita (c) for the NEVER Openweight Championship

LIke two rampaging bulls, champion and challenger clashed, with Boltin’s force dropping Takeshita, who returned the favor and followed up with a top rope dive. Takeshita threw everything into battering Boltin, but eventually was caught over the Kazakh wrestler’s shoulders, who sent him flying to the entrance ramp. Takeshita unleashed a loud, resonant forearm to Boltin at the top of the ramp. The champion was sent tumbling down the sloping entrance after a brief Boltin Shake.

Barely making it to the ring, Takeshita withstood a Boltin Bomb, regaining control with a Blue Thunderbomb transitioned into a Boston Crab. Boltin maintained his resilience, pulling Takeshita from the top rope and dropping him over the shoulder to the mat. Takeshita tried choking him out, but the Osaka crowd gave him the will to flip Takeshita on his back. The pair matched lariat for lariat twice, with Boltin left standing each time. Boltin trounced Takeshita with a Kamikaze for his first NJPW title win, the first Kazakhstan champion in the Japanese promotion.

Astounding closing segment. Boltin’s late 2024 and early 2025 saw him interspersed with some of NJPW’s finest veterans, showing only glimpses of his brilliant, birlliant potential. He bounced off of Takeshita well, with chemistry to instill them as incredible dance partners. Onward and upward for the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

EVIL defeated David Finlay in a Dog Collar Death Match

Each man wrangled with the dog collar chain with utmost trepidation. Finlay made the first move, yanking EVIL in for a torrential rainfall of fists anywhere he could ground or corner him. The War Dog wrapped EVIL’s side of the chain onto a ring post to first choke him, then batter him with forearms. The leader of the House of Torture then fell over the top rope, with Finlay hanging him. As the House of Torture swarmed upon Finlay, the War Dogs came to their leader’s aid.

Meanwhile, SHO removed the turnbuckle pads from each side of the ring. Out in the crowd, EVIL whacked Finlay with the steel chain, bloodying his forehead and gagging him with the sheer steel. EVIL perched Finlay upside down on one exposed corner, and distracted referee Marty Asami while his stablemates choked Finlay with the chain. Finlay reached some reprieve through sending the chain into EVIL’s groin, where he proceeded to batter him with the metal.

The War Dog then threw the House of Torture landlord to the outside in a powerbomb that laid out his stablemates. EVIL earned his salvation after being left tied to a ring post when he yanked Finlay into the post, and again, in an attempt that saw his head through a chair. Hoisting his opponent back into the ring, EVIL swing the chain onto Finlay’s beaten flesh. Finlay deployed Oblivion with his knee adorned in the chain and a series of powerbombs wore EVIL down. Just as Finlay choked EVIL with the chain, EVIL did the same to Marty Asami. House of Torture attempted to interfere, but the War Dogs came to his side. EVIL removed his collar, threw a table at Finlay, and rejoiced as Don Fale dropped onto Finlay on that same table. With his Darkness Scorpion hold assisted with the chain, EVIL choked Finlay into complete unconsciousness.

The flashes of genius in this match, the creative ways that the collar and chain were used, were tragically and ironically suffocated with the overwhelming numbers. Sad, as this was a good EVIL performance without House of Torture.

Gabe Kidd defeated Yota Tsuji (c) for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

Tsuji soared out of the ring to topple Kidd after a brawl sent him tumbling. The pair exchanged hands, almost ending in a double-countout avoided at the last second. Kidd and Tsuji engaged in a stiff series of punches, the latter suprising with a shot to the liver. The War Dog earned a breather after sending Tsuji out, greeting him with a lariat upon re-entry. A comeback swung to Tsuji’s favor after a superkick sent Kidd to the mat.

Dangling Tsuji to the top rope, Kidd overshot a senton that knocked both men’s head in a frightening manner. Tsuji staggered Kidd with a tope suicida, who fired back with a Tombstine Piledriver on the outside. Evoking Claudio Castagnoli’s Swing, Kidd sank in a deep, deep Boston Crab. Tsuji mustered enough spirit to cause a rope break. The champion traded chops with the challenger, with one echoing with a heavy wince. Kidd withstood two Gene Blasters before destroying Tsuji with a Death Rider + Piledriver combination to become the new champion.

Post-match: Kidd gave Tsuji his props before directing his attention to Hiroshi Tanahashi, opening the ropes as a sign of respect. He then challenged The Ace to a match in the near future.

It certainly doesn’t help that this followed the preceding slog of a dog collar match, but there was no sauce to this match. New Beginning in Osaka back in February positioned these two higher up as stars. Where was that? Tsuji at least reclaimed his energy halfway into the match. Kidd ended up a parody of himself—his brawling style replaced instead with a sports entertainment vibe. I watch WWE for WWE, I watch NJPW for NJPW. The saving grace was that these two put it together in the final minutes. I will say that Kidd battling between his War Dog and Death Rider identities at least made for a compelling narrative. Also, congrats on the new belt, champ.

Main Event

Hirooki Goto (c) vs Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

These beefy warriors clashed with collisions and chops in a deafening cacophony of flesh on flesh. Goto shoulder tackled Takagi so hard that he had to get a moment to recover his bearings and patience. Takagi fired back with a Tornado-DDT and a lariat to scramble Goto towards the outside. Takagi, unrelenting, suplexed Goto at the ramp and dropped a standing Senton to the weakened champion’s back. Adrenaline coursed through Goto’s veins as he caught up with Takagi enough to topple him with a lariat. Goto devastated Takagi, sending him to the outside where he broke the 20-count at 18. He evaded a GTR but ate a merciless lariat.

Takagi mounted an offense with a lariat and got some hits in, but was left rattled by an Ushigoroshi. Goto hit a GTW and relied on a GTR to no avail. Takagi was inches away from a new title with a Last of the Dragon but failed. He tried again with a Pumping Bomber and Burning Dragon. The pair battled, a seesaw of finisher attempts that saw Goto drop Takagi with a Shouten Kai. With a soul on fire, Goto ate a lariat like it was candy but collapsed to a Sliding Pumpkin Bomber to his back. After an unsuccessful GTR, Goto chipped away at Takagi as the 30-minute count ticked closer and closer. Goto ultimately retained his championship after one last GTR.

Yes. Absolutely yes. This is what tonight should have been, from top to bottom: the multi-man, tag team, and singles matches. The crowd was so loud I couldn’t even hear commentary; Osaka was completely unglued. Pro wrestling should feel this way. Props to Takagi, out on his own without a stable against a man hellbent to make up for the lost time he spent outside of the title scene. Goto and Takagi have cemented themselves as who the roster should aspire to be.

