For the first time in this year’s G1 Climax, the B Block takes us to Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
Report —
Gabriel Kidd defeated Yuya Uemura
The match began with a brief scramble which Kidd came out on top of. Kidd took to targeting the arm of Uemura in his early groundwork and continued to do it throughout the match.
After multiple Uemura transitions, Kidd would ultimately return his attention to the arm. After a test of strength and a show of athletics favoring Kidd, Uemura secured a takedown and began working a headlock. Only after an extended period under the control of Uemura would Kidd break free with a rope break and a dramatic dropkick.
Kidd and Uemura then traded advantage, first with Kidd laying boots into a cornered Uemura followed by Uemura doing the same to Kidd. Uemura tried to further his lead with a return to the headlock but Kidd landed a slam effectively resetting the match.
After an exchange of strikes, Uemura took the match back to the mat and locked in the Boston crab. A submission soon followed, leaving Uemura the victor.
Crisp work from both men but especially Uemura.
G1 Climax B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated SANADA
SANADA and YOSHI-HASHI started the match with a brief in-ring struggle that spilled to the outside. YH gained an early advantage in the outside brawl but after SANADA drove YH into the barricade, the match became all SANADA. After barely beating the referee’s count YH was brought to the mat. He stayed there for some time under the control of SANADA.
After a neckbreaker, YH was in the driver seat. This was followed by a short offensive streak that was cut short by a SANADA dropkick. Likewise, SANADA’s offense was short-lived, as it was cut short by a YH lariat.
YH landed a powerbomb before attempting a Swanton. SANADA’s knees found YH’s back during his descent. SANADA took advantage of his damaged adversary by locking in the Skull End. After YH had seemingly faded from consciousness, SANADA ascended to the top rope and tried for a moonsault but found himself in the knees of YH.
With both men on equal footing, it was a struggle to find a finish. SANDA teased a second try for Skull End but instead was nearly rolled up by YH.
YH landed a double knee and secured a near fall. YH then landed Kharma and pinned SANADA in what must be considered an upset.
This match was nothing to write home about. Its shining moments featured YH’s determination to hold on, he truly is a gem.
G1 Climax B Block: KENTA defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
KENTA lured Sabre to the ground by giving up his guard in the opening moments. Sabre unsurprisingly came out on top, triggering KENTA stalling. Sabre returned KENTA’s favor this time, but instead of engaging in grappling, KENTA took to striking his prone opponent. KENTA kicked Sabre inside the ring and out before Sabre caught a kick and nearly submitted KENTA.
Sabre then took time to kick at a downed KENTA, an action that KENTA mimicked after withstanding the storm. Sabre and KENTA traded blows for a while, with noting feeling meaningful. KENTA eventually landed a flying forearm and a fisherman buster before returning to the mat. More striking followed their rise
A KENTA lariat left him in control long enough to land a hangman’s DDT which he followed with a pair of dropkicks. KENTA rose to the top rope and landed a double foot stomp and a near fall. A running knee resulted in another two count.
Sabre resisted as KENTA tried for the GTS. KENTA dropped Sabre with a chop but was caught by Sabre as he attempted to follow up. A ground struggle favoring Sabre followed. Sabre tried for a quick pin and some strikes but a surprise knee from KENA led into the GTS which Sabre did not kick out from.
This match’s luster was outweighed so much by its pacing that it’s hard to forgive. It was slow. Both men’s striking and groundwork felt like filler instead of a logical progression to a finish. When the finish finally came there was no feeling, no emotion, just a change in standings.
G1 Climax B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Juice Robinson
Tanahashi and Robinson had a feeling out that did nothing more than to reassure viewers of both men’s charisma. Robinson gained a leg up early as he landed a backdrop which he followed with a full nelson. Tanahashi fought out but Robinson reasserted his lead with a headbutt to the upper back of Tanahashi. It took a quick dropkick for Tanahashi to start playing catchup.
Enter Tanahashi dragon screws. After two leg whips, Tanahashi tried for the cloverleaf but an aware Robinson rolled Tanahashi up, nearly pinning him. Robinson then hit the stunned Tanahashi with a spine buster and a flurry of strikes. Robinson tried for a standing suplex but left himself open for another dragon screw, this time of the neck variety. Robinson did not let this set him back for long as he regained the full nelson and landed a lariat mere moments later. Robinson set up in the corner and landed the cannonball.
Tanahashi was positioned on the top rope where a struggle ensued. Robinson held on to his lead, landing a super-standing suplex followed immediately by a mat-bound standing suplex. Down come the straps of Robinson’s tank top just in time for a Tanahashi sling blade. After a second sling blade, Tanahashi tried for a pin. After Robinson kicked out, Tanahashi tried for a crossbody but found himself being pinned after Robinson rolled through it.
A strong strike from Robinson nearly left him the victor but Tanahashi’s limp body forced him to lean in too far. Instead of Robinson following up, Tanahashi rolled Robinson up and commandeered his first block victory.
A very fun watch with tons of energy. A perfect collision of character that left everything else on the card feeling gray by comparison.
G1 Climax B Block: Toru Yano defeated EVIL
Yano’s antics started as soon as the bell sounded. The turnbuckle padding was immediately removed from every corner and subsequently used as a weapon by EVIL. Dick Togo tried to interfere on behalf of EVIL but was taped to the barricade as soon as Yano was given the chance. Yano tried to do the same to EVIL but was forced to re-enter the ring as the 20 count inched near.
EVIL landed multiple Irish whips into the exposed buckle after returning to the ring. Yano returned the favor. Before Yano could follow up, Togo revealed he was free from Yano’s trap. Togo extended the turnbuckle padding just in time to save the back of EVIL. EVIL was then aided as Togo distracted the referee long enough for an EVIL eye rake and a low blow. Yano was seemingly unbothered and landed a low blow of his own.
Togo hit a low blow on Yano but Yano immediately returned the favor. Yano again hit EVIL in the nether regions before rolling him up for the win.
A Yano match bell to bell — after all, what else could it be? Yano’s continual B Block dominance is an interesting road to a horizonal cliff.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Tetsuya Naito defeated Hirooki Goto
Goto took to a headlock as soon as the bell sounded. After fighting free, Naito turned his attention to the taped shoulder of Goto, whipping it downwards. Goto retreated to the outside where he fell victim to Naito’s malice. After being whipped shoulder first into the barricade Goto was choked against the blue steel.
Once the contents returned to the ring, Naito continued to target the shoulder. A neckbreaker with a slight tilt left Goto to crash against the same shoulder. Naito strikes seemed to hit Goto’s shoulder without fail. At every turn, Naito had one target in mind.
After ducking an elbow, Goto landed a backdrop to reset the match. He took advantage with a bulldog but soon after was again on the receiving end of Naito’s targeting. Goto’s resistance was proving to be futile as Naito went after that elbow.
Naito drove Goto back-first into the corner before ascending to the top rope. Goto was able to stun Naito during his ascent, leading to a top rope standing suplex that reset the match in his favor.
Goto took to the skies with a plancha before landing an elbow drop on Naito. Goto’s offense was not enough however as a well-placed kick from a dazed Naito left Goto reeling.
Naito was able to regain control with a simple strike and further his lead with a barrage of elbows to the shoulder. Naito moved his attention further up as his strikes were soon finding the side of Goto’s head. A top rope frankensteiner cemented Naito’s change in target.
Naito had victory in his sight when he tried for Destino. Goto was able to catch Naito in the middle of his finish and prevent doom. Goto had a brief offensive stint before lifting Naito into the fireman’s carry. Naito fell from the carry driving Goto into the mat at the same time.
A last-ditch strike exchange left both men winded. Naito tried for a slam of sorts but instead was reversed into a ushigoroshi. Goto slowly lifted Naito to his feet and was hit with a surprise Destino. During Naito’s attempt for another Goto reversed, driving Naito to the mat.
A well-placed kick found the chest of Naito. Naito was lifted back to his feet but he reversed Goto with Valentia. Naito then landed another Destino and pinned Goto for the win.
A very good match. Goto was excellent playing from underneath. Likewise, Naito being anything short of commanding would have been out of place. The execution was fantastic as well. This without question was the best match of the night.
This was the second straight night in Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center in Sapporo.
**********
Yota Tsuji defeated Yuya Uemura (8:13)
This was solid but these guys have had much better matches.
They started off with some mat wrestling. Uemura went after Tsuji’s left leg with an ankle pick and a toe hold. Tsuji came back with some forearm strikes and worked a kravate.
Tsuji landed some more forearms and a chop. Uemura hit a running forearm strike and a dropkick. Uemura went for a crab but had to settle for a heel hook. Tsuji forced a rope break.
Tsuji hit a unique running powerslam for a two count. He got a Boston crab applied and Uemura tapped.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated SANADA (11:03)
They didn’t get a lot of time for two guys who are pushed at their level, but they did well with the time they had.
They brawled outside at the outset. SANADA teased a moonsault press off the apron but Goto stepped out of the way. Goto went for a lariat but SANADA dodged it and Goto hit the post with his right arm.
SANADA went after the right arm with strikes. Goto avoided a standing moonsault but SANADA hit a dropkick for a two count.
SANADA missed a charge into the corner. Goto hit a back suplex for a near fall. Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner and used a running bulldog for a two count. Goto teased an ushigoroshi but SANADA slid out. SANADA hit his leapfrog dropkick and a follow-up plancha.
A series of counters and teases ended with SANADA getting Skull End applied. Goto reached the ropes to force a break. Goto hit a lariat but sold the earlier damage to his right arm. They traded finisher teases but neither could hit a big move.
They traded a series of cradles for near falls. SANADA hit an ushigoroshi and a snap slingshot suplex. SANADA missed a moonsault and they did a double down.
SANADA used a moonsault press to set up Skull End. Goto escaped and hit an elevated GTR for a two count.
Goto hit the GTW and a mid kick. He followed up with a GTR and got the pin.
Yano now has wins over both Tanahashi and Okada in the last 30 days. Wrestler of the year?
Yano tried to bait Tanahashi into chasing him outside but Tana refused. They traded a couple of holds before Yano went for a corner pad. Tana also went for a corner pad but decided not to break the rules.
They did some comedy with Yano’s corner pad. Tanahashi played air guitar with the pad. Tana hit a dragon screw. They rolled outside where Yano sent Tanahashi into the barricade. They fought all the way to the entrance. Yano used an eye rake and made poor Tanahashi run all the way back to the ring to beat the count. Yano used a quick cradle for a two count.
Tanahashi hit a somersault senton for a two count before using another dragon screw. Tanahashi missed a pescado. Yano grabbed a roll of tape and threatened to tape Tanahashi to the barricade. Instead, Tanahashi used the tape to blindfold Yano. Yano beat the count back in.
Still blindfolded, Yano pulled the ref in the path of a flying forearm. Tanahashi pulled up at the last second and avoided the ref. Yano hit a low blow and rolled Tanahashi up for the victory.
***** Intermission *****
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Juice Robinson defeated KENTA (17:01)
This started very slowly. It picked up once they got to the closing sequences but they could have cut five minutes and had a better match.
KENTA began with his trademark stalling.
I get that the Bullet Club guys are working for the people in the building and not everyone watching every show on the tour at home, but having KENTA, Jay White and EVIL all start their matches with a ton of stalling wears on you.
