Tag: njpw wrestle kingdom 16 live results

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night two live results: Okada vs. Ospreay

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Night two of Wrestle Kingdom 16 will be headlined by an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match.

In the main event, new Champion Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP title against Will Ospreay. Okada defeated Shingo Takagi in the main event of yesterday’s show to win the title. Ospreay vacated the title in May 2021 citing an injury, but never lost the belt in the ring.

In the semi-main, KENTA defends the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi in a no-DQ match. Tanahashi was disqualified in a tag match against KENTA on yesterday’s show.

Here is today’s full lineup:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Will Ospreay
  • No DQ match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: KENTA (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb
  • SANADA vs. Great-O-Khan
  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO (c) vs. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH
  • Provisional KOPW 2022: Toru Yano vs. CIMA vs. Minoru Suzuki vs. Chase Owens
  • STARDOM special: Mayu Iwatani & Starlight Kid vs. Tam Nakano & Saya Kamitani
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero
  • Pre-show match: Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
  • Pre-show match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Master Wato vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & TAKA Michinoku
  • Pre-show match: Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale, Gedo & Jado

Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 2 a.m. Eastern time.

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Yuji Nagata, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe defeated Bad Luck Fale, Jado & Gedo (Bullet Club)

This match opened with a brawl that left Bullet Club in control. Makabe was isolated but eventually tagged in Nagata. Nagata gained control but couldn’t maintain it due to the number advantage exploited by Bullet Club. The same thing played out with Honma, but he managed to turn things around. Honma landed a pair of Kokeshi on Jado, leading to the pinfall.

This was a preshow filler match. There’s not much to say about it.

Master Wato, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated El Desperado, TAKA Michinoku & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Suzuki-Gun)

This match started with a brawl that left Wato and Desperado alone in the ring. Tenzan tagged in, working to single out the junior champion; Suzuki-Gun did not let this happen. The match broke down with a brawl forming on the outside. After the order was restored, Suzuki-Gun was in total control.

Kojima was able to break Suzuki-Gun’s grip on the match with a barrage of chops. A Kojima lariat was stuffed, leading to a double tag that left Desperado and Wato alone again. Desperado had a pin on Wato, but it was broken up Wato had a pin on Desperado, but it was broken up.

Wato rolled from Desperado’s shoulders into a pin. Desperado tried rolling through but was caught in a submission, some kind of hold targeting the neck. Desperado tapped to Wato in short order. Master Wato submitted the IWGP Junior Champion.

This match from the beginning was set up for Wato vs Desperado in singles for the belt; the finish confirms this.

BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi (Los Ingobernables De Japon) defeated DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (Suzuki-Gun)

BUSHI and DOUKI opened the match, but Hiromu and ZSJ tagged in early. ZSJ successfully took Hiromu to the ground before tagging out to DOUKI and DOUKI to Taichi. Hiromu was desperate for a tag, which finally came after a dragonscrew. Shingo was rushed, but he fought off both Tekkers in a strong sequence.

DOUKI sent Shingo to the outside, where all the competitors grouped up. DOUKI landed a big dive to take out everyone, only for Shingo to retake control back inside the ring immediately. Shingo warded off ZSJ, and BUSHI landed a dive on Taichi, leaving DOUKI alone with Shigo and Hiromu. The pair beat down DOUKI before Shingo landed Last of the Dragon and pinning DOUKI for the win.

This was a match for all of last night’s big losers, acting as their first step to regaining traction in their respective divisions. The match itself was nothing special, but its purpose was not to blow anyone away, but to set up the LIJ team for a rebound heading into their inter-promotional bout against Kongoh in a few days.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championships: Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (Flying Tiger) (c) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero (Mega Coaches) & El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori (Bullet Club’s Cutest Tag Team) to retain the titles

ELP dropped TM before the match could start. This allowed the Mega Coaches to take control with a series of hip attacks. Eagles landed a dive to take out both Mega Coaches, but a kick from ELP’s potentially loaded boot gave Bullet Club with the reigns.

Bullet Club kept the lead for a while as ELP used his boot to keep anyone else away. Eagles interrupted a distracted ELP, triggering a sequence of dives.TM, now alone with ELP, landed a Tiger Driver for a near fall. Flying Tiger was in control.