Closing thoughts

The House of Torture matches are a slog to get through. If it’s necessary to a viewing experience to witness the developments in recruitment, one would do well to fast-forward. However, the TMDK/Umino and Phantasmo match was fine. Boltin’s title win over Takeshita was a triumph that may go overlooked. Tanahashi and Uemura was a lot of fun, and I hope they run it back. Ishii and Taichi becoming IWGP Tag Team Champions off the heels of a great match at the emaciated but still strong United Empire had its own thrills. Not that it’s any surprise, but Goto and Takagi’s main event is required viewing.

NJPW Dominion live results: Seven title matches

Posted on by Chick Fritts

NJPW Dominion takes place today at Osaka-Jo Hall with seven title matches, a number one contender’s bout, plus the reveal of the G1 Climax 33 field. 

Headlining, SANADA defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Yota Tsuji, the newest member of Los Ingobernables de Japon. This is Tsuji’s first major match back after his international excursion, and he is starting right at the top of the card. 

In the semi-main, Hiromu Takahashi defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Best of the Super Juniors winner Master Wato. 

AEW’s Jon Moxley, ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, and Shota Umino will challenge Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship.

David Finlay defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against El Phantasmo.

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) will face House of Torture (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) and United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare) in a three-way for the vacant IWGP Tag Team and NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships. 

Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the NJPW World TV Championship against Jeff Cobb. 

KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against TJP & Francesco Akira. 

Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku face Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, BUSHI & Titan. 

In the opener, Will Ospreay takes on Lance Archer in a tournament final to decide the number one contender to Kenny Omega’s IWGP United States Championship.

The participants for this summer’s G1 Climax 33 tournament will also be revealed during the show. 

Our live coverage begins at 3 a.m. Eastern time.

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IWGP United States Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Match: Will Ospreay defeated Lance Archer

This match was built around Ospreay surviving Archer’s physical advantage. It worked quite well and made for a great opener.

Archer opened the match by flatlining Ospreay and taking the fight to the floor. A forearm and a dive from Ospreay turned the match around, setting up an extended rally. 

Back in the ring, Archer regained control, using his size to maintain advantage. A blackout from the top rope scored Archer a near fall. 

Archer’s extended control ended when Ospreay hit a hidden blade. After the first, Ospreay landed multiple hidden blades to secure the win.

After the match, Ospreay called out Kenny Omega, “in Canada”. 

Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito & Titan) defeated Just 5 Guys (DOUKI, Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

The match opened with an LIJ-initiated brawl. J5G held their own, establishing an early control despite the early rush. From here, the teams struggled for the lead with multiple back-and-forths.

J5G used tandem attacks to maintain control when possible, which forced LIJ to rush the ring. Ultimately, J5G’s willingness to use tandem attack’s backfired as LIJ fired back, clearing the ring and allowing Titan to submit TAKA to win the match.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP) defeated Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA) (c)

The match opened with a rapid back-and-forth between the teams. IJS was the first to gain advantage, emerging from the four-way fight with a short lead, but Catch 22 was quick to fire back.

TJP and Akira worked to isolate Knight, forcing a hot tag. KUSHIDA’s attempt for a rally wasn’t met without resistance, as Catch 22 fought off his attempts to finish. Catch 22 connected with a double knee, forcing Knight to make the save and forcing KUSHIDA on the back foot.

A double stomp from Akira forced a nearfall, but IJS bounced back with an extended rally. Even with the rally, Catch 22 was able to hold on, landing a double knee to Knight and securing the win and securing a second tag title reign.

After the match Clark Conners and Dan Mahoney of Bullet Club attacked the new champions, almost definitely setting up a future title challenge. 

NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Jeff Cobb

This was another fantastic ZSJ NJPW World TV Championship defense.

The match opened with a back-and-forth, favoring neither man. ZSJ attempted to take the match to the floor while Cobb tried using his power in an attempt to establish a lead. The totally fluid match featured nothing but back-and-forths from the men, a kind of trademark from the TV title scene.

A suplex from ZSJ allowed him to establish a lead around the halfway mark. Cobb answered back with a throw of his own, a spin cycle, and a suplex. Looking to close, Cobb attempted Tour of the Islands, but ZSJ transitioned into a pin and squeaked out with another win in his TV title reign.

IWGP Tag Team Championship: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) and House Of Torture (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi)

Before the match could begin, HOT rushed UE. YH and Goto helped to fight off the initial HOT rush, but the chaos continued for quite some time, with UE and HOT trading control with Bishamon providing a constant check.

UE eventually isolated Yujiro and scored a pin on him, but Dick Togo interrupted what would have been a title win. This led to an extended period of chaos, with all three teams trading momentum. Through the fog, Bishamon emerged, hitting Yujiro with Shoto to win the match and win the IWGP tag belts.

After the match, Alex Coughlin and Gabrial Kidd Rushed the new champions while wearing Bullet Club colors.

G1 Climax Lineup

Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finlay, Shota Umino, Shingo Takagi, Tomohiro Ishii, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Hikuleo, Hirooki Goto, Yoshihashi, Toru Yano, KENTA, Zack Sabre Jr, TAICHI, Eddie Kingston, El Phantasmo, Ren Narita, EVIL, Chase Owens, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare, Gabriel Kidd, Alex Coughlin, Shane Haste, Mikey Nichols, Yota Tsuji, & Kaito Kiyomiya

NEVER Openweight Championship: David Finlay (c) defeated El Phantasmo

This match opened with a brawl on the outside, and ELP took advantage, landing a dive to wipe Finlay out. Back in the ring, ELP maintained this lead, landing everything he wanted for some time. Finlay took the lead by using the outside to establish a BC-style lead.

Back in the ring, Finlay picked ELP apart for quite some time. Finlay missed a hidden blade which opened the door for an ELP dropkick, resetting the match, but a BC distraction allowed Finlay to maintain control.

An ELP rally featuring a DDT and a strike exchange left the factionless competitor ahead for some time. Finlay fought back and led his extended period of control, but both were uneventful.

ELP tried fighting off Finlay’s backup, but this bought Finlay enough time to fight back and drive ELP through a table. Finlay closed the match with into oblivion to retain hi

IWGP Junior Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) defeated Master Wato

The match opened with a back-and-forth that had both men fighting on the floor. In the ring, Hiromu managed to establish a lead before landing a suplex on the entrance ramp.

A short rally from Wato turned into a full-blown lead after Wato landed a dive. In the ring, Wato continued to make advances, securing a submission and forcing Hiromu into the ropes.

Hiromu reversed a Wato dive into a suplex, resetting the flow of the match. From here, both men traded advantage, but Hiromu led most of the exchanges.

Wato tried for multiple quick pins before locking in a submission in the center of the ring. Hiromu eventually found the ropes and reversed Wato’s attempt to finish with a barrage of heavy offense.

Wato bounced back and landed a German suplex for a convincing nearfall. Hiromu answered with a timebomb attempt, but Wato kicked out. To finish, Hiromu hit timebomb 2 and pinned Wato.