Juice hit a kick and used a headlock takeover as they continued the slow start. Juice went for a series of jabs but KENTA rolled outside and took a walk after the first strike.
KENTA caught Juice coming back in and hit a knee drop off the second rope to take the early advantage. KENTA used a chinlock, hit a kick, then used a different chinlock. He then repeated the same sequence.
Juice tried a Juice Box but KENTA raked his face to escape. KENTA hit a powerslam and a diving clothesline off the top for a two count. Juice made a comeback with corner clotheslines and a cannonball.
KENTA blocked a superplex with headbutts and hit a missile dropkick. KENTA followed with a yakuza kick and a stalling Shibata dropkick. KENTA hit a top rope double stomp for a near fall.
Juice avoided a busaiku knee and hit a slam. They traded strikes. Juice hit the Juice Box for a two count. KENTA blocked Pulp Friction and laid in some stiff strikes.
KENTA went for a GTS but stumbled. Juice avoided two more GTS attempts and hit a Left Hand of God. Juice then hit Pulp Friction and covered for the win.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI (17:21)
These guys injected some life into the show. This was an excellent match with awesome near falls.
EVIL brought a chair into the ring. He went to hit YH with it as YH entered but YH hit EVIL and Goto with his staff. YH controlled the open with a series of strikes.
EVIL used interference from Dick Togo to gain the upper hand. Togo tripped YH and whipped him into the barricade while EVIL took the ref.
EVIL went to work and sent YH into an exposed buckle. YH came back with a headhunter. EVIL cut him off again and used a superplex. EVIL used the exposed buckle two more times before hitting Darkness Falls for a two count.
YH avoided Everything is EVIL and sent EVIL into the exposed buckle twice. YH hit a hook kick and avoided a misdirection lariat. YH hit a brainbuster for a two count.
YH used the butterfly lock. Togo jumped on the apron and YH gave up the hold. YH sent EVIL into Togo and hit a backstabber.
YH went back to the butterfly lock. They were going to stay in this hold until they got the crowd. They finally did. YH transitioned to a kimura but YH reached the ropes.
EVIL tried to bump the ref and hit a low blow. The ref didn’t go down and YH blocked the blow. EVIL then hit a lariat into a double down at the 15 minute call.
YH hit a dragon suplex and a meteora for a two count. He followed with a swanton bomb for another close near fall.
EVIL took the ref while Togo choked YH out. YH fought off the ligature and knocked Togo down. YH hit a hook kick and a lariat for a near fall.
EVIL blocked Kharma, hit a low blow, then connected with Everything is EVIL for the tainted victory.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Tetsuya Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (28:29)
This was a war of attrition. They completely worked Sabre’s style and that usually works given that no one else works like Sabre on these shows.
They began with five minutes of very nice mat work. Sabre used a series of three cradles for near falls
Sabre twice sent Naito outside after tripping him. Sabre continued with his ground work. Naito came back with his signature low dropkick before using a crucifix hold. Sabre rolled to the ropes for a break.
Naito used a kravate. Sabre slid out and spiked Naito on top of his head with a tornado DDT. At the 15 minute call, Sabre used a hurricanrana to set up a triangle choke. Naito forced a rope break.
They had their first real striking battle of the match. Naito used a trip takedown to pull Sabre to the apron. Naito hit a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor. Back in, Naito hit a series of back elbow strikes.
Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner just past the 20 minute call. Sabre popped up and hit a series of uppercuts. Naito used a swing DDT for a two count. Naito tied up Sabre with a Pluma Blanca but Sabre forced a break.
Naito went for Gloria but Sabre blocked. Naito tried a flying forearm but Sabre caught him flying in and used an octopus hold. Sabre kept the hold applied as they fell to the mat. Naito fought the hold for a long time before rolling to the ropes.
They traded finisher teases around the 25 minute call. Naito hit a Destino. He went for a second but Sabre turned it into a Zack Driver. Neither guy went for a pin.
Sabre used a guillotine to set up a European clutch and a rolling Japanese leg hold for a pair of near falls.
Sabre went for a Zack Driver. Naito countered into Destino for a near fall at 28 minutes.
They started with a very solid grappling battle. There was some MMA influence in the grappling. There was some lucha influence. It was awesome.
Things broke down into a striking battle. Tsuji got the upper hand at first and hit a splash for a two count. Kidd fired back and gained the upper hand with some stiff strikes.
Tsuji hit a backdrop out of a powerbomb attempt from Kidd. They traded strikes. Kidd hit a picture-perfect dropkick and locked in a single-leg crab. Tsuji forced a rope break.
Tsuji hit a brainbuster. Kidd came back with two quick cradles for a pair of near falls. Tsuji fired up and hit a spear and a powerslam for a near fall.
Tsuji locked on a Boston crab. Kidd fought the hold but eventually tapped out in the center of the ring.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Juice Robinson defeated YOSHI-HASHI (15:57)
We still haven’t seen a bad match in this tournament as these two had a really good one.
Juice has a new Blues Brothers look, new hair, new gear. It works for him.
Juice got the crowd into it right away and they were with him for the whole match, it was some of the best crowd work by anyone in a really long time.
This was all Juice for the first several minutes. He went after YH’s bad knee which caused him to miss some shows this summer. YH fried back but got cut off again. Juice hit a cannonball in the corner for a two count.
Juice teased a superplex. YH hit a running powerbomb out of the corner for a two count. YH hit a lariat for a two count. YH used a butterfly lock but Juice forced a break.
Juice hit a Juice Box for a near fall. YH used a cradle for a quick near fall before Juice hit two left hands of God and a Pulp Friction for the pin.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Toru Yano defeated SANADA by countout (6:16)
Yano comedy matches are a nice change of pace in G1. Not every match can have super intensity.
The ref took two rolls of tape out of Yano’s knee pads before the match started.
There were the usual Yano shenanigans with turnbuckle pads and such. SANADA used a rolling cradle for a near fall.
Yano grabbed a chair and sat in the aisle. SANADA refused to go out after him. They dueled with turnbuckle pads. SANADA missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. Yano rolled him up for a two count before hitting a slingshot into an exposed buckle.
SANADA sent Yano into an exposed buckle and cradled him for a two count. SANADA hit a plancha. SANADA put Yano in the paradise lock in the aisle. Uemura freed Yano.
SANADA tried to put Uemura in the paradise lock. Yano taped SANADA and Uemura together and beat the count back in for the win.
***** Intermission ****
G1 Climax 30 B Block: KENTA defeated Hirooki Goto (17:15)
Very good match. Much more of a storytelling match with an emphasis on selling than a collection of flashy moves.
KENTA stalled early, then tricked Goto into chasing him outside. KENTA took over and tried to get the crowd to boo, but booing is not allowed.
Goto tried to come back with a back suplex but KENTA cut him right back off. KENTA hit a series of short kicks, taunting Goto. Goto lost his temper and KENTA slapped in a triangle before transitioning to a Game OVer attempt before Goto reached the ropes to force a break.
Goto hit a back suplex for a two count. KENTA connected with a high kick and double stomp off the top rope for a near fall.
KENTA hit a busaiku knee for a two count. He used a throat slash gesture before trying a G2S. Goto blocked and hit an ushigoroshi.
Goto used Shoryu Kekkai but KENTA forced a break. Goto used an ushigoroshi position to st up a GTR attempt but KENTA blocked.
KENTA got Game Over applied. Goto fought for the ropes but KENTA managed to roll through and keep the hold applied. Goto tapped.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (14:54)
The finish was excellent here. I’m as tired of ref bumps as the next person but I liked the finish enough to overlook the ref bump.
Togo taunted Sabre before the match. Sabre attacked Togo which allowed EVIL to attack Sabre.
Red Shoes rang the bell and they brawled to the floor with Sabre still in his ring jacket. EVIL sent Sabre into the barricade and worked on his lower back.
EVIL exposed a buckle. They traded cobra twists. EVIL used a single-leg crab. Sabre avoided a whip into the exposed buckle and twisted various parts of EVIL’s anatomy with his legs. Sabre focused his attack on EVIL’s left arm.
EVIL hit a mid kick into a double down. EVIL sold his arm while Sabre sold his back. Sabre avoided a misdirection lariat out of the corner and used an octopus hold. EVIL escaped by grabbing Sabre’s ear. EVIL hit a fisherman buster into another double down.
EVIL hit a superplex for a near fall. He went for Everything is EVIL but Sabre blocked. EVIL blocked a Zack Driver. Sabre used a cradle for a two count.
Togo jumped on the apron. Sabre knocked him off and gave up the hold he had applied. EVIL sent Sabre into Red Shoes and the ref took a bump to the floor. Togo jumped in and attacked Sabre.
Togo and EVIL hit Sabre with running sentons. Sabre fired up and tried to use a cross armbreaker on Togo but EVIL saved and stomped on Sabre’s arm.
Sabre blocked a low blow and used an ankle lock. EVIL threw Sabre off into the exposed buckle. The ref was revived. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count.
EVIL went for Everything is EVIL. Sabre blocked and rolled into a European Clutch and got the pin.
This was the best version of Tanahashi that we have seen since at least the Wrestle Kingdom match with Kenny Omega in January 2019. This was the match of the tournament so far.
They started with some grappling with neither gaining the clear upper hand. Tana played some air guitar. Naito teased locking up but hit some strikes instead.
Tana made it clear that this was not the same Tana we’ve been seeing sell match after match all year. Instead, he was aggressive and went on the offense in response to Naito’s attack.
Tanahashi kicked out Naito’s left leg with a low dropkick and followed with a leg lock on the mat. Naito rolled to the floor to collect himself. They played cat and mouse. Naito hit his tranquilo pose. Tana tried a senton but Naito avoided it and continued posing.
Naito sent Tanahashi into the barricade and choked him. Tana sent Naito into the barricade. Naito popped off the rail with a one-legged dropkick and maintained the advantage. Back in the ring, Naito used a crucifix. Tana forced a rope break.
Tanahashi fired back with strikes. He blocked the combinacion cabron in the corner and hit a uranage into a double down. Tanahashi firmly established control of the match after a flying forearm and a somersault senton off the second rope.
Tana sent Naito to the floor after a dragon screw. Tana hit an awesome High Fly Flow to a standing Naito on the floor.
They teased a countout but Naito made it back in. Tana hit a dragon screw in the ropes as Naito climbed back inside. Tana went for a cloverleaf. Naito reversed into a cradle for a two count. Naito hit a spinebuster as the momentum shifted again.
The following sequence is where this thing found a new gear.
Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner but Tana rolled through into a cradle for a great near fall. Tana hit two dragon screws before trying the cloverleaf again and this time he got it. Naito was in the hold for over a minute before he reached the ropes. Tana blocked a flying forearm. Naito blocked a dragon suplex. Tanahashi hit a straight jacket German into a bridge for a two count.
Naito hit a swing DDT. Naito went for Gloria but Tana blocked and hit a slingblade. Naito countered a Michinoku Driver attempt into an inverted DDT. They did a lengthy double down.
Both guys fired up and they traded strikes. Naito blocked an Irish whip and hit a series of back elbows as it looked like Tana might be fading. Naito maintained wrist control through all of these elbows. Naito hit Gloria for a near fall.
Naito went for Destino. Tana blocked and hit three twist and shouts. Naito blocked a slingblade and hit an enzuigiri. Tanahashi hit a slingblade at the 25 minute call.