The Mega Coaches hit the ring, landing hip attacks that forced a Bullet Club breakup. Bullet Club cleared the ring. ELP landed a UFO and an impressive splash for a near fall on TM. Eagles made the save, driving ELP’s boot into the face of Ishimori. After Ishimori was flattened, all four of ELP’s opponents cornered him and removed his boot; in it, a piece of metal. After some deliberation, ELP and Ishimori were disqualified, but the match continued with the other teams.

Flying Tiger and Mega Coaches went back and forth, trading quick pins. Eagles locked Rocky in the Ron Miller special and tapped him out. Flying Tiger retains over Bullet Club and Mega Coaches.

Tam Nakano & Saya Kamitani defeated Mayu Iwatani & Starlight Kid

This is a big deal for Stardom and joshi wrestling in general. Queen’s Quest, Cosmic Angles, Stars, and Oedo Tai were represented in this match.

SLK, the Highspeed Champion, opened against white belt holder Kamitani. Despite their tense relationship, SLK and Mayu worked together to gain a quick lead. Tam tagged in and took the lead from Mayu,

Tam and Mayu went back and forth, leading to a double tag. Kamitani was getting the better of SLK, which forced Mayu to make a save. Mayu took out both Kamitani and Tam. SLK landed a dive to the outside to take out both her opponents. A top rope dive followed in the ring, leaving SLK with a near fall. Another near fall came after SLK lept from Mayu’s shoulders on the second rope.

SLK locked Kamitani in a cloverleaf that Tam broke up. Tam followed up by landing a dive that took out Mayu and the Cosmic Angles/Oedo Tai faction mates surrounding the ring. Inside, Kamitani tried for a star crusher, but SLK escaped, initiating a sequence of quick pin attempts. A schoolboy suplex left Kamitani with an additional near fall over SLK.

Mayu landed a thrust kick triggering a four-way sequence. A tiger suplex from Tam allowed Kamitani to land a star crusher and phoenix splash on SLK, leading to the win for her team.

I loved this so much.

KOPW 2022: Minoru Suzuki defeated Toru Yano, Chase Owens, and CIMA

T-Hawk and El Lindaman of STRONGHEARTS accompanied CIMA dressed in GLEAT gear.

The match started with Owens, CIMA, and Suzuki singling out Yano. Then CIMA and Suzuki did the same for Owens. CIMA and Suzuki traded blows before Owens and Yano pulled Suzuki to the outside; this prompted CIMA to hit a dive, taking out all of his opponents.

Yano whipped Suzuki into an exposed buckle, CIMA returned the favour. CIMA then tied Yano up in an Indian deathlock while continuing to fight Owens and Suzuki. After Yano was freed, Owens hit him with a C Trigger. CIMA hit Owens with a Meteora. Suzuki tried choking out CIMA, but Yano involved himself again. Unfortunately for Yano, Suzuki hit him with a Gotch piledriver that led to the finish. Suzuki is the KOPW 2022 champion.

After the match, Suzuki beat down Yano. Yano survived the attack by handcuffing Suzuki to the top rope. Suzuki left the ring with the handcuffs hanging from his wrist.

This was a fun. Everything with CIMA and Suzuki was great, while Owens and Yano effectively played their part.

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships: EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO (HOUSE OF TORTURE) (c) defeated Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH (CHAOS) to retain the titles

This match opened with a brawl. Goto and EVIL started in the ring, but HoT worked to gain an advantage with underhanded tactics. Goto was isolated and beat down. EVIL missed a lariat that finally freed Goto up to tag in YH.

YH took out EVIL and Yujiro to gain some footing for CHAOS. SHO and YOH tagged in, leading to a fun sequence that lasted until EVIL pulled YOH’s feet from under him. All of HoT hit the ring to focus YOH. SHO distracted the referee prompting Dick Togo to choke YOH with a wire. Tomohiro Ishii got Togo off of YOH’s back, allowing YOH to turn his attention to SHO again.

Just as YOH had victory in sight, HoT distracted the referee again, and SHO hit YOH with a wrench and pinned him.
This was a weak match, no way around it.