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship: CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii) & Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated The Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley) & Shota Umino

This tension-heavy match opened with Tanahashi and Claudio. Both men wrestled for control, but Claudio whipped Tanashi into the corner. CHAOS fired back, rushing the ring and establishing control over Tanahashi.

Once Tanahashi and Umino came to blows, Okada cemented his seniority. Shota fought back by slamming Okada into a table, buying the rest of BCC the opportunity to tag into the match.

BCC were able to isolate Okada as a unit, forcing Ishii to involve himself in the scuffle. Even with Ishii’s involvement, BCC worked to sequester Okada, eventually causing a hot tag.

The match broke down shortly after the tag, with every man getting in significant offense. Okada broke up a pin following a Moxley curb stomp, but BCC maintained control for some time.

Ishii dropped Moxley with a lariat, opening the match up for a Shota/Okada double tag. Shota and Okada traded moves, but it was clear Okada had his number at virtually every turn.

Claudio hit the ring to interrupt Okada’s advance. He swung Okada for a while before hitting a triple powerbomb with his team.

Umino tried continuing the advance, but Okada answered with a dropkick. This led to another free-for-all. Okada emerged from the fog in the ring with Shota. He planted Shota with a rainmaker to win the rematch and retain his team’s belts.

After the match, Moxley teased Bryan Danielson before a video package played revealing Danielson as a future opponent for Okada. Okada answered by saying the forbidden door would be open, perhaps setting up a match a AEW’s upcoming PPV.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA (c) defeated Yota Tsuji

The opening saw SANADA and Yota struggle for control in a typical wrestling match. SANADA fought back, but Yota was able to use his size to maintain a lead for some time. Yota hit a big spear to send SANADA to the floor, followed by a dive to secure control early.

SANADA interrupted a spear with a knee before locking in a submission to put Yota on the backfoot. When SANADA tried for a moonsault, Yota blocked with his knees, resetting the match.

Yota and SANADA traded strikes in the middle of the ring, with Yota winning out. Yota then locked in a Boston crab, furthering his lead.

Yota missed a moonsault, buying SANADA an opportunity to recover. SANADA then lead a substantial bounce back.

A strike exchange between the pair left Yota ahead once again. Yota hit a curb stomp and a spinning bomb for a nearfall. After nearly winning the match, Yota lifted SANADA to the top rope and hit a Spanish fly for another nearfall.

SANADA tried for finishes twice, but both times Yota avoided them. Yota then hit a leaping headbutt for a nearfall.

SANADA answered Yota’s advance with a moonsault and a shining wizard. SANADA then transitioned into deadfall, which he hit to retain the belt and keep New Japan’s newest challenger at bay.

After the match, SANADA cut a promo. He hyped up Yota and J5G before promising to win the G1 as IWGP champion.

NJPW Dominion live results: Six title matches, AEW interim World title eliminator

Posted on by Chick Fritts

NJPW brings Dominion to Osaka-Jo Hall, with six title matches and an AEW interim World title eliminator match today. 

In the main event, Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP World Heavyweight title against Jay White. White is 3-1 over Okada in career singles bouts, but Okada’s one win came for the IWGP Heavyweight title in Madison Square Garden in 2019. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi will face Hirooki Goto in the AEW interim World title eliminator, with the winner advancing to face Jon Moxley for the interim title at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door on June 26.

SANADA faces Will Ospreay for the vacant IWGP United States title, Tama Tonga defends the NEVER title against Karl Anderson, plus Shingo Takagi defends the KOPW 2022 against Taichi in the night’s other singles title bouts. 

Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles against Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb, and House of Torture defend the NEVER Six-Man titles against Suzuki-gun in the night’s other title matches. 

Toru Yano vs. Doc Gallows, an LIJ vs. Bullet Club trios match, and a Hontai vs. United Empire six-man round out the undercard. 

Our live coverage begins at 1 a.m. Eastern time. 

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Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & TJP (United Empire) defeated Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

This was a pretty nothing match. Whatever. There are worse ways to start a show.

Boxer Jessie Vargas and former wrestler Manabu Nakanishi were here for some reason.

Wato, Tenzan, and Taguchi gained an early advantage by isolating TJP. Once Akira tagged in, UE was able to take control. Taguchi turned things back around with a hip attack and hot-tag to Wato, who had a strong stent of offense against UE.

UE retook the lead by rushing the ring, leading to a near fall after a TJP splash. An interruption to Akira led to a double tag. With help from his partners, Tenzan overwhelmed Henare, landing a brainbuster for a near fall. After the kick-out, Henare fought back in the match, landing a spinebuster for a near fall of his own. Henare then locked Tenzan in a full Nelson, leading to the submission victory. 

Ace Austin, El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori (Bullet Club) defeated BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables de Japon)

This felt like a mid-tour showcase tag.

This match opened with a brawl. Bullet Club won out early, isolating Naito. Instead of taking advantage of their situation, the Bullet Club team hit Naito with some cheesy heel offense, mostly back rakes.

Hiromu tagged in and led a back and forth sequence with Ishimori. A double tag left ELP and BUSHI in the ring for a sequence of their own. After a quick scuffle between teams, ELP hit BUSHI with CR2 to win the match. 

Toru Yano defeated Doc Gallows 

This was an awful match.

Yano tried opening the match by spraying Doc with his disinfectant; instead, Doc beat down Yano and poured the liquid across his face. Doc then led the match to the floor, where he continued his assault.

Back in the ring, Yano dodged a clothesline, sending Doc into an exposed buckle. Yano followed up with a beard yank but was met with a big boot and a choke bomb; Yano kicked out. Doc tried to close, but Yano grabbed the referee, hit Doc with a low blow, and rolled Doc up for a sudden win. 

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi (House of Torture) (c) defeated El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Zack Sabre Jr. (Suzuki-gun)

This was a by-the-numbers HoT match—quite a bit of cheating, a Togo interference, the works. 

This match opened with House of Torture rushing Suzuki-gun before they entered the ring. After a couple of minutes of chaos, HoT emerged with control. HoT used underhanded tactics to stay ahead while keeping Kanemaru away from his partners.

Suzuki-gun rushed the ring to save Kanemaru, helping him secure the figure four leglock on SHO. The match eventually broke down into another brawl. Once things calmed down, Kanemaru hit a SHO with a moonsault, leading to a near fall.

A distraction from Dick Togo let show land a kick with a loaded boot. SHO then dropped Kanemaru with shock arrow, winning the match and retaining the titles. 

IWGP Tag Team Championships: Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (United Empire) defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (c) (Bullet Club)

This was fine. I’m quite excited for Cobb and O-Khan vs. FTR, assuming that’s what we’re getting at Forbidden Door.

Owens and O-Khan opened the match with an intriguing wrestling sequence. Owens gained the lead with some help from Fale, resulting in an extended period of Bullet Club control.