Tanahashi hit another slingblade. He went up top for High Fly Flow. He hit a standing High Fly Flow and went back up for another but Naito slid out of the way and Tana crashed to the mat.
Naito hit Destino but Tana kicked out at two.
Naito went for another Destino. Tana blocked. Naito blocked a palm strike and hit Valentia. Naito then hit another Destino for the pin.
The participants and blocks for this year’s G1 Climax tournament has been announced.
The biggest news coming from the announcement is that several wrestlers who have been unable to travel to Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions have made it in for the tournament. The tour will be the first in months for the likes of Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Jay White, KENTA, and Juice Robinson.
KENTA, Cobb, and White have been working shows for New Japan of America, namely the New Japan Strong shows that have aired over the summer.
It also cements several rematches from recent high profile feuds. EVIL and Tetsuya Naito, who just headlined Summer Struggle in Jingu, share the same block. Kazuchika Okada and Yujiro Takahashi are also in the same block and have been feuding for the last several months.
Here are the blocks and participants in this year’s tournament:
A Block:
Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada
Shingo Takagi
Yujiro Takahashi
Taichi
Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb
Will Ospreay
Jay White
B Block:
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hirooki Goto
Toru Yano
YOSHI-HASHI
SANADA
Tetsuya Naito
EVIL
Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson
KENTA
The G1 Climax tournament this year will start on September 19, with the finals taking place at Sumo Hall on October 18.
Four new champions were crowned this morning at NJPW’s Summer Struggle in Jingu event.
Tetsuya Natio once again reclaimed himself as double champion, regaining the IWGP Heavyweight title for the third time and the IWGP Intercontinental title for the sixth time. After a match full of ref bumps, interference, and back and forth action, Naito pinned EVIL with the Destino.
After the match, Naito put over Jingu Stadium, saying it’s the first time they have been back in 21 years. He thanked the fans for coming in under sweltering heat. He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic but also said there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s overcome all of these obstacles.
Naito ended his promo with the usual roll-call, though none of the other members of Los Ingobernables de Japon came out to celebrate. The show ended with Naito doing his signature pose as fireworks went off. No one came out to challenge Naito following the match.
The IWGP Jr. title also changed hands. After 238 days, Hiromu Takahashi lost the title to Taiji Ishimori, who is now a two time champion. Hiromu went for a second time bomb for the finish, but Ishimori countered, hit an inverted bloody cross then eventually got the submission win with the crossface.
Toru Yano is the first to win the KOPW trophy, becoming the first ever provisional champion, pinning Kazuchika Okada after a low blow and a roll-up. Yano will defend the trophy under stipulation matches until the end of the year, when a champion is crowned.
Minoru Suzuki captured the NEVER title for the second time, ending Shingo Takagi’s run with the title after 210 days. Suzuki won the title after pinning Takagi with the Gotch piledriver
The next tour will start on September 3, with New Japan Road.
Five title matches will take place today at NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu, held at Jingu Stadium.
In the main event, former Los Ingobernables de Japon member EVIL, now part of Bullet Club, will defend the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles against LIJ leader Tetsuya Naito. EVIL won the titles from Naito at Dominion in July and turned on him after winning the 2020 New Japan Cup the day prior.
In the semi-main, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships against former champs Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi.
In another LIJ vs. Bullet Club match, Hiromu Takahashi will defend the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori.
Shingo Takagi will look to make his fourth successful defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki.
The finals of the 2020 KOPW tournament will take place. Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, SANADA and El Desperado will face off in a four-way to determine the provisional 2020 King of Pro Wrestling. The winner will go on to defend the title for the rest of the year. The title holder at the end of the year will be the 2020 KOPW.
The only match without a title at stake will feature Master Wato against Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the opener.
Our live coverage begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
The venue looked great. The wrestlers entered from the dugouts.
They didn’t get much time and they botched a couple of spots. Not a smooth start to the show.
Wato got some early offense with a back elbow. Kanemaru cut him off and hit a leg slice over the barricade. Wato got tied to the tree of woe and Kanemaru hit a sliding dropkick in the corner.
Wato came back with a tornillo, springboard elbow and a monkey flip for a near fall. Kanemaru missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. Kanemaru shoved the ref down. They botched a spot. Kanemaru hit an inverted DDT.
Kanemaru swung a whiskey bottle but Wato ducked it. Wato went for a facebuster but it looked as though they botched that one as well.
Wato went for RPP but Kanemaru trapped him with a sunset flip and got the flash pin.
Toru Yano defeated Kazuchika Okada, El Desperado & SANADA to win KOPW 2020 (7:02)
The other three guys started going at it while Okada was posing on the buckle during his entrance.
They did some comedy spots with Yano. Yano exposed a buckle and Desperado and SANADA got sent into it. Yano teased a dive but Desperado pulled him out of the ring.
Okada and SANADA teamed up to hit some offense on Desperado and Yano. SANADA locked Yano in the paradise lock and left him in the hold for a long time. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick and SANADA bumped Yano to break the hold.
Desperado hit Guitara de Angel on Okada for a two count. Okada blocked a Pinche Loco attempt and slapped on the Money Clip. Desperado pulled the ref down by his shirt and the ref bumped.
With the ref still recovering, Yano hit a low blow on Okada and used a schoolboy for the pin.
Yano pinned Okada. What?
NEVER Openweight Championship match: Minoru Suzuki defeated Shingo Takagi to win the title (14:57)
This was an awesome match.
They began beating the hell out of each other right away and spent the first several minutes just trading strikes and chops.
Suzuki got a sleeper applied. Shingo fought the hold forever. Suzuki switched to a Gotch-style piledriver attempt. Shingo hit a backdrop out of it. Shingo missed a sliding lariat. Shingo hit a DVD.
Shingo missed a sliding lariat but hit Made in Japan for a near fall. He went for Last of the Dragon but Suzuki fought it off. Suzuki hit a series of headbutts.
They did a couple of misdirection spots that ended with Suzuki hitting a dropkick. You know it’s a special match when Suzuki busts out the dropkick.
They traded headbutts on the mat. They traded strikes as they climbed back to their feet. Suzuki hit another headbutt. They traded strikes again.
Suzuki went back to the rear naked choke. Shingo teased passing out but Suzuki gave up the hold and went for another Gotch piledriver. Suzuki pointed to the sky, hit the piledriver and got the pin.
What a war.
*****Intermission*****
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Taiji Ishimori defeated Hiromu Takahashi to win the title (13:30)
This was a good match but not at the level of Hiromu’s best matches as he had to sell his shoulder a ton instead of doing his usual insanity.
Hiromu’s left shoulder was taped and Ishimori went after it right away. Ishimori fought for a la Mistica. Hiromu blocked the first but Ishimori got it on his second attempt. Ishimori got the Yes Lock applied but Hiromu reached the ropes for an immediate break.
Ishimori avoided a sunset bomb and sent Hiromu into the barricade. Hiromu came back with a shotgun dropkick off the apron and Ishimori flew into the barricade. Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a near fall.
Ishimori avoided a German into the buckle and hit a poison rana. Hiromu popped up and hit the German into the buckle. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger for a near fall. Both hit German suplexes and both no-sold them. Hiromu hit a lariat into a double down.
Ishimori blocked Time Bomb II. Hiromu blocked a Yes Lock attempt. Ishimori hit a lungblower into another double down. Ishimori blocked a flying headscissors and used the Yes Lock. Hiromu fought to the ropes to force a break.
Hiromu blocked a Bloody Cross. Ishimori hit a buckle bomb and a lariat. Hiromu agaiin blocked the Bloody Cross and hit a DVD into the buckle. Hiromu hit Time Bomb but Ishimori kicked out.
Ishimori hit an inverted Bloody Cross and used the Yes Lock. Hiromu fought the hold but Ishimori rolled him back to the center of the ring and kept the hold applied. Hiromu tapped out.
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi to retain the titles (16:00)
This was a good match that didn’t have enough time to kick into high gear. With consecutive losses in title matches for Ibushi and Tanahashi this felt like the end of this program, which is fine. They’ve had a ton of matches this summer.
Tanahashi sold for the first several minutes as this followed the pattern of the matches these teams have had all summer. Ibushi tagged in and ran wild. He hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Ibushi had a lengthy exchange with Taichi. They traded high kicks into a double down.
Tanahashi and Sabre tagged in and went after Sabre’s taped right knee. Tanahashi got a measure of revenge on Sabre and Ibushi and Tanahashi hit the assisted dragon screw on Sabre’s right leg that Sabre and Taichi have been hitting on Tana recently.
Tanahashi and Ibsuhi hit Golden Blades on both guys. Ibushi blocked an iron glove shot from Taichi with a high kick. Ibushi and Taichi brawled to the floor, leaving Tana and Sabre in for the finish.
Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. He went for a second High Fly Flow but missed. Taichi jumped in and Sabre and Taichi hit Tanahashi with Zack Mephisto. Taichi held Ibushi at bay while Sabre pinned Tanahashi.
IWGP Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Intercontinental Championship double title match: Tetsuya Naito defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) to win the titles (26:20)
These guys worked incredibly hard but all of the interference and a couple of key botches kept this from being the classic IWGP title match they were going for. EVIL is a good brawler but still not at the level of the best guys in the world.
They built the match around going after each other’s necks.
Naito and Togo started brawling before the bell. EVIL used the distraction to jump Naito. Togo exposed a buckle and Naito got sent into it.
EVIL took Naito outside and hit him with a chair. He did his chair swing against another chair against the post spot.
Back inside, EVIL hit a neckbreaker for a near fall. Naito came back with a swing DDT and a one-legged dropkick. Naito took out Togo with a baseball slide and hit a combinacion cabron on EVIL in the corner. Naito hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.
Naito used a crucifix. Togo jumped on the apron with a chair and distracted the ref. Naito gave up the hold and went after Togo. EVIL used Red Shoes to assist in hitting a mid kick. EVIL hit a lariat to the back of the neck and a double stomp in the corner.
EVIL went for Darkness Falls on the apron. Naito blocked and hit a neckbreaker off the apron. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall. EVIL blocked Gloria and sent Naito into the exposed buckle.
EVIL hit a top rope superplex and Darkness Falls for near falls. Naito got sent into the exposed buckle but popped out of the corner and hit a tornado DDT into a double down. Naito hit a rolling kick in the corner and followed up with Gloria.
Naito hit an inverted swing DDT out of the corner for a near fall. Naito went for Destino but EVIL blocked with an eye rake. EVIL took the ref and Togo hit Naito with a chair. Naito blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a series of elbow strikes to the back of the neck.
Togo jumped on the apron. Naito sent EVIL into Togo. Togo took a bump off the apron.
Things fell apart quickly here. EVIL pulled Red Shoes into Naito’s path as he came off the ropes. Naito didn’t bump Red Shoes but went down anyway and sold his head. EVIL then threw Red Shoes into the exposed buckle and Red Shoes rolled to the floor.
Togo jumped in and EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. BUSHI ran in for the save. Gedo ran in and raked BUSHI’s eyes. Gedo and BUSHI brawled to the floor.
Naito blocked a chair shot from EVIL. Togo choked Naito out with a ligature. SANADA ran in and hit EVIL and Togo with dropkicks. SANADA hit a TKO on Togo. BUSHI hit a codebreaker on Gedo and SANADA hit a plancha to Togo. BUSHI and SANADA dragged Togo and Gedo to the back.