NOAH Invades Wrestle Kingdom

Keji Mutoh led the NOAH roster to the ring. There was a NOAH show tonight that ran against the kickoff, so this was a surprise. Kaito Kiyomiya cut a short promo before Kenoh took the microphone. Enter LIJ. Kenoh called out Shingo for losing his belt last night, prompting Shingo to take a microphone for himself. Both men bolstered their home promotions.

Shingo counted the sea of NOAH roster members before deciding the numbers were probably too much. After Shingo left, Kenoh declared NOAH would overtake New Japan to become Japan’s number one promotion.

Kiyomiya and Kenoh, two very unlikely allies, shook hands and led the NOAH roster out of the Tokyo Dome.

SANADA defeated Great-O-Khan

The opening grappling ended up on the outside. O-Khan took control which lasted until a dropkick to the knee interrupted O-Khan’s offence. SANADA landed a dive to the outside before attempting to lock O-Khan in the paradise lock. O-Khan escaped, landing a big throw that forced SANADA to the outside. O-Khan set up for a dive but had second thoughts. SANADA effectively dared O-Khan to do so; O-Khan lept, landing an outside dive.

SANADA and O-Khan went back and forth without landing anything substantial. Neither man could gain the upper hand. Eventually, a punch to the jaw of SANADA yielded a near fall for O-Khan. O-Khan landed a nice moonsault only for SANADA to immediately fold O-Khan into an O’Connor roll. SANADA won with the quick pin.

This was a monotonous watch this late into the show.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Jeff Cobb

Cobb started the match by rushing Naito into a corner. Naito fought out of the corner, targeting Cobb’s knee in the process. Things spilt to the outside, and Naito’s focus remained on Cobb’s knee. Regardless of his opponent’s focus, Cobb overpowered Naito on the outside, leading to a vertical suplex to the floor.

After the suplex, Cobb turned his attention to the back of Naito. After throwing him and slamming him into the turnbuckles, Cobb tried for another suplex, but Naito answered with a single leg dropkick; this opened Cobb up for more work to the knee. Naito secured an Indian deathlock that forced Cobb into the ropes. A DDT to a bloody Cobb allowed Naito to continue his offence. Cobb stuffed Destino, but Naito responded quick, landing a dropkick to the knee.

Naito set Cobb up for a top rope frakensteiner, but Cobb reversed, landing a giant powerbomb from the top. Cobb tried for tour of the islands but couldn’t due to Naito’s knee work. Naito locked in another deathlock that forced Cobb to strike his way free. Cobb and Naito traded heavy blows with a lariat from Cobb, leaving him in strong standing, but again, Cobb couldn’t land tour of the islands due to his knee. Naito capitalised, landing Destino and pinning Cobb to close this fantastic match.

This was a focused, powerful match that built on all of Cobb and Naito’s interactions from the tour leading up to Wrestle Kingdom. Good stuff.

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship No DQ: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA (c) to win the title

The match opened with a kendo stick fight. Tanahashi gained the upper hand in exchange, but it was short-lived as KENTA struck Tanahashi with the US belt. KENTA attacked Tanahashi with the ‘Right to Challange Briefcase’, the belt, a trashcan, a chair, a ladder, and a kendo stick. Tanahashi stopped the onslaught with a picture-perfect dropkick that sent KENTA crashing into the can. Tanahashi then took his turn at beating KENTA with every previous weapon and a guitar.

After breaking the guitar of KENTA’s head, Tanahashi grabbed a table. KENTA saved himself from defeat by smashing the briefcase over Tanahashi’s head. KENTA propped Tanashi on the table and climbed to the top rope; Tanahashi rose to meet KENTA, saving the pair from sure disaster. Tanahashi filled the ring with chairs; a sling blade sent both men crashing into the pile.

With KENTA sill laying on the mound of seats, Tanahashi went for high fly flow, but KENTA moved out of the way, sending Tanahashi crashing into the metal. KENTA piled the same chairs onto Tanahashi in the corner before landing a dropkick.

KENTA tried for the GTS, but Tanahashi countered with a swinging neckbreaker into the chairs. Tanahashi set up the table in the ring and hoisted KENTA onto it. KENTA sprung up, meeting Tanahashi on the top rope. What followed was a ridiculous falcon arrow from the top through a table that should’ve killed Tanahashi.