Once Cobb tagged in, he ended the Bullet Club advance, but only after a struggle. Cobb tried suplexing Fale but couldn’t hit the move. Instead, Fale dropped Cobb with a tackle and passed control back to Owens.

Bullet Club maintained their newfound control by double-teaming Cobb. Cobb kicked out of jewel heist just as O-Khan hit the ring to attempt the save. Cobb blocked the follow-up C Trigger and tried for tour of the islands; Chase escaped.

After having a moment to breathe, Chase hit two C Triggers. Fale then hoisted Cobb up for a double team sequence, but O-Khan prevented the finishing rocket launcher elbow drop.

O-Khan met Owens on the top rope, delivering a perfect belly-to-belly suplex. Cobb followed up, hitting Owens with tour of the islands, winning the match and the belt.

After the match, Rocky Romero hit the ring and tried beating down O-Khan and Cobb. O-Khan and Cobb destroyed Rocky before posing on his corpse. 

G1 Climax Announcement

A video package played announcing the lineup for G1 Climax.

The lineup is Kazuchika Okada, Tama Tonga, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tom Lawlor, Jonah, YOSHI-Hashi, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay, Aaron Henare, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, Jay White, EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Juice Robinson, TAICHI, Zack Sabre Jr., Lance Archer, David Finlay, and El Phantasmo 

Interim AEW World Title Eliminator: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hirooki Goto

This was a great, de-limited match that served its purpose while not wasting your time. Good stuff. 

The match opened with a back and forth before spilling to the floor. Once outside, Goto slammed Tanahashi into the barricade, establishing control that carried over back inside of the ropes.

After surviving a bulldog and a period of ground control, Tanahashi began to turn things around. After a bit of a struggle, Tanahashi connected with a dragonscrew, setting up his offensive path for the rest of the match.

Goto stuffed the sling blade, answering with a ushigoroshi. Goto tried for a second ushigoroshi, but Tanahashi reversed, this time landing the sling blade. Goto withstood the pressure, connecting with an elbow strike to bring Tanahashi back to the mat.

Goto tried for the GTR, but, again, Tanahashi answered with a sling blade once escaping. After Goto kicked out, Tanahashi landed a crossbody and a high fly flow to win the match. Tanahashi moves on to face Jon Moxley at Forbidden Door for the Interim AEW Championship. 

NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Title 10 Minute Unlimited Pinfall Scramble Match: Shingo Takagi (c) defeated Taichi

I’m a sucker for cumulative fall matches. They’re such an easy way to pack a match with drama. This was fun.

This match for the KOPW title featured a ten-minute timer and a score counter. Every second you pin your opponent results in a point. The person with the most points at the end of the match wins.

After an opening strike exchange, the men traded quick rollups, leaving Shingo with a one-point lead. Shingo followed up with some groundwork and another pin, advancing to a three-point lead. Shingo continued his control through the match’s first half, running up a five-point lead.

The match slowed down for a moment, allowing Taichi to land a high kick and score two more points. Shingo tried answering with a pumping bomber, but instead, Taichi landed a big suplex, narrowing Shingo’s lead to a single point.

Taichi ripped his pants off, giving Shingo time to slow his lead. Shingo reversed Black Mephisto and backslid Taichi for a three count. With a minute left, Shingo hit a pumping bomber; Taichi kicked out at one, but he was still down a full five points.

With around ten seconds left, Taichi sparked up. After tying Shingo up for a quick three points with a clinch pin, Taichi covered Shingo for an additional point. Just as Taichi was catching up, the clock ran out of time, meaning Shingo retained with a final score of 11-10. 

NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson defeated Tama Tonga (c)

The first 8 seconds of this match were fun; the rest was kind of boring.

Tama started the match with a sudden dropkick before taking the match to the outside. The fight worked its way up the entrance ramp, where a struggle ensued, ending with Anderson being slammed into a barricade. As Tama made his way back in the ring, Anderson caught him with a gun stun into the top rope. Tama then distracted the referee, allowing Doc Gallows to choke slam Tama into the apron.

Anderson maintained his control with strikes and groundwork. Tama eventually hit a crossbody to act as a reset. Once the pair exchanged strikes, Tama landed a lariat, a splash, and a spinebuster.

Anderson took control back with a head kick and a powerbomb in quick succession. Tama didn’t let Anderson get too far, landing a Tangan Twist to reset the match once more.

Anderson tried for a gun stun, but Tama blocked it twice. Tama tried for his own gun stun, but Anderson stuffed it. Anderson landed the Bernard driver, but Tama kicked out. Anderson tried for another gun stun, but, again, Tama blocked it. Tama then landed supreme flow for a near fall of his own.

Anderson distracted the referee again. Doc hit the ring and ate a gun stun from Tama. With Tama distracted, Anderson dropped him with a gun stun of his own, pinned him, and won the NEVER championship for the Bullet Club. 

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay defeated SANADA

This was an action-dense little match for a belt in another building. 

The match opened with a prolonged athletic sequence where neither man could gain a significant upper hand. Ospreay was the first to take control, slowing the match down for some work on the mat. Once standing, SANADA answered with light offense before tying Ospreay in the paradise lock.

Ospreay sent SANADA to the floor, buying a breather before hitting an immaculate dive. Back inside, Ospreay tried for the OsCutter, but SANADA avoided the finisher. After a back and forth, Ospreay landed a high kick before attempting the OsCutter again; this time, it landed.

Once SANADA kicked out of the OsCutter, he reversed Strom Breaker into an offensive sequence of his own. SANADA landed a tiger suplex before trying for a moonsault, but Ospreay blocked the move with his knees. Ospreay hit a pair of hidden blades and a Storm Breaker to win the previously vacant IWGP United States Championship. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White(c) defeated Kazuchika Okada

White’s control segments were very compelling, but something about this match felt off. Regardless, I’m excited to see a White reign, especially with Forbidden Door right around the corner.

The feeling-out process saw Okada gain light control, sending White to the floor. Okada tried for a dive, but a strike from Gedo prevented this from happening. Another Gedo distraction allowed White to drop Okada with a DDT, establishing a lead for the challenger.

After choking Okada with the ring apron, White controlled the match on the mat. Once back to his feet, Okada dropped White with a forearm. White tried to cut off Okada’s bounceback but was met with a boot. A DDT scored Okada a near fall as he began to move towards his signature offense.

White rolled to the floor again. This time, Okada slammed White into the barricade and dropped him with a boot. Gedo then hit Okada, only to get beat down for his troubles. Okada followed up, taking out White and Gedo with a crossbody over the barricade.

Okada tried for a piledriver to the floor, but White blocked the move before driving Okada into the barricade. White then threw Okada into the barricade again, this time with a suplex. Back in the ring, White landed a brainbuster for a near fall.