Naito hit an enzuigiri and a flying forearm. Naito hit Destino. EVIL kicked out at two. Naito went for another Destino. EVIL grabbed the ref and hit a low blow on Naito. EVIL hit a lariat for a near fall.
They did a series of counters and Naito flubbed a Valentia. Naito blocked a low blow, hit Valentia, hit Destino and got the pin.
**********
Naito closed the show with a promo and posed in the ring as fireworks went off in the background. That was a great visual.
The top two matches for Summer Struggle in Jingu have been announced.
In a press conference held this morning, it was confirmed that IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental champion EVIL will defend both titles against Tetsuya Naito. This comes after EVIL defeated Naito at Dominion to win the titles following interference from EVIL’s new partner, Dick Togo.
Naito confronted EVIL at the end of Sengoku Lord last weekend, setting up the title match for next month.
Hiromu Takahashi will also defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori on this card. It was Ishimori who attacked Hiromu after losing his double title match to EVIL at Sengoku Lord. Naito eventually ran in for the save.
NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi also noted that although IWGP rules say titles must be defended every six months, the period during the state of emergency won’t count against Hiromu.
Additionally, a new championhip, the KOPW 2020 title, will be determined in a fatal four-way match. Four matches will take place on August 26, with the winners advancing into this match. Competitiors fighting for the championship will name their stipulations and will allow fans to vote on the matches they would want to see.
Summer Struggle in Jingu will take place on August 29 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo.
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.
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.
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.
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.
**********
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.
**********
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.
**********
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.
**********
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.
EVIL not only emerged triumphant in tonight’s New Japan Cup finals, he severed his relationship with Los Ingobernables de Japon and joined the Bullet Club.
Towards the end of tonight’s finals, Gedo came out to distract the referee, allowing Yujiro Takahashi to jump Kazuchika Okada from behind. EVIL went for the pin, but Okada kicked out as both Gedo and Yujiro left the arena.
Okada went for his new cobra clutch submission towards the end of the match, but EVIL drove him and the referee into the corner, sending the referee down. EVIL proceeded to low blow Okada twice, then landed the Everything is EVIL STO to win his first New Japan Cup tournament, setting the stage for Sunday’s Dominion main event against Naito for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles.
After the match, Naito came out and said a few words before raising his fist for the LIJ salute. EVIL went to raise his arm, but instead flashed the “two sweet” hand gesture before attacking Naito, sending him down with Everything is Evil. The rest of the Bullet Club came out and attacked before the rest of LIJ came out for the save.
Two other title matches set for Sunday include Shingo Takagi vs. SHO for the NEVER Openweight title and Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Tag Team titles. Seven to nine matches are scheduled.
NJPW returned today with its first show in 110 days, the Together Project Special.
The show began with a video recap of some of the Together Project content posted on NJPW World over the last few months. The recap continued with video messages sent in from NJPW fans celebrating the return.
After the video package, we got our first look at the empty arena. The set resembled an empty theater.
The ring announcer called out the Taguchi Japan members of the NJPW roster. Hiroshi Tanahashi cut a promo in Japanese.
The ring announcer then presented the card for the evening.
This was your standard, technically sound NJPW opener.
Kidd got a waistlock takedown. Tsuji powered Kidd back into the ropes and broke cleanly. Each tried to work the other’s left arm. Kidd briefly had an armbar before Tsuji grabbed a heel hook. Kidd escaped and applied a cross armbreaker but Tsuji forced an immediate rope break.
Tsuji hit a shoulder tackle. Tsuji hit a series of strikes in the corner. Tsuji hit a hip toss for a near fall. Tsuji applied a camel clutch. Tsuji hit a splash for another near fall.
Kidd blocked a slam and hit one of his own. Kidd tried a pair of tackles but could not get Tsuji down. Kidd hit some forearm strikes and then finally got Tsuji off his feet with a tackle. Kidd hit a dropkick for a two count.
Kidd fought for a full crab. Tsuji kicked him off so Kidd settled for a single-leg crab. Tsuji forced a rope break.
Tsuji hit a backdrop and used a vertical suplex for a two count. Kidd used a cradle for a surprise near fall. They traded strikes and some hard slaps.
For the finish, Tsuji used a spear for a two count then got a full Boston crab applied. Kidd tapped.
Desperado and Kanemaru attacked before the opening bell. They hit Ishii with a 3D and he rolled outside. Uemura came back with a dropkick on both Desperado and Kanemaru. Kanemaru cut him off with an eye rake.
Desperado taunted Ishii and Ishii jumped in illegally. Ishii and Desperado traded strikes while Kanemaru ran Uemura into the barricade.
Kanemaru tagged in and continued working Uemura over. Kanemaru used a camel clutch while Ishii and Desperado fought on the floor. Desperado raked Ishii’s eyes.
Uemura missed one dropkick but hit a second and tagged Ishii. Ishii dropped Kanemaru with a tackle. Ishii no-sold an eye rake. Desperado nailed Ishii from the apron. Ishii brought Desperado inside with a brainbuster.
Desperado and Kanemaru tried to double team Ishii. Ishii side-stepped a big boot and Kanemaru nailed Desperado. Ishii hit Kanemaru with a powerslam.
Kanemaru hit a low dropkick to Ishii’s left leg. Desperado tagged in and worked on the same leg. Desperado tried Numero Dos but Ishii forced a rope break. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex and tagged out.
Uemura entered and first went after Kanemaru on the floor, whipping him into the barricade. He then attacked Desperado with a vertical suplex and a full crab. Kanemaru attacked and forced Uemura to give up the hold.
Desperado hit Uemura with a spinebuster. Kanemaru connected with a one-legged dropkick and Desperado covered for a two count. Ishii jumped in. Uemura cradled Desperado for a two count.
Desperado hit a spear for a near fall then used the stretch muffler for the submission win.
This was a comedy brawl. Sometimes the comedy was unintentional. This would have been a stretch to make work in front of a crowd and it had no chance in this setting.
All of these guys were very vocal. Jado can barely move and shouldn’t be in the ring.
Yujiro and Goto began. Goto went for an ushigoroshi early but Yujiro blocked.
Yano and Jado tagged in. Yano grabbed a corner pad and Jado brought his kendo stick into the ring. Yano ducked a kendo stick shot. Jado took the ref and Yujiro attacked Yano.
YH tagged in. Gedo hit him from behind and attempted a double team but YH fought it off. Jado cut YH off and the heels took turns working him over. YH hit a headhunter on Ishimori to set up a tag to Goto.
Goto used a misdirection lariat, a wheel kick and a Saito suplex to earn a near fall. Ishimori blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a handspring kick.
Gedo tagged in and hit a jaw breaker. Goto blocked a thrust kick and tagged Honma. Honma sent Gedo into the exposed buckle and hit a bulldog. Honma missed a kokeshi.
Yujiro tagged in and all four faces teamed up against him. Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall. Honma hit a slam. Honma tried a kokeshi off the second rope but missed.
Jado used a kendo stick on Honma. Yujiro followed with a fisherman buster but Goto broke up the pin.
Yujiro then hit Pimp Juice for the pin.
**********
A hype video played for The Grand Master. He is coming soon.
**********
Some staff members were shown cleaning the ring and ringside area. The announcers filled time. The announcers were several feet apart with partitions between them.
We then got an official cleaning and disinfection intermission.
These guys had a really good match and the finish was surprising. The time off looked to have done Tenzan some good as he was moving well.
Taguchi and SANADA locked up. They had a nice chain wrestling exchange that ended in a stalemate. Taguchi offered a fist bump but then kicked SANADA instead.
They did a great comedy spot where Taguchi thought he had successfully applied the paradise lock. He hadn’t. Taguchi did his Nakamura mannerisms and hit a hip attack to SANADA’s head.
Tenzan and SANADA traded palm strikes to the chest. Tenzan hit some Mongolian chops. Kojima cleared the LIJ corner and joined Tenzan for some tandem offense on SANADA.
LIJ took control of the match after BUSHI tripped Tenzan from the floor. BUSHI tagged in and choked Tenzan with his shirt. LIJ took turns working over Tenzan. Tenzan managed to tag out after hitting a wheel kick to EVIL.
Kojima hit machine gun chops on EVIL and connected with the follow-up top rope elbow for a near fall. Taguchi tagged in for a series of hip attacks on SANADA and BUSHI.
Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack and used an ankle lock on SANADA. Taguchi blocked a TKO, blocked a Skull End and used a cradle for a two count. SANADA hit a low dropkick.
The match broke down. BUSHI hit Taguchi with a backstabber for a two count. BUSHI hit a rewind kick. Taguchi countered with a hip attack and an ankle lock. SANADA broke up the hold. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenCozy Cutter on EVIL.
BUSHI blocked Dodon. Taguchi hit a Bomaye for a two count, then got the ankle lock applied again. BUSHI tapped out.
This was about setting up New Japan Cup matches and teasing some spots for those matches.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell in this match as well. Suzuki and Nagata started off as the legal men and traded strikes.
Sabre and Ibushi tagged in. They traded strikes until Sabre grabbed a hold. Ibushi tried to shoot Sabre off into the ropes but Sabre hit a flapjack and Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside.
Suzuki-gun isolated Ibushi in their corner. It was something else seeing DOUKI get offense on Ibushi. Ibushi came back with a backflip kick and tagged out.
Tanahashi hit a slam and a somersault senton on Taichi for a two count. Taichi blocked a slingblade. Tana blocked a backdrop suplex. They traded strikes. Taichi hit a high kick. He went for a buzzsaw kick but Tana blocked and hit a dragon screw.
Makabe tagged in and hit Taichi with punches in the corner. Sabre and Suzuki tried to interfere but they were intercepted by Tana and Ibushi.
DOUKI and Makabe ended up as the legal men. Makabe got caught in a triangle but forced a rope break. Everyone jumped in for a big move. Nagata and Suzuki brawled to the floor.
DOUKI hit Makabe with a pipe and rolled him up. Makabe kicked out at two. Makabe then hit a slam and hit the King Kong Knee Drop for the pin.
Taichi and Tanahashi had a long staredown after the match.
Okada and Naito began the match. They locked up. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes. Naito kicked Okada off the break. They traded holds. Naito used a side headlock takeover. Okada used a headscissors escape.
Shingo and SHO tagged in for an electric exchange. Hiromu jumped in. YOH intercepted him and SHO and YOH nailed Hiromu with dropkicks.
SHO got the upper hand on Shingo with some hard kicks. Shingo sold them big time for SHO. SHO tried a series of lariats but Shingo did not go down.
LIJ used an illegal triple team to assert control of the match. They isolated SHO in their corner and worked him over. Shingo used a brainbuster for a near fall. Naito tagged in and worked on SHO’s left leg. Hiromu tagged in and worked on the left leg and left arm.
Hiromu hit a dropkick and made a cover but YOH broke up the pin after just a one count. SHO came back with a spear to Shingo and a vertical suplex on Hiromu.
Okada tagged in for a running back elbow, a running back elbow in the corner and a DDT for a two count. Hiromu avoided a top rope elbow attempt and Okada landed on his feet. Hiromu avoided a tombstone and dropped Okada with a back suplex.
Naito and Okada had another exchange. Naito avoided an air raid crash on the first attempt. Okada landed the move on the second try.
YOH tagged in and nailed Naito with a flying forearm and a missile dropkick for a near fall. LIJ saved for Naito. The match broke down. SHO and Shingo jumped in and hit lariats.