KENTA went to the outside and grabbed another table and a colossal ladder. It took KENTA some time to set up the fifteenish-foot ladder, but that only added to the suspense. KENTA climbed to the top, but Tanahashi pushed down the ladder, sending KENTA face-first into a trash can. Tanashi then propped KENTA on the table and scaled the ladder himself. Tanahashi lept from the top, delivering high fly flow through the table. Tanahashi pinned a blood-drenched KENTA to close this insane match.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship- Kazuchika Okada defeated Will Ospreay to retain the title

Chain wrestling opened the match, but things picked up as Okada gained control. Ospreay ended this early lead by catching Okada on the top rope, converting the opportunity into a DDT and extensive follow-up sequence on the outside. Ospreay’s control ended after an Okada flapjack. Okada took his time while leading, landing more significant moves than Ospreay.

Ospreay escaped from a piledriver attempt and pulled Okada to the ring apron. The pair fought on the apron before a dropkick from Okada sent Ospreay crashing to the floor. Okada attempted a dive over the barricade, but Ospreay caught him with a kick. Osprey then climbed and flipped from a metal truss used for lighting to take out Okada. Ospreay drug Okada to the ring, hit him with a powerbomb, and attempted a pin; Okada kicked out.

Ospreay attempted a Sasuke special, but Okada caught him, turning the move into a piledriver. Back in the ring, a dropkick resulted in a near fall for Okada. Okada tried for the rainmaker; Osprey avoided it. Okada tried for a dropkick; Ospreayturned it into a powerbomb and a near fall. An OsCutter resulted in another near fall. Ospreay landed a piledriver of his own before attempting a rainmaker. Okada’s response? A storm breaker to Ospreay.

Ospreay reversed a rainmaker into a Spanish fly. Ospreay then grabbed the wrist and started laying in lariats before landing a super OsCutter for another near fall. Ospreay tried for a storm breaker; Okada reversed into a piledriver. After a brief sequence of finish attempts and reversals, Okada landed a rainmaker for a two count. Okada followed up by locking in the money clip.

Ospreay escaped the money clip and landed a rainmaker of his own, resulting in a late match reset. After a strike exchange ended with a woozy Ospreay, Okada landed two lariats. Ospreay avoided the rainmaker, landing a hidden blade in response; Okada kicked out again. Ospreay dropped Okada with a headbutt, but Okada responded with a dropkick. Okada hit a landslide followed by a rainmaker to close the main event of Wrestle Kingdom.

This match was what you would expect going in. If you enjoyed their match from last year’s WK, you’d probably enjoy this. Likewise, if you enjoy big match Okada or big match Ospreay, you’d probably enjoy this.

Okada tried to close the show with a promo, but before he could, Tetsuya Naito walked out and challenged him for the belt. Okada entertained the idea, so expect this match in the future. After Naito left, Okada thanked the crowd and wished for Antonio Inoki’s health to improve. With a tear in his eye, Okada claimed he would carry New Japan for the next fifty years to close the show. 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night one live results: Shingo vs. Okada

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16 features an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match, three other title matches, plus the return of Katsuyori Shibata. 

In the main event, Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against G1 Climax winner Kazuchika Okada. The winner goes on to defend the title against Will Ospreay in the main event of tomorrow’s show. 

In the semi-main, El Desperado defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Best of the Super Juniors winner Hiromu Takahashi. The two went to a time limit draw in their most recent meeting in the BOSJ tournament. 

Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against World Tag League winners Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. 

Tomohiro Ishii will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against EVIL from Bullet Club’s House of Torture. 

Katsuyori Shibata returns to action in a match under catch wrestling rules where strikes will not be permitted. Shibata will face a mystery opponent. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon will take on Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan of United Empire in a trios match. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero will face KENTA, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo in another trios battle. 

Former Roppongi 3K teammates SHO and YOH will square off in a grudge match in the main card opener.

A New Japan Ranbo will be held on the pre-show, with the final four competitors advancing to the first KOPW 2022 match on tomorrow’s show. 

Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 2 a.m. Eastern time. 