White continued with uncontested offense for a while. After landing a facebuster, German suplex, and a Saito suplex to the floor, White took the fight back to the floor. White’s offense escalated even more with a uranage, but Okada blocked White’s attempt at a superplex.

Now in position, Okada lept from the top rope, delivering a dropkick to reset the match in his favor. Okada followed up with a top rope elbow drop before trying for the Rainmaker; White reversed into a dragonscrew and TTO. White was back in control. As Okada slipped free from the first hold, White transitioned into the Texas Cloverleaf, all the while eyeing down Hiroshi Tanahashi at ringside.

White tried taunting Okada with a series of slaps. Okada answered with a sudden dropkick before turning to the money clip. To escape the hold, White shoved Okada into the referee. Gedo slid White a chair, but Okada pushed it to the floor and locked the money clip back in. Gedo distracted the referee again, allowing White to escape via a low blow.

Okada maintained his control after a strike exchange, but White blocked the rainmaker attempt with a shot to the ribs. White followed up with a Regal-plex, bloody Sunday, and series of clotheslines, but Okada slipped free from Bladerunner. Okada landed a short-arm clothesline, tombstone, spinning rainmaker, drop kick, and backslide in an electric sequence, but White held on long enough to land Bladerunner before Okada could connect with rainmaker propper. White pinned Okada, winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

After his title win, White celebrated in the ring with the rest of Bullet Club. White then cut a show-closing promo, demanding the crowd to cheer. A lot of people in attendance listened to the new champion, audibly cheering for the first time in a long time. White bragged about selling out MSG and the United Center, insulted Tanahashi, and declared this the Switchblade Era. 

NJPW Dominion live results: Okada vs. Shingo IWGP World title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line tonight at NJPW Dominion in Osaka-Jo Hall. 

Kazuchika Okada will face Shingo Takagi for the title vacated by Will Ospreay last month due to a neck injury. Okada and Shingo have met twice before in singles matches. Okada beat Shingo in the 2020 G1 Climax tournament, while Shingo was the winner in the 2021 New Japan Cup tournament. 

In the semi-main, Kota Ibushi will face Jeff Cobb. These two had a crazy pull-apart at a Road to Dominion event last week in Korakuen Hall. 

El Desperado will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against YOH. This match was scheduled for Wrestling Dontaku last month, but was postponed due to COVID protocols. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & SHO vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo round out the undercard. 

Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time. 

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Hiromu Takahashi opened the show with a promo. He said he’s recovering well from his injury and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship soon. 

He then previewed the card and rallied the crowd. 

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EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (w/Dick Togo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & SHO (11:49)

This was a solid opener that really could have used a few more minutes. 

Tanahashi and Owens began. Owens mocked Tana’s air guitar. Tana hit a second rope crossbody. Ishimori tried to interfere from the apron, but SHO jumped in to even things out. Bullet Club turned this into a brawl around ringside and gained the upper hand. 

YOSHI-HASHI ended up the legal man and cut off in Bullet Club’s corner. YH made a comeback on EVIL, then tagged Ishii. Goto and SHO jumped in for some spots, including a double spear from SHO on ELP and Ishimori. Togo distracted Ishii and EVIL hit a fisherman buster for a near fall. 

SHO and Ishimori tagged in for the closing sequence. Everyone jumped in for a big move. Tana hit Ishimori with slingblade. Ishimori and ELP doubled up on SHO and got a near fall. EVIL took the ref, Togo choked Ishii. Ishimori hit SHO with a Bloody Cross and pinned him. 

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Bullet Club continued attacking after the bell. EVIL, Yujiro and Togo went after Goto, Ishii and YH, so that looks to be a NEVER Six-Man Tag title match for the next tour. 

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Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (11:32)

It looks as though they’re positioning Naito and SANADA as the next challengers for Taichi and Sabre’s IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles. Naito and Taichi began here. Naito shot for a single-leg takedown on the referee. Things turned serious and Sabre and SANADA jumped in. They did a couple of cool four-way spots. 

Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside. DOUKI choked BUSHI with his steel pipe on the floor. DOUKI and BUSHI ended up the legal men. BUSHI was beaten down, then managed a DDT. 

Taichi and Naito tagged back in. Naito hit a neckbreaker and his Tranquilo pose. SANADA tagged in for a double hip toss and a sliding dropkick to Taichi for a two count. Taichi hit an axe bomber, then tagged Sabre. 

Sabre used a cobra twist. SANADA teased a paradise lock, but Sabre blocked and hit a neck twist. Suzuki-gun went 3-on-1 against SANADA. Sabre hit a PK for a two count. Taichi and Sabre teased Zack Mephisto. Naito saved. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Taichi. DOUKI hit a tope to BUSHI. 

Sabre tried to turn a SANADA O’Connor roll into a European clutch. SANADA blocked, then trapped Sabre’s shoulders and pinned him. 

Naito, SANADA, Taichi and Sabre had a long staredown after the match and taunted each other.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated YOH to retain the title (23:40)

This was very good. Both guys are super workers. The psychology was simple work a body part, but sound. 

They opened with some chain wrestling. Neither man got a clear advantage over the other. YOH reversed a whip and hit a dropkick, sending Desperado outside. Desperado pulled YOH to the floor and whipped him into the barricade to take control of the bout. 

Desperado grabbed a bucket from under the ring and threw it inside to distract the referee. Desperado then used a chair on YOH’s left leg. Back in the ring, Desperado continued to target the left leg. Desperado hit a splash to the leg for a near fall. 

YOH hit a sunset flip for a hope spot near fall. Desperado came back with an Indian deathlock, but YOH forced a rope break. YOH tried a suplex, but his leg gave way. YOH hit a series of back elbows and a flying forearm. 

YOH began to target Desperado’s right leg. He used an inverted figure four. Desperado forced a rope break. YOH hit a dropkick to the right leg. Desperado reversed a whip and hit a spinebuster. He went for Numero Dos. He got the hold, but YOH quickly made the ropes. 

Desperado hit a stiff forearm shot, but YOH refused to go down. Desperado hit a back suplex and a vertical suplex for a near fall. YOH escaped a Guitarra de Angel, but sold his leg on landing. They fought to the floor. YOH hit a shotgun dropkick into the barricade. 

YOH hit a plancha and a tope con giro. YOH threw Desperado back in after a countout tease. YOH hit a missile dropkick and a falcon arrow for a two count. Desperado came back with a dragon screw in the corner. 

They traded forearms, then traded kicks to their respective bad legs. YOH hit a flatliner. Desperado hit an Angle slam and Guitarra de Angel for a near fall at the 20 minute call. 

Desperado went for Pinche Loco. YOH blocked with a jumping knee. YOH reversed Numero Dos into a cradle for a two count, then slapped on his Stargazer submission hold. YOH rolled through and blocked one rope break, but Desperado crawled back to the ropes to force the break. 