Naito went for Destino. YOH blocked and rolled up Naito for a two count. Naito blocked a falcon arrow and hit a flipping inverted Destino. I’m not sure that’s what the move is, but I don’t know what else to call it. The move looks awesome.
Naito then hit YOH with the traditional Destino and pinned him.
**********
Naito cut a promo to close the show. He mentioned the New Japan Cup and ended with the LIJ roll call.
The main event for NJPW’s 48th Anniversary show has been set.
Tetsuya Naito will face fellow Los Ingobernables de Japan member Hiromu Takahashi in the main event. It will be a battle between the current IWGP Heavyweight champion and the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight champion.
In a press conference that was held this morning, Hiromu entered and asked for the match to be a IWGP Heavyweight title match. That has not been confirmed and is not listed as such on NJPW’s website.
Both men are coming off of big matches from yesterday’s New Beginning in Osaka event. Naito defeated KENTA to retain his title, while Hiromu defeated Ryu Lee.
The theme in recent years for the NJPW Anniversary show is the IWGP Heavyweight champion facing off against the Jr. Heavyweight champion. At last year’s event, then IWGP Heavyweight champion Jay White defeated Jr. champion Will Ospreay.
This year’s Anniversary event will take place on March 3rd at the Ota City General Gymnasium.
Big title matches headline tonight’s NJPW New Beginning in Osaka.
The latest event to take place at Osaka-jo Hall will be headlined by Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles against KENTA. Although KENTA lost his match at Wrestle Kingdom, he sent a message to Naito at the end of the second night by laying him out immediately after Naito became the double champion.
Jon Moxley and Minoru Suzuki will finally come to blows for the IWGP United States title. The two have been going after each other all tour, brawling all over the crowds and even backstage.
Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee will continue their rivalry that began years ago in Mexico by facing off for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title. This was the same match back in 2018 where Hiromu Takahashi broke his neck, putting him out of action for over a year.
A special singles match between SANADA and Jay White will also take place.
Taguchi began with Nakanishi, who hit some strikes in the corner. Tenzan entered and they worked over Taguchi’s bum. Henare and Nagata tagged in and traded strikes. Henare teased an Argentinian backbreaker, as he’s been doing all tour, taunting Nakanishi.
Taguchi and team went 4-on-1 against Nagata. Taguchi gave Nagata a stinkface. Makabe got a tag and Nagata hit him with an exploder. Nakanishi got a tag and hit a double clothesline on Honma and Makabe. Nakanishi used the Argentinian backbreaker on Makabe. Nakanishi’s team did a quadruple submission spot on their opponents.
Makabe and Nakanishi hit a series of simultaneous lariats, and both dropped. Kojima and Honma tagged in. Kojima hit machine gun chops. Honma cut him off before a top rope elbow. Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall.
Makabe jumped in and hit a double clothesline. Nakanishi hit a series of double sledges. Kojima held Honma, allowing Nakanishi to hit him with a top rope chop. Kojima then hit Honma with a lariat for the pin.
Makabe cut a promo after the match. He thanked the crowd for coming out. He said he got his start in Osaka 27 years ago. He said he was terrible when he began, but he accomplished all he did because of the support of the fans.
He said he has four matches left, he’ll give them his all, and he hopes everyone supports him. He said NJPW will go on without him to new heights.
Nakanishi’s team left the ring to him, he took a bow and waved to the crowd. This was nice. The match itself was nothing.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHO & YOH (W/ROCKY ROMERO) DEFEATED EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU TO RETAIN THE TITLES
The story of the match was whether or not Roppongi 3K would be able to retain the titles given that SHO was coming in with a leg injury, suffered earlier in the tour after a Suzuki-gun attack.
3K attacked just before the bell, employing a Suzuki-gun tactic. SHO and YOH hit a double dropkick. Kanemaru and Desperado made a quick comeback. Kanemaru hit a leg slice over the barricade. Desperado used a chair in the aisle on SHO’s left leg.
Back in the ring, Kanemaru used a stretch muffler. Desperado used a single-leg crab, continuing to punish the left leg. SHO made a comeback with a backdrop to Despy, a suplex to Kanemaru, then made a tag.
YOH ran wild with leg lariats and flying forearms. YOH and Desperado traded strikes. Desperado hit a misdirection spear. Kanemaru tagged in and hit a knee lift, then a tornado DDT for a two count.
Kanemaru went for Deep Impact. YOH moved out of the way and hit a DDT, into a double down. SHO tagged in and traded strikes with Kanemaru. SHO hit a spear. SHO went for a powerbomb but his leg gave out.
Kanemaru hit a dropkick and locked on a figure four. Desperado used a crossface on an interfering YOH. SHO finally forced a rope break. Kanemaru hit Deep Impact, but SHO kicked out at two.
Kanemaru missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. YOH intercepted him with a dropkick. YOH hit Kanemaru with a superkick, then hit a rewind kick to Desperado. All four men went down.
SHO and YOH hit some tandem offense on Kanemaru. They set up for the 3K but Desperado cut them off and took the referee. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey but SHO blocked and spit whiskey in the air.
SHO tossed YOH over the top into a dive on Desperado. SHO hit a lariat to Kanemaru, then hit Shock Arrow, but Kanemaru kicked out at two.
YOH climbed to the top, hit Strong X, then SHO covered for the pin.
YOH and Desperado traded slaps to the face after the match. Taguchi then entered with a basketball. He said Rocky Romero is not just a manager, he’s a great wrestler. He asked Rocky to challenge Roppongi for the title. He threw Rocky the basketball, made a basket with his arms, and Rocky shot the ball through his arms.
YOH cut a promo. He said he expected Taguchi to show up, but not to face Rocky. He then said that 3K hasn’t surpassed Rocky yet, and if that means they have to beat him, they will.
So Taguchi and Romero are the next challengers for the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles.
Good match, but not great, as they didn’t get a ton of time.
HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI, JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS
This was really more about the post-match than the match itself.
Tana and Tonga started out. Tonga broke cleanly against the ropes, but Loa grabbed Tana by his glorious mane and Bullet Club tried a 4-on-1 beatdown. Tana’s teammates jumped in and the match broke down. When the dust settled, Tonga and Finlay were the legal men.
Tonga and Loa hit slingshot sentons to Finlay. Loa tagged in and got a two count. Owens tagged in. Finlay made a comeback, then tagged Ibushi. Ibushi hit a dropkick, a mid kick, then used a standing moonsault for a two count.
Juice and Loa got tags. Juice hit a ful nelson bomb and a cannonball. He teased Pulp Friction, but Tonga jumped in to cut him off. Tana got a tag. Yujiro jumped in and hit a fisherman buster, Owens hit a shining wizard, then Loa covered for a two count.
The match broke down, with everyone eating a big move. Jado hit Ibushi with a kendo stick from the floor, leaving Tanahashi to go 1-on-2 against Tonga and Loa. Tonga got hit witth a slingblade. Loa took a dragon screw.
Jado hit Tana with a kendo stick. Loa went for Apeshit, but Tana blocked, then used a cradle for the pin.
Tonga, Loa and Jado attacked Tanahashi after the match. Ibushi saved with a missile dropkick. Jado tried another kendo stick shot. Ibushi blocked, then pie faced Jado.
They out over on commentary that Tanahashi and Ibushi just beat the tag team champs. Tana, Ibushi, Finlay and Juice faced off after the match. Juice and Finlay just lost the tag titles, so perhaps a three-way, or perhaps a number one contenders match with Ibushi and Tana vs. Finlay and Juice is on the way.
Tanahashi was really moving poorly tonight. A tag team feud feels like a waste of him in one way, but in another, it’s probably the best thing for his body at this point not to be in main events all the time.
**********
A video announcement played. A Madison Square Garden date was announced, as well as G1 details, as well as NJPW World returning to a prime time slot on Japanese TV.
**********
KAZUCHIKA OKADA & WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED TAICHI & ZACK SABRE JR.
This was good, but they only got about 12 minutes. Good matches that could have been great with a few more minutes is the theme of the night.
Okada and Taichi began in the ring, while Sabre and Ospreay brawled on the outside. Taichi hit a high kick, then continued working over Okada with short kicks. Sabre tagged in, Okada hit a flapjack, then tagged out.
Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, then a handsrping kick. Sabre used the submission that earned him a victory over Ospreay last week, but Ospreay forced a break. They did an incredible series of counters and reversals, then traded cradles on the mat. Sabre used a guillotine, then slid to a triangle, which Ospreay broke with a one-armed powerbomb.
Okada and Taichi tagged in. Okada hit a back elbow in the middle of the ring, then another in the corner. Okada hit a dropkick. Ospreay and Sabre jumped in. Ospreay hit a cheeky Nando’s kick to Sabre. Taichi hit a high kick to Ospreay, then an axe bomber to Okada.
Taichi removed his trousers. He used a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a Last Ride. Ospreay jumped in and hit an Oscutter, then hit a Sasuke special to Sabre. Okada hit Taichi with another dropkick, then hit the Rainmaker for the pin.
JAY WHITE DEFEATED SANADA
In kayfabe why does SANADA always give up the Skull End? He always gives up the hold, then misses a moonsault. Not a fan of that spot in every big SANADA match, it makes him look really dumb.
This was good. A patterned Jay White match with lots of Gedo interference.
Gedo was a factor in the opening minutes, first jumping on the apron for a distraction, then tripping SANADA, then choking SANADA with a towel on the floor. White went to work from there, hitting stomps, strikes and a crab.
SANADA hit a missile dropkick, then a dropkick to the left knee. White came back with a DDT, an uppercut forearm, then a DVD. SANADA fell victim to another trip from Gedo. White ran into a big boot in the corner, then SANADA used a paradise lock.
SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, then a plancha, then hit a missile dropkick for a two count. SANADA tried for a TKO, then a Skull End, but White hit a thumb to the eye. They traded uppercuts. White hit a flatliner and a deadlift German.
White hit a Blade Buster and Kiwi Krusher for a two count. SANADA came back with a draping neckbreaker. SANADA used a high-angle suplex for a two count. SANADA teased Skull End. Gedo jumped on the apron for a distraction. White used a schoolboy for a two count.
SANADA hit a TKO. White took the referee. Gedo jumped on the apron. SANADA crotched him on the top rope.
SANADA used a moonsault press threat to float over into a Skull End. He used a spinning Skull End, then dropped to the mat with the hold applied, adding a bodyscissors. SANADA gave up the hold, then missed a moonsault.
They traded finisher teases in a great sequence. SANADA used an O’Connor Roll, then a Japanese leg roll for near falls.
They tried a spot where SANADA was going to come off the middle rope into a Skull End again, but he landed wrong and both guys almost broke their necks.
White hit a sleeper suplex, a Regal suplex, then a cross-armed suplex, all for near falls. White then hit the Blade Runner and pinned SANADA.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED RYU LEE TO RETAIN THE TITLE
Well, good luck to everybody that has to follow this tonight, or any night.
These are two of the best ten wrestlers in the world. They should not be allowed to wrestle again. They do so many things together where there is no margin for error, and they can’t help themselves. The matches are incredible. They are also beyond dangerous.
They came out firing, trading lariats and German suplexes, ending with both men down less than a minute in. They traded dozens of open-hand chops to the chest. They paused, then traded several more, paused again, then traded a ton more.