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KOPW 2022 New Japan Ranbo – Chase Owens, Toru Yano, Minoru Suzuki, and CIMA advance 

Today, the KOPW enters its third year with this Ranbo. This is a rumble style match with an unset number of competitors. Competitors can be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope, pinned, submitted, or disqualified. The final four wrestlers move on to challenge for the KOPW 2022 trophy. 

Aaron Henare and Chase Owens opened the match. Young lions Kosei Fujita and Yuto Nakashima at three and four. Owens and Henare gained the upper hand on the young lions just in time for Ryohei Oiwa to make the save at number five. Owens and Henare maintained control even with the numbers disadvantage. 

Master Wato entered the match and immediately took control, but things slowed down in time for Hiroyoshi Tenzan to enter at number seven. The match remained uneventful as Minoru Suzuki made his way to the ring. Suzuki immediately tapped out all three young lions. Satoshi Kojima hit the ring in time to help Tenzan stop the Suzuki threat. Likewise, Taka Michinoku aided Suzuki in fighting off Tenzan and Kojima. 

CIMA entered at number eleven, repping GLEAT and STRONGHEARTS. Awesome. He immediately eliminated Taka after hitting the ring. CIMA also eliminated Wato after Tomoaki Honma entered at twelve. We had DOUKI at thirteen, Yuji Nagata at fourteen, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at fifteen before a pile on pin eliminated Tenzan and Kojima. 

Enter Togi Makabe and Bad Luck Fale. Fale cleared the ring of DOUKI, Kanemaru, Nagata and Honma, eliminating. Six-time IWGP Champion Tatsumi Fujinami entered next. Makabe eliminated Fale just as former KOPW holder Toru Yano entered the match at nineteen, the last entrant. Yano eliminated Henare, Fujinami, and Makabe almost immediately, leaving the final four of Chase Owens, Toru Yano, Minoru Suzuki, and CIMA to advance to the finals.

This was a silly ranbo. Seeing CIMA made this worth watching for me personally, but it’s not like this was anything more than a goofy match with some fun moments. 

YOH defeated SHO

The match opened with YOH hitting a quick tope con hilo. YOH tried driving SHO on the ramp, but SHO used a member of the ring crew to stop YOH’s early momentum. SHO then slammed YOH onto the entrance ramp before slamming the ring crewman into YOH. SHO was in control. 

A dragon screw from YOH opened an opportunity. YOH struck down SHO before stomping in his face. What followed was an extended back and forth exchange that ended with a spear from SHO. SHO led the match for some time, scoring a near fall with a powerbomb/piledriver combination. 

YOH captured the leg again, scoring a visible submission on SHO, but Dick Togo distracted the referee. This bought SHO enough time to retake the match, locking in snakebite; YOH barely survived the hold. SHO grabbed a wrench as Togo distracted the referee. YOH ducked the wrench attack, sending SHO into Togo. YOH then folded SHO into a pin for a sudden into this opening match. 

SHO tried hitting YOH with the wrench again after the match, but YOH landed a pump kick to stand tall.

This was not at all what I expected. It certainly didn’t feel like a Wrestle Kingdom match between two tag partners who are supposed to hate each other. 

KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (Bullet Club) defeated Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiroshi Tanahashi 

Rocky and ELP opened the match with a typical sequence. A similar, but more hip focused, sequence played out after Taguchi and Ishimori tagged in. Inside the ring, ELP and Ishimori took control over Taguchi as KENTA attacked Tanahashi with a chair on the outside. 

Taguchi finally escaped isolation to tag Tanahashi into the match. Tanahashi overwhelmed Bullet Club, gaining quick control. A referee bump allowed Bullet Club to steal momentum back. KENTA brutalized Tanahashi with a cane before Taguchi and Rocky made the save allowing Tanahashi to land a few cane strikes of his own. The referee caught Tanahashi and disqualified him. 

I like this Tanahashi, but at Wrestle Kingdom? I guess this sets up for tomorrow’s US title match, but we’re coming off of a week of “road to” shows, so I really don’t get it. 

Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (United Empire) defeated SANADA, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables De Japon) 

This match opened with a brawl that left Cobb and Naito alone in the ring. Cobb got the best of Naito in their opening interaction, a lead the O-Khan continued. Naito finally gained some ground with help from BUSHI and SANADA.