YOH hit a dragon suplex for a two count. Desperado blocked Direct Drive. YOH blocked a right hand, but Desperado hit a headbutt. YOH blocked Pinche Loco and used a roll-up for two. YOH hit a superkick. Desperado hit a straight right hand. 

Desperado then hit Pinche Loco and got the pin to retain the title.

**********

SHO came to the ring to tend to YOH. El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori ran in. ELP said they’l be challenging SHO and YOH for the Junior Tag titles on the Kizuna Road tour. 

Ishimori then addressed Desperado and said it’s now his time to challenge him for the Junior Heavyweight title. Desperado accepted the challenge. 

***** Intermission *****

Kota Ibushi defeated Jeff Cobb (w/Great-O-Khan) (19:53)

This was a great match. These guys have super chemistry and I’d like to see this again. 

They didn’t touch for nearly the first full minute. After posturing, Ibushi landed a dropkick. Ibushi tried to land some strikes, but Cobb covered up. Cobb used a double-leg takedown and hit some strikes from Ibushi’s guard. 

Ibushi rolled outside, but Cobb went out after him to keep the pressure on. Cobb hit some heavy strikes on the floor. Cobb powered Ibushi up and posted his lower back. Back inside, Cobb hit a headbutt, then went back after Ibushi’s back. 

Ibushi came back with a flying mid kick. Cobb quickly cut him off again and used a variety of strikes. Cobb continued to target Ibushi’s back with knees, then stood on Ibushi’s back. Ibushi hit a kick from his back on the mat, but Cobb stayed on the attack with power strikes. 

Cobb hit a short-arm lariat. Cobb went for a standing moonsault, but Ibushi got his knees up. Both missed a charge into the corner. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault for a two count. Cobb ducked a high kick and hit a back suplex, then landed his own standing moonsault for a near fall. 

Ibushi sent Cobb to the floor. He went for a plancha, but Cobb caught him. Ibushi fought Cobb off and made it back to the apron, then hit an Asai moonsault from the top rope to the floor. Cobb made it back in after a countout tease. 

Ibushi tried for a German off the second rope, but Cobb blocked. They fought on the top rope. Ibushi hit a reverse rana off the top for a two count. Ibushi hit a bomaye for another near fall. 

Ibushi called for the Kamigoye. Cobb blocked and hit a release overhead belly-to-belly for a double down. Cobb hit a running uppercut and a back suplex for a near fall. Cobb powered Ibushi up for an F-5 and a near fall. 

Ibushi escaped Tour of the Islands and hit a high kick. Ibushi hit Kamigoye, but Cobb kicked out at two. Cobb blocked a second Kamigoye. Ibushi blocked Tour of the Islands. Cobb hammered Ibushi with the Cobbgoye, but couldn’t follow up in time. He covered for a near fall. 

Ibushi turned a Tour of the Islands into a lateral press for a two count. Cobb went for a pop-up powerbomb. Ibushi blocked and hit a knee strike on his way down, then hit another Kamigoye for the pin. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the title (36:00)

This was everything you would expect. Shingo especially was incredible in this match. Okada may have been battling his wind a bit in his first singles match back after battling COVID, but he was great as well. Shingo’s selling and facial expressions were on another level throughout the match. 

They opened with some mat wrestling. Both worked hammerlocks on the mat. Shingo missed on a senton attempt. Okada tried a senton, but Shingo got his knees up. Okada sold his back on landing and that became the story of the match. 

They fought on the outside. Shingo got the upper hand and threw Okada back in. Shingo used a body scissors on the mat and continued to go after the back. Okada tried to end it quickly with a tombstone, but Shingo escaped and hit a powerslam. 

Okada made a comeback. He ducked a lariat and hit a running back elbow and a DDT. Okada went for the air raid crash neckbreaker, but Shingo blocked and drove his elbow into Okada’s back. Shingo went to the top rope, but Okada hit a dropkick and sent him crashing to the floor. 

Okada hit a draping DDT off the barricade. Back inside, Okada hit heavy rain and went for the Money Clip. Shingo quickly forced a rope break. Okada hit a slam. He teased a missile dropkick, but Shingo popped up. Okada rolled through and ran into a lariat. 

Okada got the Money Clip again. Shingo elbowed out. Okada tried a backslide, but Shingo turned it into Noshigami. Shingo hit a wheel barrow German into the corner pad. Shingo used a torture rack, then hit two gutbusters. Shingo hit a massive corner clothesline Okada fired up and hit a shotgun dropkick. 

Okada got the Money Clip applied yet again, but Shingo was in the ropes. Okada was forced to break right away. Okada missed a dropkick. Shingo missed a sliding lariat. Okada used the Money Clip to set up a spinning tombstone, then went back to the Money Clip. They did a long submission tease, but Shingo fought to the ropes. 

Shingo rolled outside. Okada fought for a tombstone on the floor, but Shingo blocked by grabbing the barricade. Shingo hit Made in Japan on the floor. Both made it in after a double countout tease. Shingo hit a corner lariat and a stay dream for a close near fall. Shingo hit a series of strikes, then ran off the ropes into an Okada dropkick at the 30 minute call. 

Okada hit a tombstone, then tried a Rainmaker. Shingo ducked and hit his own Rainmaker. They traded strikes from their knees, then standing. Shingo blocked a spinning Rainmaker and hit a DVD. Okada ducked a pumping bomber, then used a backslide to set up two Rainmakers. Shingo blocked another Rainmaker and hit a Rainmaker of his own. 

Shingo hit a pumping bomber for a great near fall at the 35 minute call. They reversed each other’s finishers, then Shingo hit a dragon suplex. Shingo hit a diving forearm strike. 

Shingo hit Last of the Dragon and got the pin to win the title. 

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Shingo cut a promo after the match. He said he lost to Will Ospreay when he challenged for this title, but his heart was still beating. He said that this is only the start of what he has planned. Shingo said we’re still going through a lot, but he’s here to inspire us and bring us energy. 

Shingo called out Ibushi and challenged him. Ibushi accepted. No date was announced for the match. 

Confetti fell on the ring as the show closed. 

NJPW Dominion live results: Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Recommended matches —

  • Shingo Takagi vs. SHO
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi

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Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Gabriel Kidd (9:26)

This was a good opener with solid work from all six guys. 

Kidd and Taguchi opened with a brief chain wrestling battle. Honma and Kojima tagged in. Honma missed a kokeshi. They traded dozens of chops which got the crowd clapping along. Kojima hit a top rope elbow for a near fall. 

Taguchi missed a kokeshi on Honma. Honma hit a kokeshi. Makabe went one-on-two against Taguchi and Kojima. Makabe hit a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Nagata hit an exploder on Makabe. Makabe hit a lariat. 

Kidd and Nagata ended up the legal men. Kidd used a tackle for a one count. Nagata tried a Nagata Lock but Makabe and Honma broke it up. Kidd hit a dropkick on Nagata for a near fall. 

The finish saw Nagata hit a mid kick and an exploder for a near fall, followed up with a Nagata Lock for the submission. 

SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI defeated Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Yota Tsuji (10:16)

Business picked up once Ishii and Hiromu tagged in but the rest of this match was nothing special. 

Yano and SANADA began with some comedy spots. SANADA used a rolling cradle to make Yano dizzy. BUSHI and SANADA then worked over Tsuji. 

The tide turned once Ishii tagged in. Ishii no-sold a missile dropkick from BUSHI. Yano used a slingshot to send SANADA into an exposed buckle. 

Hiromu and Ishii went one-on-one. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex before tagging out. LIJ hit tandem dropkicks on Tsuji. Hiromu went for Time Bomb on Tsuji but Tsuji blocked and used a cradle for a near fall. Tsuji hit a nice dropkick that had Jushin Liger comparing him to Bruiser Brody on commentary. 

Hiromu hit Tsuji with a superkick for a two count. Hiromu then locked on a Boston crab and Tsuji tapped. 

El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Master Wato & Yuya Uemura (9:46)

This was fun. The aim was to continue to establish Wato and to set up his next feud with Kanemaru. 

The good guys employed a Suzuki-gun tactic and attacked before the bell. Tenzan and DOUKI ended up the legal men. Wato jumped in for a dropkick. Kanemaru tripped Tenzan from the floor allowing Suzuki-gun to take over. 

They brawled on the outside where Kaneamru and Wato paired off. Kanemaru hit a stomp on the barricade where he usually hits a leg slice, then DDT’ed Wato on the floor. 

Suzuki-gun continued working on Tenzan in the ring. He managed a tag to Wato who hit a tornillo to the floor and a springboard uppercut forearm. Kanemaru cut Wato off. Desperado tagged in and Wato hit him with a jumping kick before tagging out. 

Uemura hit a beautiful dropkick on Desperado. Wato hit Desperado with a shining wizard and a standing moonsault. Uemura covered but Suzuki-gun broke it up as the match broke down. 

Uemura fought for a double underhook suplex on Desperado. Desperado blocked. Uemura used a victory roll for a near fall. 

The finish saw Desperado pull the referee into the path of a running Uemura. Desperado used the distraction to hit a right hand and Pinche Loco for the pin. 

Suzuki-gun beat down Wato and Tenzan after the match. Kanemaru and Wato looks to be a singles match in the near future. 

Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori defeated Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto (9:43)

This was more of a prolonged angle than a match. 

Okada came out all fired up to get his hands on the guys that cost him the New Japan Cup last night. He also had his neck taped up. 

Yujiro and Ishimori targeted the neck and worked it over for the first several minutes. Okada finally hit a flapjack and managed a tag to Goto. The flapjack was really the only meaningful Okada offense in the entire match.

Okada hit a dropkick to Ishimori and rolled outside. Gedo ran down and assaulted Okada on the outside. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on Yujiro. He went for a GTR but Ishimori saved. 

Ishimori hit a bloody Cross on Goto and Yujiro followed up with Pimp Juice for the pin. 

After the match, Yujiro left Okada laying after a Pimp Juice in the ring. 

I certainly didn’t have Okada vs. Yujiro on my radar this year but here we are. 

**********

We got an intermission while the ring was disinfected. 

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NEVER Openweight Championship match: Shingo Takagi defeated SHO to retain the title (20:08)

This was a great, great match. Shingo’s selling was amazing as the story of the match was SHO working on his right arm. SHO more than held up his end. 

They opened by trading shoulder tackles to establish that they were equal in the power department. SHO briefly got a cross armbreaker before Shingo forced a break. They brawled outside where Shingo established the advantage. 

Back inside, they traded strikes. Shingo blocked one spear but SHO hit a second. SHO hit a German into a bridge for a near fall. SHO attacked Shingo’s right arm. Shingo answered by firing off punches with his left hand and a left arm lariat. The attention to detail here was incredible. 

They traded corner clotheslines. SHO took a back suplex but stumbled to his feet and hit a wheelbarrow German right away. They traded lariats. SHO hit a superkick into a double down at the ten minute mark. 

SHO hit a jumping knee. Shingo hit a clothesline, a sliding lariat and noshigami for a near fall. SHO hit a backstabber and a powerbomb. SHO hit a power breaker. SHO hit a lariat but Shingo kicked out at one. 

SHO hit a deadlift German into a bridge for a two count. He called for Shock Arrow but Shingo hit a backdrop on his way out of the move. SHO hit a seeries of strikes in the ropes. The referee tried to intervene but SHO threw him down. 

Shingo teased Made in Japan but SHO blocked. Shingo hit a double knee gutbuster instead, then hit Made in Japan for a near fall. Shingo hit a pumping bomber but still sold his right arm. SHO kicked out at one. 

Shingo went for Made in Japan again. SHO blocked and got an armbar. SHO gave up the armbar and hit a piledriver for a two count. 

SHO called for Shock Arrow. Instead he first punted Shingo’s right arm again. SHO used an armbar. Shingo got a near fall after turning him over. SHO maintained the hold, then slipped to a triangle choke. The ref dropped Shingo’s arm twice but Shingo powered out and hit a DVD. 

Shingo hit a GTR with SHO draped over the second rope. Shingo then hit  Last of the Dragon for the pin. 

Desperado attacked Shingo in the aisle after the match, so that looks to be the next NEVER title program. 

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Zack Sabre, Jr. & Taichi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi to win the titles (28:44)

I’d be surprised to see a better tag match all year than this one, even with the stacked tag division AEW has. 

Ibushi and Tanahashi attacked before the opening bell and established the early edge. Tanahashi and Ibushi hit stereo planchas. Taichi was out of position on Ibushi’s but had to sell it anyway. 

Tana hit a somersault senton. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault. Ibushi got caught in a flying triangle by Sabre. Ibushi managed a tag to Tanahashi who hit dragon screws on both Sabre and Taichi. 

Sabre cut Tanahashi off with a kick to the back from the apron and Taichi and Sabre spent the next several minutes working Tanahashi over. Tanahashi came back with an inverted dragon screw on Sabre before he tagged out. 

Ibushi hit Sabre with a springboard dropkick. He fought off an interfering Taichi and used a  powerslam and a moonsault on Sabre for a two count. Sabre managed to tag out.

Taichi and Ibushi traded hard kicks at the fifteen minute mark. Tanahashi and Sabre jumped in. Taichi locked Ibushi in a guillotine. Sabre locked Tana in a triangle. Tana reversed into a cloverleaf before Sabre escaped and rolled outside. Tana made the save for Ibushi. 

Tana and Ibushi hit a double slingblade on Sabre. Ibushi hit Taichi with a last ride for a two count. Ibushi hit Taichi with a Kamigoye. He went for a second Kamigoye but Sabre jumped in and took his back with a rear naked choke and body scissors. 

Sabre held Ibushi while Taichi hit a high kick. Taichi hit a last ride. Sabre cut off an interfering Tanahashi but Ibushi kicked out just before the twenty minute mark. 

Taichi ripped his pants off. Taichi blocked a lawn dart attempt by Ibushi. Ibushi hit a high kick and tagged a fired up Tanahashi. Taichi blocked a first slingblade but Tana hit it on the second try. Taichi blocked another slingblade attempt and hit a jumping high kick. 

Sabre tagged in. Tana caught a PK and no-sold some slaps before hitting his own slap. Sabre blocked a slingblade and went for a backslide. Tana blocked and hit twist and shout and a slingblade for a near fall as Taichi broke up the pin. 

Tanahashi hit a High Fly Flow to a standing Sabre. Taichi hit Tana with a high kick. Ibushi hit a high kick to Taichi. Sabre hit Ibushi with a Zack Driver. All four men were down as the 25 minute mark approached. 

Tana went for High Fly Flow. Sabre got his knees up and cradled Tana. Ibushi broke up the pin. Sabre took the ref. Taichi jumped in with the iron glove and hit Ibushi. Tana ducked a shot with the glove but ate a backdrop suplex. 

Taichi held Tana up while Sabre hit four dragon screws to each leg. Tanahashi’s selling here was probably the best selling I’ve ever seen. You felt what he felt inside. 

Taichi then hit a jumping high kick into a Zack Driver by Sabre. Sabre then covered for the pin. 

The beating continued after the match and Ibushi and Tanahashi were left laying in a heap in the center of the ring. Let’s run this back, please. 

**********

We had another cleaning intermission before the main event. 

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We then had a strong video package to set up the main event.

They showed footage of EVIL turning on Naito, then EVIL debuting as Naito’s partner in 2015. They had more footage of them together through the years, then ended the video with EVIL stomping on Naito’s LIJ hat yesterday. 

EVIL entered first for the main event. He changed up his look a little bit. He had his hair down instead of pulled back and some new entrance gear. He had some new music as well. 

He has also ditched the eye makeup. He still wears a singlet on top but has new black and white boots. He wore pleather tights with a skirt over them and knee pads on the outside. This look needs some work. 

EVIL came to the ring with Bullet Club. Naito entered alone. 

Referee Red Shoes Unno ejected Bullet Club before the match.

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IWGP Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Intercontinental Championship double title match: EVIL defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the titles (38:00)

This went way, way, way, way, way too long but was also more of an extended angle than a match that was there to steal the show. 

EVIL tried to stall at the opening bell but Naito would not allow that. Naito went to the outside and brought EVIL back in. EVIL turned the tide on the outside, whipping Naito into the barricade. EVIL exposed a buckle. 

Japanese commentator Milano Collection A.T. has long been an EVIL supporter and has held up one of his light-up souvenir sickles during EVIL’s entrance. EVIL grabbed the sickle and snapped it in half. Milano jumped the rail to confront EVIL and EVIL whipped him into the barricade for great, easy heat. 

EVIL set up a table on the floor. Naito avoided a Darkness Falls into the table. EVIL worked on Naito’s legs, wrenching them over the barricade. Back inside, EVIL sent Naito into the exposed buckle repeatedly. EVIL targeted Naito’s legs again with stomps. 

Naito fired back with some hard overhand chops. Naito sold like his left knee went out after sliding out of a suplex but then hit a one-legged dropkick with his right leg. Naito hit a combinacion in the corner and used a neckbreaker for a two count. Naito used a crucifix hold. EVIL reached the ropes to force a break at the fifteen minute mark. 

EVIL used a hair pull to take Naito down. Naito hit an inverted atomic drop and a back elbow. Naito missed an enzuigiri. EVIL went back to work on the legs, driving them into the mat. 

EVIL teased a back suplex off the apron through the table. Naito blocked and hit a neckbreaker on the apron. Naito teased a piledriver off the apron but EVIL blocked and drove Naito left knee-first through the table at the twenty minute mark. Naito’s back was sliced up from the table. 

EVIL put a chair around Naito’s left leg and threatened to Pillman-ize it. Red Shoes jumped in between them with a piece of the broken table and forced EVIL to back off. For a company that usually makes its refs look weak this was an odd time to reverse that trend. 

They did a countout tease but Naito made it in at 19. EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. Naito stayed in the hold forever. Red Shoes tried to sell this as a near finish and the crowd seemed into it. Naito finally forced a break. 

EVIL hit a lariat for a near fall just past the 25 minute mark. EVIL hit Darkness Falls. Naito kicked out at the last possible second. Naito hit an inverted Destino which I believe he’s calling Esperanza into a double down. 

They traded strikes. EVIL gouged Naito’s eyes. Naito hit a swing DDT and the crowd came alive. Naito hit a rolling bicycle kick and Valentia for a near fall at 30 minutes. Naito sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. 

Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner. Naito hit Destino but EVIL kicked out. Naito rang up the arm and went for a second Destino but EVIL blocked. EVIL hit a knee lift and threw Naito into Red Shoes who took a bump and rolled outside. 

Jado did a walk-in with a kendo stick. Ishimori ran past Jado in the aisle and hit a springboard senton on Naito. Jado finally got in the ring with a kendo stick. Hiromu ran in and made the save. He hit Jado with a superkick and launched Ishimori into the buckle with a release German. 

 EVIL played possum in the corner with a chair. He drilled Naito in the ribs and then hit a chair shot to the head. The chair looked to be gimmicked as the seat popped right off as it hit Naito’s head. 

Naito blocked Everything is EVIL and hit an enzuigiri. Naito hit a top rope tornado DDT for a near fall. Naito hit Valentia. He went for Destino but EVIL grabbed the ref and hit a low blow on Naito. 

A fake BUSHI ran in while EVIL took the ref and choked Naito out with a hand grip. Fake BUSHI took the ref and EVIL stomped Naito low. 

EVIL then hit Everything is EVIL and pinned Naito. 

**********

Fake BUSHI unmasked as Dick Togo and he and EVIL stomped Naito. Hiromu ran in for the save.

Hiromu cut a promo on EVIL. EVIL blew him off and left with Togo. Hiromu had a meltdown in the ring before running to the back as the show ended. 

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I’m all for making a new top guy but I also feel that what makes the IWGP Championship the most prestigious in wrestling is that so few people get to hold it.  

EVIL as IWGP Champion wouldn’t stick out so much if someone like Tomohiro Ishii ,who forces his way into a title match every 18 months or so simply by virtue of his work, had ever held the title. 

This is just the first chapter in the story and I’m willing to see how it plays out. I’m also aware of the challenges the company is facing without access to foreign talent right now. EVIL is very good. But can he rise to the level of his push? We shall see.