Hiromu dropped Lee with an unanswered series of chops. Lee popped up, hit the ropes, then hit a chop. They traded MORE CHOPS. Hiromu hit a corner clothesline, then they traded chops again. At the five minute call here, and almost all chops to this point.
Hiromu tried a tijeras, Lee blocked, Hiromu hit a handspring out, then landed a chop. More chops. Lee finally got a knockdown off a chop. Lee hit a Shibata dropkick, falcon arrow, then a PK. Hiromu rolled outside. Lee hit a tijeras over the top rope to the apron, tossing Hiromu to the floor.
Lee sat Hiromu on the barricade. Lee hit a tope suicida at a thousand miles an hour, sending both men over the barricade, bouncing off a table, then crashing to the floor in front of the second barricade. They made it back in after a countout tease.
Hiromu blocked a springboard move, then hit a sunset bomb from the ring to the floor. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger for a two count. He hit a DVD into the buckle. Lee blocked a Time Bomb and teased a spike package driver, the move where Hiromu broke his neck in 2018. Hiromu rolled through into his triangle choke submission, D, but Lee forced a rope break.
They sat on the top rope, trading punches. Lee hit a double stomp from that position. Lee landed on his feet on the apron, while Hiromu hit the edge of the ring, then hit the floor.
They traded strikes on the apron. Hiromu hit an overhead throw on the apron, sending Lee to the floor. They pulled it off, but thats the kind of move where there’s no margin for error.
Hiromu asked the ref to stop the 20 count, then hit a Hiromu bomb off the post to the floor. They did a countout tease, but Lee made it in at 19.
They traded a series of strikes and suplexes that had to be seen to be believed. Lee went for a Desnucadora. Hiromu rolled through into D. Lee escaped and hit a buckle bomb. Hiromu countered with an overhead throw into the buckle.
Lee hit a bastard driver for a two count. Hiromu was draped over the top rope, where Lee hit a double stomp. Lee hit a V-Trigger and made a cover. Hiromu forced a rope break.
Hiromu teased a package driver. Hiromu reversed into a destroyer for a near fall, threw Lee like a dart into the buckle, then went for Time Bomb. Lee rolled through into a cover for a near fall.
Lee exposed his right knee, then hit a running knee for a near fall. He hit a second knee. Hiromu hit another destroyer. Hiromu hit Time Bomb for a two count, then hit a second Time Bomb, covered, and retained the title.
IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI TO RETAIN THE TITLE
What can you say about these guys? An awesome feud, an awesome brawl to cap it off, just great stuff.
Suzuki entered first. Moxley entered through the crowd, then walked to the ramp, where he beckoned Suzuki to join him. Suzuki grabbed two chairs, threw one to Moxley, then they had a duel.
Moxley got the best of the chair duel. They brawled into the crowd, tearing up pieces of barricade and using them as weapons. They fought into the time keeper’s area. They teased a table spot, but Moxley blocked. Somewhere in here the opening bell rang. They did a countout tease before either man got in the ring.
In the ring, they traded strikes. Suzuki hit a big boot in the corner. Moxley caught a PK, then bit Suzuki. Suzuki hit a series of headbutts and bit Moxley. They brawled outside again.
Moxley set up a table on the outside. He teased putting Suzuki through it. Suzuki fought it off, then hit a con-chair-to to Moxley’s arm. Suzuki posted the arm, then used an armbar on the apron. Moxley powerbombed Suzuki off the apron through the table. Suzuki sold it by laughing, then stumbling as he got to his feet.
Each man grabbed a piece of broken table and beat themself in the head with it. Back inside, they traded super stiff forearm shots. Suzuki slipped behind and locked on a rear naked choke. Suzuki gave up the hold when it looked as though Moxley was passing out, then covered for a near fall.
Suzuki hit a running boot for another near fall. Moxley came back with a knee strike and a Regal knee for a near fall. Suzuki blocked a Death Rider. They traded shots. Suzuki hit a dropkick.
Moxley escaped a Gotch-style piledriver and hit Death Rider. Suzuki kicked out at two. Moxley kissed Suzuki on the forehead.
Moxley brought two chairs into the ring. Red Shoes tried to pull the chairs away, but got shocved down.
Moxley hit a gimmicked chair shot to the head, then hit a Death Rider on a chair, but there was no referee.
Suzuki fired up. Suzuki hit a series of strikes. Moxley hit a rebound lariat, Suzuki didn’t go down, but the way he sold not going down was incredible.
Moxley hit a second lariat, then hit Death Rider for the pin.
Suzuki left, tearing up the barricade on his way to the back.
As Moxley posed in the ring, Sabre ran in and choked him out, then posed with the U.S. title, so there’s something for the future.
**********
Gedo, Jado, White, Yujiro, Tonga, Loa and Owens accompanied KENTA to the ring for the main event. Tama Tonga took a swing at Red Shoes before the bell. Red Shoes took a bump, then ejected Bullet Club.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT & INTERCONTINENTAL DOUBLE TITLE MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED KENTA TO RETAIN THE TITLES
After the ref bumps, this was a good match. The problem was that they went about 20 minutes before the ref bumps.
KENTA did his customary stalling at the outset. They finally locked up. Naito broke against the ropes. KENTA rolled outside. Naito teased a dive, then hit his Tranquilo pose.
Naito finally got his hands on KENTA in earnest. He hit a rana and some stomps, then threw KENTA into the barricade. Naito hit stomps in the corner. KENTA countered with a slingshot knee strike, then sent Naito outside.
KENTA tossed Naito into all four sides of the barricade, then hit a DDT in the aisle. Back inside, KENTA exposed a buckle, then whipped Naito into it. We were past the ten minute mark here and this was still moving at a snail’s pace.
KENTA hit a knee lift, then did some more crowd work. He hit a snapmare, then used a chinlock. KENTA hit a DDT for a near fall.
Naito made a comeback with a low dropkick, combinacion cabron, then hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Naito hit another neckbreaker, then used a crucifix hold. KENTA reached the ropes for a break.
KENTA snapped Naito’s neck on the top rope, then hit a top rope clothesline for a two count. KENTA tried for Game Over, but Naito reached the ropes before the hold was applied.
KENTA went for a draping DDT. Naito hit a leg sweep, then hit a neckbreaker on the apron. KENTA answered with a draping DDT off the barricade. They teased a countout, but Naito made it back in.
KENTA hit a running knee in the corner, then a KENTA/Shibata dropkick. KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. Naito hit a spinebuster. They traded strikes. Naito got the better of the exchange.
KENTA ducked a back elbow, threw Red Shoes in Naito’s path, then used the distraction to lock Naito in Game Over. Naito fought for a long time, then reached the ropes. KENTA hit a PK, a knee strike in the ropes, then hit a busaiku knee for a near fall.
KENTA teased G2S. Naito blocked, then hit a tornado DDT. Naito hit a neckbreaker, top rope frankensteiner, then hit Gloria for a near fall.
Naito went for Destino. KENTA blocked and threw Naito into Red Shoes twice. Red Shoes took a bump and rolled outside.
White ran in and hit a sleeper suplex. BUSHI ran in and tried to spit black mist at White. White ducked, then hit BUSHI with Blade Runner. Hiromu ran in and hit White with a superkick then dragged White to the back.
Naito hit an enziguri and a flying forearm. KENTA blocked a Destino with a lariat for a near fall.
KENTA tried Go 2 Sleep. Naito slid out and hit an inverted DDT.
KENTA blocked Valentia and sent Naito into the exposed buckle, then used a schoolboy for a near fall.
Naito was bleeding a gusher after going into the buckle, and it appeared to be hard way blood, as Naito really didn’t have time to blade before the blood started pouring.
KENTA hit some slaps and a busaiku knee for another near fall.
Naito reversed a G2S into a poison rana, then hit Valentia for a near fall.
Naito then hit Destino for the 1-2-3.
Naito cut a promo. KENTA was still lingering in the aisle. Naito told him no tranquilo, just get out of here.
He rhetorically asked what was next for him. He called out Hiromu. Traditionally, the IWGP Heavyweight champ wrestles the Jr. Heavyweight champ at the anniversary show.
Hiromu entered. He said Naito taught him wrestling when he was a Young Lion. He said when he was about to go on excursion, Naito told him they’d have a match when he got back. So the answer is yes.
Naito said the LIJ roll call, then confetti showered the ring. Hiromu and Naito bumped fists, then posed with their respective titles. Hiromu left the ring to Naito to close the show.
KENTA will officially be the first challenger for Tetsuya Naito’s double gold.
NJPW has confirmed that Naito vs. KENTA will headline the New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday, February 9. Naito’s IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles will both be on the line.
KENTA being Naito’s first challenger was established during the show-closing angle at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two. After Naito defeated Kazuchika Okada in their double title match, KENTA attacked Naito, hit a Penalty Kick, and laid him out with the Go 2 Sleep. KENTA then posed with Naito’s title belts.
Naito & SANADA defeated KENTA & Jay White at New Year Dash, with SANADA getting the pin on White as KENTA and Naito were fighting outside. KENTA and White attacked Naito and SANADA after and hit them with chairs. KENTA cut a promo telling Naito that he’s going to take both of his titles.
The New Beginning in Osaka is taking place at Osaka-jo Hall. Naito vs. KENTA is the first match announced for the New Beginning tour.
The second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 tonight will see not only the final match of Jushin Thunder Liger’s career, but also a match for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles.
Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito emerged victorious last night, walking out of the Tokyo Dome as champions. They’ll face off with Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight title and Naito’s IC title on the line in tonight’s main event.
Jushin Thunder Liger will have his final professional wrestling match on this card. He will team with long-time rival Naoki Sano to face Ryu Lee & Hiromu Takahashi in a clash of generations.
Hiroshi Tanahashi will face Chris Jericho in a special singles match. It has been pushed that if Tanahashi were to defeat Jericho tonight, he would get a future AEW World title shot.
Kota Ibushi and Jay White, who lost to Okada and Naito respectively on night one, will now meet in a match where the winner will likely be the next challenger for the IWGP Heavyweight title.
After winning the IWGP United States Heavyweight title from Lance Archer last night, Jon Moxley will defend against Juice Robinson, who is now one half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions.
Other matches include KENTA taking on Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Openweight title, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA for the RevPro British Heavyweight title and El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori vs. SHO & YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles.
Join us for live coverage starting at midnight Eastern time.
**********
PRE-SHOW NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP GAUNTLET MATCH: EVIL, SHINGO TAKAGI & BUSHI DEFEATED RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, TOGI MAKABE & TORU YANO, BAD LUCK FALE, CHASE OWENS & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI, EL DESPERADO, TAICHI & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU, TOMOHIRO ISHII, YOSHI-HASHI & ROBBIE EAGLES TO WIN THE TITLES (23:23)
Fale hit a tackle and a Grenade on Eagles for a quick near fall in the opening seconds. Ishii dropped Owens with a forearm. Yujiro took down Ishii with an inverted DDT. Bullet Club went 3-on-1 on Ishii. Owens hit a running knee for a two count.
Owens tried a package piledriver on Ishii, but Eagles saved and hit a standing sliced bread, then a plancha on Fale. Owens and Ishii exchanged lariats. Owens hit a knee strike. YH cut him off with a thrust kick. Ishii hit Owens with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the first elimination.