SANADA and O-Khan tagged in. SANADA locked O-Khan into the paradise lock before O-Khan tried for a couple of quick pins. SANADA tagged out after landing a dropkick, prompting Ospreay to tag in for the first time. Before Ospreay could hit Strom Breaker, Naito made the save. Naito then attempted Destino on Cobb, but Cobb revered. The ring was cleared after a sequence of attempted finishers allowing Ospreay to hit BUSHI with Hidden Blade, leading to the pin. 

This was a fine showcase tag with nothing standout (other than Ospreay’s participation) compared to the previous LIJ vs UE matches from this tour.

Katsuyori Shibata defeated Ren Narita 

Ren Narita was revealed as Shibata’s opponent. Not quite the surprise a lot of people expected, but I’m not complaining about it. This is easily the biggest match in Narita’s early career. 

Before the match, Shibata grabbed a microphone, making this a normal match. Striking is allowed. 

The match opened with a beautiful grappling sequence. Before standing up, Shibata took full mount, as did Narita. After some light striking, the grappling continued as Shibata secured a figure four leglock. 
Shibata worked Narita into a corner, landing heavy blows; Narita returned the favor before a takedown left Shibata in a favorable position once more. A corner dropkick and suplex led the match to the ground again. On the mat, Narita took control, locking in a cloverleaf. After Shibata found the ropes, Narita secured a leglock. 

Shibata regained a standing position, but his leg was hurting. Regardless, a kick to Narita sent him to the outside. Back in the ring, Shibata stretched, slapped, and kicked Narita. Narita fired up, landing multiple leg kicks, but Shibata resisted. Shibata choked Narita, leading to the PK and a pin. 

This was a tremendous grappling focused match with dynamic segments of striking and excellent pacing—what a return for Shibata. 

NJPW is returning to AXS

A brief video announced New Japan will be returning to AXS TV on January 20th.

NEVER Openweight Championship: EVIL defeated Tomohiro Ishii (c) to win the title

This match opened with EVIL and Ishii fighting with chairs on the outside. Interference from Dick Togo allowed EVIL to win the chair war, leaving EVIL with a significant lead. Ishii eventually sparked up, landing some blows and suplexes, but a referee bump and Togo chair shot left EVIL back in control. 

A superplex from Ishii seemed to turn things in his favor, but again Togo interfered. Ishii accidentally hit the ref with a lariat, prompting Togo to choke him with a wire. Yujiro Takahashi hit the ring, helping Togo beat down Ishii. Ishii managed to survive the onslaught, only for SHO to hit the ring as well. YOH ran out to save Ishii just as a second referee joined the match. 

Ishii rallied, landing an enzuigiri. Togo attempted to use the NEVER belt, but YOH held him off. Regardless of YOH’s efforts, the referee was distracted. Yujiro hit a low blow, EVIL hit Ishii with the NEVER belt and Everything is Evil. Evil then pinned Ishii to win the NEVER Openweight Championship. 

This was a House of Torture match, not an Ishii match (and a bad one at that). 

IWGP Tag Team Championships: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS) defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (Dangerous Tekkers) (c) to win the titles

Miho Abe returned to Taichi’s side tonight—how sweet.

Goto and YH took early advantage, but the Tekkers took control as the match spilt to the outside. Back in the ring, ZSJ kept the lead, working over YH on the mat. YH eventually secured the hot-tag, allowing Goto to attempt an offensive sequence; ZSJ used grappling to hold off long enough for Taichi and YH to initiate a match reset. 

ZSJ and Taichi stretched Goto and YH at the same time. Taichi ripped off his pants after the team isolated Goto; this bought YH enough time to grab Taichi, making the match a one-on-one affair once more. Goto secured the tag, prompting a YH/Taichi striking battle. Taichi managed to win out, but YH’s persistence allowed him to fight through. A powerful lariat left YH with a near fall. The CHAOS team hit a double drop, but ZSJ made the save. 

Taichi fought free and nearly stole a win with the Gedo clutch. Taichi tried for Black Mephisto, but YH turned it into a destroyer. Goto hit Taichi with a GTR, setting up the CHAOS pair for a Naraku, leading to the pin. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto are IWGP Tag Champions. 

After the match, YH offered Taichi a handshake; Taichi slapped away the hand and gave him something resembling a hug. 

I enjoyed this. YH winning gold will always be special. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the title

A forearm exchange opened this match; this turned to slapping moments later. Things picked up as both men took turns knocking each other down. Desperado landed a tope con hilo only for Hiromu to respond with a sunset flip bomb to the floor; this was a reset in effect, bringing the first sequence to a close. 

Hiromu landed multiple heavy strikes, forcing Desperado into the corner. Desperado fought free, landing a spinebuster to take match control. Desperado climbed to the top, landing a splash, à la Jun Kasai, that yielded a near fall. Hiromu fought back, landing a powerbomb and a suplex into the corner to stay competitive. A dynamite plunger left Hiromu with a near fall. 

The two went back and forth again, trying to land anything substantial; this struggle worked its way to the mat where Desperado locked in a hold on the leg. Hiromu fought back to a standing position and landed a lariat to reset the match. 

Hiromu landed Victory Royal to score a near fall, and Desperado connected with a back to belly driver for a near fall of his own. A punch from Desperado flattened Hiromu, but Hiromu avoided the impending finish. Hiromu landed his own closed fist strike that dropped Desperado, and Desperado landed another. Desperado landed two Pinche Locos and pinned Hiromu to close this match. 

This was quite good. 

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

The opening chain wrestling lasted for a while. A lariat from Shingo led the match to the outside. Shingo landed a suplex to the floor after surviving an Okada DDT. Back in the ring, Shingo maintained control. 

Okada finally landed a tackle to reset the match. A flapjack left Okada in the driver’s seat. Okada knocked Shingo from the top rope to the floor with a dropkick, taking the action back outside. Okada slammed Shingo into the barricade before leaping it to deliver a splash. Between the ropes, Okada locked in the money clip. Shingo rallied, landing a DDT of his own. Shingo attempted a sliding lariat, but Okada caught him with the money clip again. Okada hit a tombstone piledriver and tied Shingo up with the money clip once more. 

Okada tried for the rainmaker, but Shingo leveled him with a lariat of his own. Shingo hit the rainmaker pose; this infuriated Okada. Okada went off on Shingo, but Shingo did not back down. Shingo withstood the storm, landing a lariat to end the sequence that Okada started. 

Things worked back outside the ring where Okada tried dropping Shingo on the ramp; instead, Shingo tossed Okada on the ramp from a fireman’s carry. Okada beat the ring-out count at 19. Shingo hoisted Okada to the top and hit a superplex that forced the crowd to break the clapping rule. A sliding lariat left Shingo with a near fall. 

Shingo attempted Made in Japan; Okada slipped free, landing a dropkick. Okada then landed two short-arm lariats and tried for a third. Shingo landed Made in Japan twice; Okada kicked out. Shingo landed a pumping bomber; Okada kicked out. Shingo tried for last of the dragon, but again, Okada slipped free. Okada landed a rainmaker but couldn’t reach Shingo for the pin. 

Both men traded strikes, and Shingo won out. Shingo tried for last of the dragon again, but Okada slipped free and tried for the money clip. Shingo fought free and hoisted Okada to the top rope in a fireman’s carry. Okada reversed, landing a DDT from the top. Okada landed a German but Shingo ducked the rainmaker. Shingo connected with a lariat that flattened Okada. Shingo tried for last of the dragon again, but Okada slipped free.

Okada landed a dropkick that Shingo sprung up from. Okada pulled Shingo in, landed the rainmaker, and pinned him to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. 

After the match, Okada did not take the new belt; instead, he bowed to the old IWGP Heavyweight championship. After paying his respect to the Heavyweight championship, the referee placed the new belt around his waist.

Will Ospreay hit the ring and cut a promo on Okada following the match, calling him the interim champion and insulting his attire. Osprey said he would win tomorrow, making it possible for Okada to leave to pursue a career in acting. Okada responded by calling Ospreay a fake champion. 

Okada closed the show with a promo, praising Shingo and the heavyweight championship of old. He claimed NJPW was the best promotion in the world and made some comments referring to COVID. 

This match took a while to get going, but once it did, it’s precisely what you would expect: prolonged sequences, convincing near falls, and ramping intensity.