Taichi hit an axe bomber on Ishii for a near fall. Desperado hit Ishii with a spear. YH hit a thrust kick on Desperado. Taichi took his trousers off. Ishii and Taichi traded strikes. Taichi landed a high kick. Ishii hit a lariat.
Eagles and Desperado tagged in. Eagles hit a springboard dropkick to the knee. Desperado and Kanemaru doubled up on Eagles. Kanemaru used an inverted DDT for a two count.
Kanemaru missed with Deep Impact. Eagles and Kanemaru did a series of standing switches. Eagles used a cradle for the pin on Kanemaru.
BUSHI hit Eagles with a missile dropkick. EVIL tagged in and tried to rally the crowd. EVIL hit his bronco buster for a near fall on Eagles. Shingo tagged in and traded chops with Eagles. Shingo tried a pop-up DVD, but Eagles blocked and hit Turbo Backpack into a double down.
YH tagged in and hit a headhunter on Shingo, then a running chop, followed by a draping dropkick to the back for a two count. YH and Shingo traded hard lariats.
EVIL and Ishii got tags. They traded forearms and tackles. Just all action here as LIJ tripled up on Ishii. EVIL hit a spear for a near fall. YH made the save. BUSHI hit a suicide dive to Eagles. EVIL tried Darkness Falls, but Ishii blocked.
The finish was botched. EVIL hit Darkness Falls. Ishii kicked out late at 3. The ref called it as a shoot and called for the bell. EVIL hit an STO on Ishii after the bell.
Yano used a quick schoolboy for a two count before the bell. Yano exposed a buckle and sent Shingo in and used another schoolboy for another two count.
BUSHI tagged in and choked Yano with his shirt. Makabe got a tag. He tried ten punches in the corner on BUSHI but EVIL blocked. Makabe sent EVIL into the buckle and hit the ten punches on BUSHI. Makabe hit a northern lights suplex for a two count.
BUSHI hit Makabe with an enziguri and a DDT. Shingo got a tag and traded forearms with Makabe. Makabe ducked a Pumping Bomber and hit a lariat.
Taguchi tagged in and tried a hip attack, but Shingo blocked. Taguchi hit three amigos. He called for a Bomaye. Shingo blocked with a dropkick. Everyone jumped in. Makabe hit a double lariat.
Shingo and Taguchi were still legal. Taguchi hit a Bomaye and a Dodon for a near fall. Taguchi grabbed an ankle lock. Shingo flipped out. BUSHI spit black mist at Taguchi from the apron. Shingo hit Made in Japan for the pin.
Liger and Hiromu locked up. Hiromu broke cleanly against the ropes. They tied up again, this time Liger with the clean break. Liger stretched Hiromu with a surfboard, then locked on the Romero Special, before giving up the hold.
Hiromu feigned tagging out. Liger turned his back, and Lee and Hiromu kicked Sano off the apron and double-teamed Liger. Lee tagged in and hit a one-legged dropkick for a two count. Hiromu tagged in and used a double sledge and a Fujiwara armbar on Liger’s right arm.
Liger fired up with shotei palm strikes, then hit tilt-a-whirl backbreakers on both Hiromu and Lee. Sano got a tag and hit a missile dropkick, then hit a double dropkick on both Lee and Hiromu.
Lee and Sano traded strikes. Lee hit a pump knee strike. Sano hit a lariat. Hiromu and Liger tagged back in and exchanged forearm shots. Hiromu scored a knockdown and taunted Liger. Hiromu hit strikes in the corner from the second rope, but Liger powerbombed him off.
Liger teased a Liger bomb, but Lee saved. Hiromu, Liger and Sano rolled to the floor. Lee tried a tope con giro, but hit Hiromu by mistake. Back inside, Liger hit a powerbomb for a two count.
Hiromu hit a German, but Liger no-sold it, then hit a shotei and a brainbuster. He covered, but Lee broke up the pin. Sano jumped in. Lee kicked him to the floor, then took him out with a suicide dive. In the ring, Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a two count.
Lee and Hiromu double-teamed Liger with kicks and knee strikes. Hiromu covered for a two count. Hiromu hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad. He teased Time Bomb, but Liger rolled him up for a near fall.
Liger tried a shotei. Hiromu ducked it, hit a lariat, then hit Time Bomb for the pin.
My video feed froze as Hiromu was standing over a fallen Liger after the bell.
I missed what was surely the best and most emotional part of the entire presentation. As a match, this was good but nothing special. With the post-match, I’m sure it was much more than that. Go back and watch the replay on NJPW World later to confirm.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHO & YOH DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI TO WIN THE TITLES (14:09)
SHO and YOH hit stereo topes at the opening bell. While Ishimori recovered on the floor, SHO and YOH hit ELP with strikes. ELP then bailed to the floor to regroup with Ishimori.
Back inside, ELP used a distraction from Ishimori to hit a dropkick to SHO. All four men brawled on the floor. Ishimori and ELP took over from there. Ishimori hit a siding German and used a neck crank.
ELP and Ishimori used their comedy back rake offense. ELP hit a quebrada back rake. ELP then hit a springboard moonsault-quebrada-suicide dive-frog splash combination for a two count on SHO.
Ishimori and ELP used their tandem crotch stand on SHO. YOH jumped in and hit some strikes, but soon found himself tied to the tree of woe as well for a double crotch stand. SHO ducked a springboard attack and hit a spear.
YOH got a hot tag and hit dropkicks to both ELP and Ishimori, then a flying forearm to Ishimori. ELP cut him off with a thrust kick. YOH came back immediately, sending Ishimori up and over, then hitting a pescado to both.
In the ring, Ishimori hit a handspring kick. ELP and SHO tagged in. SHO hit two rolling Germans on ELP, then a double German to both opponents. ELP used an inside cradle for a surprise near fall. Ishimori hit a jumping knee into an airplane spin neckbreaker from ELP for a two count.
Ishimori hit a codebreaker to SHO, and ELP hit a best moonsault ever for a two count. Ishimori and ELP went for a 3K. SHO turned it into a destroyer on ELP. Ishimori and YOH got clotheslined to the floor. SHO hit ELP with a superkick.
SHO went for Shock Arrow. ELP reversed, rolled through, then hit a Styles Clash for a near fall.
Ishimori took the referee. ELP grabbed a title belt. Rocky Romero saved for SHO. ELP tried a low blow to SHO, but SHO was wearing a cup. SHO and YOH hit a 3K on Ishimori. SHO hit Shock Arrow on ELP into a dragon suplex from YOH.
YOH hit a double stomp to ELP while SHO held him in Shock Arrow position. SHO then hit Shock Arrow for the pin and the title change. ELP and Ishimori are so fantastic that their reliance on haha is a little off-putting for me. That aside, this was very good.
RPW BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED SANADA TO RETAIN THE TITLE (12:33)
This was a great change of pace and different from anything else we’re likely to see this weekend. Well done.
They started with some mat work, obviously. They traded a series of cradles. They traded a cross-arm choke and a variety of escapes and counters reversing the hold. Sabre kicked SANADA off, then rolled to the floor to reset.
They traded cobra twists. SANADA used a rolling cradle for a two count. He went for a standing moonsault, but Sabre moved ever so slightly, then trapped SANADA on the landing. Sabre trapped the left arm. He used an armbar, but SANADA forced a rope break.
SANADA hit a dropkick to the right leg. Sabre tried a PK. SANADA caught it, then wrenched again on the right leg. SANADA hit a plancha as Sabre rolled out to the floor.
SANADA tried a dragon screw, but Sabre blocked and went for a Zack Driver. SANADA blocked, but Sabre kicked at his arm and set up an octopus. SANADA escaped and used Skull End to set up a moonsault attempt. SANADA missed the moonsault. Sabre hit a huge running PK.
They traded uppercuts. SANADA missed a springboard attack. They traded a series of cradles for near falls. SANADA hit a moonsault into Skull End. Sabre slid out into a European clutch for a near fall.
SANADA grabbed Skull End out of the near fall. Sabre reversed into a cobra twist. SANADA pulled away and tried for Skull End again. They traded clutch attempts, with Sabre ending up on top in a European clutch for the pin.
IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON TO RETAIN THE TITLE (12:49)
This was not at the level of their previous matches. There was nothing inherently wrong with it, but it was similar to matches we’ve already seen them have without the same intensity. The post-match, though, was unbelievable.
Juice hit a plancha as Mox was making his entrance. Juice then dropped Moxley on the barricade, then hit a slam on the floor. Moxley posted Juice, then went under the ring for some plunder.
Moxley set up a chair. He teased an x-plex on the chair, but Juice escaped and hit a drop toehold on the chair. Moxley sat in the chair and Juice hit a cannonball on the floor. They climbed inside the ring. Moxley whipped Juice up and over the top rope, then used a chair on the floor.
In the ring, Moxley used a series of short punches to the head, perhaps designed to open Juice up the hard way. Moxley hit a backbreaker, then used a sliding lariat to pick up a near fall. They traded chops. Moxley bit Juice on the right eyebrow. Juice hit a spinebuster and a leg lariat.
Juice hit Juice Box, then stacked Moxley up on a powerbomb for a two count. Juice hit jabs. Moxley ducked the Left Hand of God and used a figure four. Juice reached the bottom rope for a break. Moxley posted Juice’s left leg, then used a figure four around the post.
Moxley placed a chair around Juice’s neck and teased a baseball swing with another chair. Juice blocked and hit a Left Hand of God into the chair. Back inside, Juice hit a superplex, maintained hold of the neck on landing, then hit a jackhammer for a two count.
Juice tried Pulp Friction, but Moxley blocked and hit a German. Juice hit a German. Moxley hit a pair of lariats. Moxley went for Death Rider. Juice blocked, then used a roll-up for a near fall. Juice hit a lariat into a double down.
They traded strikes while standing. They exchanged headbutts. Moxley hit a Regal knee. Juice answered with two Left Hand of Gods. Juice went for Pulp Friction. Moxley reversed into a Death Rider. Moxley then hit a second Death Rider for the pin.
**********
As Moxley had his hand raised, Kaze Ni Nare hit.
Minoru Suzuki appeared on the stage wearing a track suit. On the way to the ring, Suzuki took the track suit off. He climbed inside and squared up to Moxley. They traded blows. Suzuki grabbed a rear naked choke, then hit the Gotch-style Piledriver.
Suzuki cut a promo. He asked Moxley who he thinks he’s picking a fight with. He said he’s the king of pro wrestling and if Moxley wants a fight, Suzuki will end up as the king of the United States.
Suzuki left. Moxley came to, then attacked Yota Tsuji as he checked on Moxley, thinking he was still in with Suzuki.
I give this angle one thousand stars.
**********
NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: HIROOKI GOTO DEFEATED KENTA TO WIN THE TITLE (16:12)
Goto went after KENTA before the opening bell. He used strikes and had great intensity, but probably blew himself up, as he went to a chinlock in the middle of this brawl. KENTA responded with a running boot, aand the action spilled to the outside. KENTA hit a stiff kick, then a DDT on the ramp. Goto beat the count back inside at 19.
KENTA used a knee lift. He did some crowd work, then hit a couple of kicks. After some more crowd work, KENTA used a chinlock, then another knee lift. Goto ame back with some hard elbows, one of which dropped KENTA. KENTA sold it like a flash knockout. Goto used a side suplex for a two count.
KENTA dropped Goto’s throat across the top rope, then used a clothesline off the top for a two count. Goto used a misdirection spot and hit an ushigoroshi. KENTA used Game Over. Goto forced a break.
KENTA hit a Shibata dropkick in the corner, then used a double stomp off the top rope for a near fall. Goto blocked a knee. KENTA hit a busaiku knee for a near fall.
KENTA went for Go 2 Sleep. Goto blocked and hit a headbutt. Each no-sold some big strikes. Goto hit a spinning lariat for a two count.
KENTA caught a mid kick and hit hard palm strikes to the face. Goto responded with slaps to the face. Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but hit a GTW instead. Goto then hit a GTR for the pin.
This didn’t do anything for me. Goto has his good days and bad days. KENTA gets a lot of heat at times, but he usually has to beg the crowd for it. I think a fun sprint would have been better than the long epic they were going for.
JAY WHITE DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI (24:59)
Ibushi avoided a Gedo distraction and hit White with some strikes. White came back and knocked Ibushi off the apron. Ibushi crashed into the barricade and slid down between the ring platform and the floor. That could have been really bad. I’m sure the platform serves a purpose but every year someone almost dies or breaks their neck on it.
White sent Ibushi into the barricade, and Ibushi just threw himself chest-first into the railing with abandon. In the ring, White used a chinlock. Ibushi responded with a snap rana and a plancha.
Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick, a powerslam, then a second rope moonsault for a two count. White may have been selling, or he may have broken a rib on Ibushi’s landing.
White hit a DDT, then used a DVD for a two count. White hit a series of uppercut forearms. Ibushi responded with a bastard driver. They traded a series of hard strikes. Ibushi went into his no-sell mode and dropped White with a huge lariat.
White hit a complete shot, followed by a deadlift German. White hit a Blade Buster, then used the Kiwi Krusher for a near fall. They fought on the top rope. White teased a superplex, but dropped Ibushi chest-first on the top rope. White hit a top rope uranage for a two count.
White hit a sleeper suplex. Ibushi responded with a V-Trigger. Ibushi teased a Bomaye, but faked it, grabbed a waistlock, then hit a bridging German for a two count. Ibushi then hit the Bomaye for a near fall.
Ibushi teased Kamigoye. White teased a Blade Runner. Ibushi hit a lariat. White threw Ibushi into the referee, who took a bump and flew to the floor.
Gedo jumped in with a chair. He used the chair on Ibushi, but Ibushi no-sold it. Gedo hit some kicks, but Ibushi no-sold those as well, then sent Gedo outside with a palm strike.
Ibushi hit a huge Kamigoye to White, then used a sit-out Last Ride. With no ref, there was no pin.
The ref was revived. Ibushi hit another Kamigoye. Gedo pulled the ref out of the ring and jumped in with brass knuckles. White threw a chair into Ibushi’s face. Gedo then hit Ibushi with the knuckles.
Gedo revived the referee. White used a straightjacket Bloody Sunday DDT, then hit Blade Runner for the pin.
White hit Ibushi with a second Blade Runner after the bell.
I liked this match. I thought it was better than White vs. Naito last night, but I didn’t seem to like that one as much as a lot of people did.
**********
They played a video of Tanahashi dressed as the Painmaker, mocking Jericho’s video challenge. I would imagine if you are someone who indulges in herbal cigarettes that this video might have really messed you up. It was wacky.
Jericho was announced as the AEW champ and wore the AEW belt to the ring.
**********
CHRIS JERICHO DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI (22:24)
They traded some holds and taunts at the outset. Tana mocked Jericho’s cocky pin taunt. Jericho hit a springboard dropkick and the action spilled outside. Jericho sent Jericho into the barricade, then up and over.
Jericho hit a DDT on the English announce table. He did a great job of protecting Tanahashi’s head and neck on what could have been a bad fall to the floor off the table. Jericho continued the assault in the ring with a knee drop off the top.
Jericho played air guitar on the top rope, then missed a High Fly Flow, allowing Tanahashi to really start cooking. Tana hit a slingblade. Jericho dodged a charge into the corner, and Tana accidentally took out referee Red Shoes.
Jericho hit a low blow and used his weight belt as a weapon. Tana responded with his own low blow. Jericho tried a bulldog, but Tana sent him feet-first into the buckle, then hit a somersault senton for a two count.
Jericho hit a back elbow. He teased a lionsault, but got pushed off the ropes to the floor. Tana hit a High Fly Flow to a standing Jericho on the floor. Jericho tried to climb back inside. Tana hit a dragon screw and two dropkicks to Jericho’s legs in the ropes.
Jericho ducked a slingblade and tried a codebreaker. Tana blocked and hit a dragon screw then an inverted dragon screw. Tana went for High Fly Flow at the 15 minute mark, but Jericho got his knees up. Jericho hit a lionsault for a two count.
Jericho tried Judas Effect, but Tana blocked and hit a straightjacket German into a bridge for a near fall.
Tana hit the ropes, but ran right into a Liontamer. After a long tease, Tana fought out of the hold, then hit a GTR. Tanahashi went up top for a High Fly Flow, but jumped right into a codebreaker. Jericho covered, but only got a two count.
Tanahashi hit a codebreaker but Jericho kicked out. Tanahashi tried a slingblade, but Jericho blocked and tried a Liontamer. Tana blocked and used an inside cradle for a two count.
Tana hit Twist and Shout, then a slingblade. He covered for a two count.
Tana went up top and hit a High Fly Flow. Jericho rolled through on the landing and slapped on the Liontamer. Jericho was bleeding from the mouth. Jericho switched to the high angle version of the hold, and Tanahashi tapped out.
A very good match with not as much brawling on the outside as I expected.
DOUBLE GOLD DASH – IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT & IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA TO WIN THE IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE & RETAIN THE IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE (35:39)
They went two and a half minutes before they touched, milking the crowd, teasing apprehension.
They locked up. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes. A lightning-quick sequence of ducking clotheslines and drop-downs ended with a back elbow from Okada. Okada hit a DDT for a two count.
Okada hit a scoop slam and a slingshot senton. Okada used a chinlock. You could sense Okada reading the room, deciding how to build the match, perhaps.
Okada hit a sliding kick. Naito answered with an arm drag, then a basement dropkick. Naito hit combinacion cabron in the corner. Naito blocked a kick, sweeped the leg, then hit a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor.
Back in the ring, Naito hit another neckbreaker, then used a crucifix hold. Okada reached the ropes for a break, but Naito was slow to break on the count from Red Shoes. Naito hit back elbow strikes to the neck in the corner, followed by elbows to the back.
Naito used a kravate. Okada came back with a running boot, then kipped up. Naito hit the ropes, but Okada hit a flapjack. Naito blocked a big boot, then blocked an air raid crash. Okada rolled through, reset his grip, then hit the air raid crash.
Okada hit a slam and a top rope elbow, then hit his Rainmaker pose. Naito blocked a Rainmaker with a series of back elbows to the neck. Okada ducked an elbow, hit the ropes, then ran into a pop-up spinebuster from Naito. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner.
Naito teased Gloria, but Okada fought it off. Naito hit a big right hand. Okada answered with a Woo dropkick. Naito got a boot up on a charge into the corner. Okada dropkicked Naito off the top rope to the floor.
On the outside, Okada dropped Naito’s knees on the floor. Naito sold his left knee. Okada cleared off an announce table. He hit a chop block against the fence, then dropped Naito’s left knee on the table. Naito beat the count back inside at 19.
Okada hit a missile dropkick for a near fall. Okada hit a German. Naito ducked a Rainmaker, then hit a tornado DDT. Naito hit Gloria, then placed Okada on the second rope. Naito climbed to the top rope, then hit a poison rana for a near fall.
Naito hit an enziguri. Okada blocked a flying forearm. Naito ducked a Rainmaker. Okada blocked Destino. Naito hit a flying forearm. Okada escaped a Destino. Naito hit a rolling capo kick. Okada hit a dropkick, Naito no-sold it. Naito hit Destino for a near fall.
Naito missed on another Destino attempt. He ducked a Rainmaker, but Okada nailed him with a dropkick. They traded strikes from their knees. Both men were smiling as they exchanged shots.
They climbed to their feet. Naito spit on Okada. They continued to trade forearms. Naito ducked a Rainmaker and hit a slap to the face. Okada escaped Valentia and hit a spinning Rainmaker.
Naito ducked another Rainmaker and tried Gloria, but Okada turned it into a tombstone. Okada hit a Rainmaker. 1-2– Naito kicked out.
Okada called for a sit-out tombstone. Naito slid out the back, but collapsed to the mat. Naito again spit in Okada’s face. Okada drove Naito’s knees into the mat. The crowd booed Okada.
Okada hit another Rainmaker, and kept control of Naito’s wrist. Okada hit another Rainmaker. He went for a third in a row. Naito ducked, then hit Destino. Naito sold his knee on landing. Naito covered, but the split second selling his knee cost him, as Okada kicked out at two.
Naito hit a scoop slam. He went to the top. Naito hit a Stardust Press. Okada kicked out.
Naito went for Destino. Okada blocked. Naito hit Valentia. Naito then hit Destino, covered, and got the pin.
Another superb main event. This was the best Naito match in a long time. Years, in fact, if you don’t count the daredevil stunt shows with Ibushi last year.
**********
Naito cut a promo. He said winning in the main event in the Tokyo Dome feels good. As Okada was helped to the back, Naito said maybe let’s do this again. Okada raised his fist, then walked to the back under his own power.
Naito was presented both titles, and posed as music played. He then addressed the crowd.
He said to everyone there and everyone watching around the world, he’s flipped the script. He said he’ll never forget this weekend, and he’ll step into the future with two belts.
He said for the first time in the Tokyo Dome, he listed off the members of LIJ. As he was finishing his speech with the LIJ chant, KENTA jumped into the ring.
KENTA hit a forearm strike, a PK, then hit a Go 2 Sleep. KENTA picked up both belts, then sat cross-legged, Shibata-style, on Naito’s chest.
BUSHI ran down and KENTA bailed. BUSHI helped Naito to the back, closing the show.
Three matches have been finalized for tomorrow’s second Wrestle Kingdom 14 event.
The main event will be IWGP Heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada facing new IWGP Intercontinental champion Tetsuya Naito. After Okada successfully defended his title against Kota Ibushi in tonight’s main event, Naito came out and said he’d be leaving tomorrow with both belts.
This would mark the second time Okada and Naito have headlined a Wrestle Kingdom card, the previous time being in 2018. The two also faced one another in the co-main event of Wrestle Kingdom 8 back in 2014.
Jay White and Kota Ibushi, who lost their respective matches tonight, will now face each other on tomorrow’s show.
Jon Moxley, who defeated Lance Archer tonight to win back the IWGP United States title, will now face Juice Robinson tomorrow with the title on the line.
Here is the full card for tomorrow’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 event:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho
Jay White vs. Kota Ibushi
KENTA vs. Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Openweight title
Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson for the IWGP United States title
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA for the RevPro British Heavyweight title
El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori vs. SHO & YOH for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team titles
Jushin Thunder Liger & Naoki Sano vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Ryu Lee in Jushin Thunder Liger’s final match
A six man gauntlet match for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles featuring champions Ryusuke Taguchi & Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs. Robbie Eagles & YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii vs. BUSHI & Shingo Takagi & EVIL vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado & Taichi vs. Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale
