Will Ospreay suffered a heel injury in Saturday’s Tokyo Dome match with Hiromu Takahashi where he lost his IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.
The injury took place at the beginning of the amazing series of spots where Ospreay landed on his feet each time.
Ospreay targeted the injury from his first Space Flying Tiger drop spot, where Takahashi moved and Ospreay landed on his feet, just prior to Takahashi giving him a German suplex onto the ramp, in which he also landed on his feet.
The match continued until Hiromu pinned Ospreay with a new variation of the time bomb to win the IWGP Jr. title for the second time. Ospreay wasn’t booked the following night.
He later posted a picture on social media where he was shown icing his heel. He is undergoing x-rays to determine the severity of the injury.
We haven’t heard of any other significant injuries from either of the two shows.
– The combined attendance at the Tokyo Dome for Wrestle Kingdom 14 nights one and two topped 70,000.
NJPW announced a paid attendance of 30,063 fans for night two. The number for night one was 40,008, which Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio was NJPW’s biggest paid attendance in 20 years.
– In addition to Tetsuya Naito defeating Kazuchika Okada in their double title main event, there were three more title changes on night two. Hirooki Goto defeated KENTA to win the NEVER Openweight Championship, SHO & YOH won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles from Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo, and EVIL, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI became the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions by winning the pre-show gauntlet match.
– Naito’s next challenger was established in the show-closing angle at night two. After defeating Okada to become the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Naito was attacked by KENTA during his promo. KENTA hit a Penalty Kick, the Go 2 Sleep, and posed with both of Naito’s titles before leaving the ring when BUSHI came to help Naito.
– Minoru Suzuki looks to be IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley’s next opponent. Suzuki came to the ring after Moxley retained the title against Juice Robinson today. Suzuki and Moxley went face-to-face and then started brawling, with Suzuki putting Moxley in a rear naked choke and hitting the Gotch-style piledriver.
Suzuki grabbed Moxley’s championship, got on the microphone, and held up the title belt.
Tetsuya Naito is the first person in NJPW history to hold both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles at the same time.
Naito defeated Okada in the main event of this morning’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 event following the Destino. Both Okada and Naito defeated Kota Ibushi and Jay White respectively yesterday to advance to today’s double title match.
After the bout, Naito acknowledged Okada. Okada responded in kind by giving Naito the LIJ pose as he was escorted to the back. Naito cut a quick promo and did the LIJ roll call to seemingly close out the show.
But as Naito started to celebrate in the ring, KENTA blindsided him and beat him down. He grabbed both belts and posed over him before BUSHI finally came out for the save. Naito was then escorted to the back as the show closed.
This is Tetsuya Naito’s second run with the IWGP Heavyweight title. He defeated Jay White last night to win the Intercontinental championship for the fifth time.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Regarding the relationship between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, according to several sources at this point it is limited to a storyline involving a shot at the AEW World title in tonight’s Tokyo Dome match with champion Chris Jericho and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Jericho, Tanahashi, and Gedo had the idea to use the possible shot at the AEW title to add intrigue to the Wrestle Kingdom 14. The storyline is that if Tanahashi wins, he gets a title shot at a later date.
If Tanahashi wins, it would obviously mean a second step has been approved in this angle because Jericho has not lost a singles match anywhere in the world since Dominion to Kazuchika Okada. AEW has the idea of protecting its World title, like New Japan does with the IWGP Heavyweight title, in the sense the champion would not be allowed to lose working for another promotion unless it is an approved key storyline idea.
Tony Khan and Rocky Romero were also involved in this deal as far as Khan approving and working with Romero on the usage of the belt in the storyline. Khan made the decision to allow it for the New Japan show but that it won’t be used as part of AEW storyline, mentioned within AEW on television, or on social media by the company.
It is not clear if Jon Moxley’s IWGP United States Heavyweight title win earlier today over Lance Archer will be brought up on AEW television. Because of a lack of relationship between the sides, his previous US title reign was not acknowledged in AEW. The only outside titles AEW mentions are those of AAA, as those companies have a formal working deal in place.
Jericho and Moxley have it in their AEW contracts that they can work with New Japan as long as it doesn’t conflict with an AEW date.
– Attendance at the Tokyo Dome topped 40,000 fans for Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one.
NJPW announced a paid attendance of 40,008 for the show, up from the 38,162 for Wrestle Kingdom 13 last year. The number for Wrestle Kingdom 12 was 34,995 fans.
This year’s Wrestle Kingdom is split across two nights for the first time ever. NJPW had noted yesterday that they were opening part of the outfield stands for night one.
– Night one saw four titles change hands. Tetsuya Naito defeated Jay White to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, Hiromu Takahashi defeated Will Ospreay to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, Jon Moxley defeated Lance Archer for the IWGP United States Heavyweight title in their Texas death match, and Juice Robinson & David Finlay won the IWGP Tag Team titles from Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa.
Kazuchika Okada retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kota Ibushi on night one and will face off against Naito with both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles on the line in the main event of night two.
This is Moxley’s second reign with the IWGP United States Championship. He had to vacate the title in October when he couldn’t make it to King of Pro Wrestling due to travel issues associated with Typhoon Hagibis. Archer instead defeated Juice Robinson (who Moxley was originally supposed to face at King of Pro Wrestling) for the vacant title.
Moxley will defend his title against Robinson at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two. The show will begin at midnight Eastern time overnight tonight.
– Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki defeated Hana Kimura & Giulia in Stardom’s dark match that took place at the Tokyo Dome before night one went on the air. Stardom wrote about the finish: “Giulia mistakenly hit Hana with a Missile Dropkick, and Mayu pinned Hana after a SS Cutter, Dragon Suplex and Moonsault.”
The first night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 takes place this morning inside the Tokyo Dome.
The first out of two cards will be headlined by Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against the winner of last summer’s G1 Climax tournament, Kota Ibushi. The winner of this will advance to a match on January 5 where both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles will be on the line.
Current Intercontinental Champion Jay White will defend his title against Tetsuya Natio, with the winner also advancing to January 5’s double title match.
Three other title matches will also take place on the card. Will Ospreay will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Hiromu Takahashi, Guerrillas of Destiny will defend the IWGP Tag Team titles against World Tag League winners Juice Robinson & David Finlay, and Lance Archer will defend the IWGP United States title against Jon Moxley in a Texas death match.
The first of two final Jushin Thunder Liger matches will also take place. With El Samurai in his corner, Jushin Liger will team with The Great Sasuke, Tiger Mask & Tatsumi Fujinami to take on Naoki Sano, Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Ryusuke Taguchi (w/ Kuniaki Kobayashi in their corner).
Join us for live coverage starting at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
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Arisa Hoshiki & Mayu Iwatani defeated Hana Kimura & Giulia in the dark match.
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PRE-SHOW MATCH: TOA HENARE, CLARK CONNORS, ALEX COUGHLIN & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED TOGI MAKABE, TOMOAKI HONMA, YUYA UEMURA & YOTA TSUJI (7:37)
Connors and Uemura began with some grappling. Connors used a side headlock takeover, then backed Uemura into the corner. Coughlin tagged in and landed some heavy chops. Fredericks got a tag and continued working over Uemura.
Fredericks hit an elbow drop. Uemura answered with a dropkick, then tagged Makabe. Makabe tried for ten punches in the corner on Fredericks, but Coughlin cut him off. Makabe hit a powerslam on Coughlin. Honma entered for a duel ten punches in the corner spot.
Makabe hit a northern lights suplex on Fredericks for a two count. Fredericks came back with a lariat, then both tagged out. Tsuji and Henare entered. Tsuji hit a dropkick. Honma and company entered for a 4-on-1 on Henare. Honma hit a kokeshi. Tsuji covered, but Henare’s team broke up the pinfall.
Henare went for a Samoan drop. Tsuji turned it into a sunset flip, then locked a full Boston crab on Henare. Coughlin broke the hold after a series of hard chops to Henare. Tsuji hit Coughlin with a spear.
Tsuji and Henare exchanged strikes. Henare hit a superkick and a lariat for a near fall. Henare then hit Toa Bottom on Tsuji for the pin. A fun opener. All the Young Lions showed great intensity.
Kojima and Tenzan opened up with some strikes on Nakanishi. Nakanishi answered with a double suplex on both men. Nagata jumped in and hit a PK on Kojima. Nakanishi hit a splash on Kojima for a near fall.
Kojima and Nagata squared off. Nagata hit a series of kicks. Kojima fought off an exploder and hit a DDT, then tagged Tenzan. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops on Nagata, then used a brainbuster for a two count.
Tenzan and Nagata traded strikes. Tenzan hit a mountain bomb. Nagata came back with an exploder. Both tagged out. Kojima went for a top rope elbow but got cut off. Nagata and Nakanishi hit a double lariat. Nakanishi went for the Argentinian backbreaker but Tenzan saved.
Tenzan and Kojima hit Nakanishi with a TenKoji Cutter for a near fall. Kojima then hit Nakanishi with a lariat for the pin. These guys worked as hard as they could and had about as good a match as they’re capable of given their physical and time limitations.
This was something of a miracle. Every old legend was totally fine here. Sano and Takaiwa did the most. Sano was a little unsteady but pulled off everything he tried.
Liger and Sano began. Liger used a single-leg takedown. They did a drp-down/leapfrog/tackle spot. Sano hit a dropkick, then sent Liger outside. Sano hit a tope suicida. Otani did a face wash spot in the corner on Liger, also hitting Sasuke with a boot. Liger hit a couple of shoteis.
Tiger and Takaiwa tagged in. Takaiwa hit a DVD. Taguchi tagged in and used hip attacks on Tiger for a two count. Takaiwa hit a top rope elbow for a two count on Tiger. Tiger hit a Tiger driver, into a double down.
Fujinami and Taguchi got tags. Fujinami hit a series of dragon screws, then used a dragon sleeper on Takaiwa. Sasuke tagged in and missed a swanton bomb. Sano missed a double stomp on Sasuke. Sano hit Sasuke with a superplex.
Liger and Taguchi tagged in. Liger blocked a hip attack and hit a top rope frankensteiner for a two count.
The match broke down. Tiger hit a dive to the floor on Takaiwa. Sasuke missed a swanton. Liger blocked a Dodon from Taguchi. Taguchi hit two enziguris and used a Bomaye for a near fall. Taguchi then hit Dodon on Liger for the pin.
The crowd was not happy with Liger losing. Everyone posed together after the match. This was well done.
Suzuki-gun attacked LIJ before the bell. EVIL and Suzuki ended up the legal men in the ring. EVIL hit his seated senton/bronco buster in the corner. Suzuki responded with an armbar over the ropes.
The action spilled outside. Suzuki used a chair on EVIL. Back inside, Suzuki used a rear naked choke. He tried for the Gotch-style piledriver, but EVIL blocked. Desperado tagged in and used a chinlock. Taichi entered. EVIL hit him with a suplex, then tagged out.
Shingo tagged in and ran wild with corner clotheslines. He hit Taichi with a back elbow-right jab-lariat combination. Taichi removed his trousers. Taichi and Shingo traded kicks. Taichi hit a high kick and an enziguri.
SANADA and Sabre tagged in. SANADA hit his leapfrog dropkick, then used the paradise lock on Desperado. SANADA went for a TKO on Sabre. Sabre turned it into a cobra twist. SANADA fought off the hold, then tried for a paradise lock on Sabre. The two traded cradles for near falls.
SANADA hit Sabre with a dropkick to the left knee. BUSHI tagged in for a missile dropkick. LIJ went 4-on-1 on Sabre. BUSHI hit a backstabber. Desperado broke up a pinfall.
Sabre went for a Zack Driver. BUSHI blocked. Sabre used an omoplata, then transitioned to another submission, tying up BUSHI’s arms with his legs in a crucifix position. BUSHI submitted.
After the bell, SANADA went after Sabre ahead of their match tomorrow. Sabre escaped. There was a lot of good action here, but they didn’t get a lot of time.
Yano made a big show of wanting to start the match, then teased begging off when he learned Fale was starting for the Bullet Club team. Yano tried a couple of shoulder tackles. Fale answered with a shoulder tackle. Yano untied a corner pad.
YH and Owens tagged in. YH hit a headhunter. They traded chops. YH hit the ropes, but got pulled to the floor. Owens hit a suicide dive. Bullet Club took over on YH. Yujiro hit a sliding dropkick for a two count. They did the Tongan massage parlor spot on YH.
Owens hit a shining wizard on YH. Yujiro covered for a two count. Ishii entered illegally to make the save for YH and cleared the ring. He hit a German to Yujiro. He went for a slam on Fale, but Fale reversed into a suplex.
KENTA and Goto tagged in for their first action of the match. Goto hit a lariat, corner lariat, then a bulldog for a two count. They teased their finishers. KENTA turned a GTR attempt into a DDT.
The match broke down and Bullet Club cleared the ring before going 4-on-1 on Goto. Yujiro hit an inverted DDT for a two count. The CHAOS team jumped in. Ishii hit a Vertical Drop Brainbuster on Fale which got a huge pop.
Goto hit KENTA with a clothesline, then an ushigoroshi on Yujiro. Goto followed with the GTR on Yujiro for the pin. Another good match. They also didn’t get much time, but it’s not as though they really needed much more to accomplish what they needed to.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA TO WIN THE TITLES (13:41)
They brawled on the ramp as G.O.D. made their entrance. Juice took a backdrop on the ramp. Finlay got tossed off the ramp to the floor.
The bell rang and G.O.D. went 2-on-1 against Juice. Tonga and Loa hit a double dropkick on Juice for a two count. Tonga hit a splash in the corner. Loa tagged in. He tried a suplex, but Juice reversed into an inverted DDT.
Finlay tagged in for his first action of the match. He ran wild with tackles and back elbows on Loa. He hit an uppercut forearm off the second rope. Tonga entered and cut him off. Finlay sent Tonga up and over the top rope. Loa used a leg sweep to drop Finlay injured shoulder-first on the top rope.
G.O.D. continued working over Finlay. Both Tonga and Loa hit slingshot sentons. Finlay came back with a spear on Loa, then managed a tag to Juice. Juice hit Loa with elbow strikes and a sit-out clothesline. He hit both Tonga and Loa with spinebusters.
Juice hit two cannonballs on Loa. Juice hit a series of jabs. Loa blocked the Left Hand of God and hit an enziguri, then a German. Tonga entered and missed a splash in the corner. Juice hit both Tonga and Loa with leg lariats.
Finlay got a tag. He hit a plancha on Loa, then hit a one-legged dropkick on Tonga but only got a one count. Juice and Finlay hit a double flapjack. Finlay teased a superplex while Juice teased a top rope elbow. Loa cut both off. Tonga hit a powerbomb on Finlay. Juice broke up the pin.
G.O.D. went for a Magic Killer. Finlay fought it off. G.O.D. hit a tandem neckbreaker, but Finlay kicked out. G.O.D. hit a Magic Killer on Finlay, but Juice broke up the pin. Juice ate a Magic Killer.
Jado called for a super powerbomb. Finlay turned it into a top rope rana. Finlay used an O’Connor roll for a near fall. Jado hit Finlay with a kendo stick for a near fall.
Finlay hit a stunner on Tonga. Loa broke up the pin. Loa teased Apeshit on Juice. Juice escaped and hit Left Hand of God on Jado once, then twice on Loa. Juice hit Loa with Pulp Friction.
Juice hit a Left Hand of God on Tonga. Finlay then hit an Acid Drop on Tonga, covered, and pinned him for the title change.
This was very good. G.O.D. deviated from the template that they’ve been using for their matches over the last six months or so, with great results.
IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED LANCE ARCHER IN A TEXAS DEATH MATCH TO WIN THE TITLE (14:26)
Moxley threw a bunch of chairs and trashcan lids into the ring after entering. Moxley charged at Archer with a knee strike before the bell. Archer hit a crossbody. Moxley hit a suicide dive. Moxley sent Archer into the barricade twice.
Moxley grabbed a kendo stick. He teased a dive off the top with the stick. Archer cut him off by tossing a chair at him. Archer hit a couple of more chair shots, then used a trashcan lid. Archer hit a kendo stick shot, then choked Moxley with the stick.
Archer continued to rain down kendo stick shots. Archer lost his footing on his rope-walk spot. Moxley grabbed the kendo stick and hit a series of shots. Archer went for the pounce, but Moxley blocked it with a lid shot.
Moxley suplexed Archer onto two chairs and a lid. Moxley hit a Regal knee and Archer flew outside. Moxley tried a dive. Archer caught him, then hit a chokeslam on the apron. Archer chokeslammed a Young Lion off the apron onto Moxley on the floor. Archer then hit a tope onto Moxley and a group of Young Lions. Moxley made it to his feet at 8.
Archer set up four chairs in the ring. He hit Blackout on Moxley into the chairs. Moxley again made it up at 8. Archer used the EBD Claw. Moxley slipped out into an armbar. Archer escaped and used a chokehold. Archer threw Moxley over his head by the throat.
Moxley hit a lariat out of the corner, blocked a chokeslam, then hit a Death Rider. Archer made it to his feet at 9. Moxley tried a second Death Rider. Archer blocked, then hit a pounce. Archer hit a chokeslam onto a pile of chairs. Moxley beat the count at 9.
Moxley flipped Archer double middle fingers. Archer pulled a plastic bag out of his pants and used the bag in applying the EBD Claw. Archer gave up the hold after Moxley didn’t tap.
Archer went outside and set up two tables. Archer used the spikes on his entrance helmet to gouge Moxley’s forehead.
Archer teased a Blackout. Moxley blocked. They fought on the apron. Moxley hit a Death Rider off the apron through the tables. Archer could not beat the count, and Moxley won the title.
Archer ended up bleeding after the table spot. We didn’t get a good shot of it. He might have bladed on the floor, it was tough to tell.
This was every bit as crazy as you would have expected. They could have gone a few more minutes and done a little bit more on another show, but on the biggest show of the year, this felt just about right at 14 minutes and change.
Moxley cut a promo after the match. He said he’s a gambler who came to Tokyo to leave with everything or nothing. He said he and Juice will settle the score tomorrow.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY TO WIN THE TITLE (24:34)
This did not disappoint. Just a masterpiece. A perfect mix of storytelling and state of the art moves.
Hiromu charged at Ospreay, but Ospreay side-stepped. They then started in earnest with some mat work. Ospreay out-wrestled Hiromu on the mat. They then did the sequence that you might have expected at the bell, teasing big moves, countering, escaping.
Hiromu teased a sunset bomb. Ospreay blocked and went for a rana. Hiromu blocked, powerbombed Ospreay on the apron, then hit a shotgun dropkick off the apron.
Back inside, Hiromu teased a headscissors over the top. Ospreay blocked, then hit a draping DDT. He covered, but Hiromu kicked out at two. Hiromu rolled outside. Ospreay cranked on Hiromu’s neck, wrenching it over the barricade.
Ospreay hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Ospreay rolled Hiromu back inside for a one count. Ospreay used a snapmare, then used a leg and arm choke. Hiromu rolled to the bottom rope to force a break.
Hiromu fired off some chops. Ospreay hit a kick. Hiromu hit a wheelbarrow flatliner, a low dropkick, then used a falcon arrow for a near fall. Hiromu hit some chops in the ropes. Ospreay answered with a handspring kick.
Hiromu rolled outside. Ospreay missed a Sasuke Special. Hiromu tried a German on the ramp. Ospreay landed on his feet. Hiromu hit a belly-to-belly, throwing Ospreay back inside. Ospreay then hit a Sasuke Special. This was probably the most creative sequence I’ve ever seen.
Back inside, Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio for a near fall. Ospreay missed a Robinson Special. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Ospreay hit high kicks to the neck, then a top rope 619. Ospreay hit a double stomp to the back of the head from the top to the floor with Hiromu draped over the middle rope.
Ospreay hit a missile dropkick to the shoulder. Hiromu sold it as though it was to the head, and you could feel the energy being sucked out of the crowd as they thought it landed to the head.
Ospreay went for a Hidden Blade. Hiromu collapsed to the mat before Ospreay could connect. Ospreay hit some short kicks to the head, then the Cheeky Nandos kick.
Ospreay climbed to the second rope with Hiromu in the electric chair. Hiromu slipped out, hit a chop, then tried a top rope rana. Ospreay blocked, then went back to electric chair position. Hiromu slipped out and hit a destroyer off the second rope for a two count. Hiromu was bleeding from the nose.
Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger for a two count. Ospreay fought off a lawn dart into the buckle. He hit a tiger wall flip kick, enziguri, then a Robinson Special. Hiromu blocked an Oscutter. Ospreay hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Ospreay hit a shooting star off the top for another near fall. Ospreay hit an Oscutter. Hiromu kicked out at the last possible instant.
Ospreay hit a hook kick. He missed a Hidden Blade. Hiromu hit a pop-up powerbomb into a double down.
They traded strikes from their knees, then back on their feet. Hiromu plucked Ospreay out of the air on an Oscutter attempt and hit a German. Hiromu hit a destroyer for a near fall.
Hiromu hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad. Ospreay blocked a Time Bomb. Hiromu hit two thrust kicks. Hiromu again tried Time Bomb. Ospreay hit a hook kick and went for Storm Breaker. Hiromu flipped out, hit the rpes, but ran right into a standing Spanish fly for a near fall.
Ospreay absolutely killed Hiromu with a Hidden Blade. Just blasted him in the head. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker. Hiromu turned it into a destroyer for a near fall.
Hiromu hit a a lariat, then hit Time Bomb. Ospreay kicked out at two.
Hiromu hit a running forearm. He then hit a cradle driver, dropping Ospreay squarely on his head. This was like an air raid crash but on the mat instead of over the knee. Hiromu covered for the pin.
IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED JAY WHITE TO WIN THE TITLE (33:53)
White paced around the ring after the bell, as he is wont to do. Naito rolled outside and grabbed Gedo by the beard, baiting White into the ring. Naito hit an armdrag, a hip toss, then a one-legged dropkick. White rolled outside, Naito hit his Tranquilo pose.
Naito hit a leg sweep. He then hit a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor. Naito sent White chest-first into the barricade. Back inside, Naito hit some stomps. Gedo provided a distraction near the five minute mark, allowing White to take over.
Gedo again grabbed Naito’s ankle on the apron. White crotched Naito into the post. Gedo used a chair on Naito’s left knee against the post. White sent Naito into the barricade, then wrenched on the left leg over the railing.
In the ring, White hit a Saito suplex. Naito rolled to the floor, while White hit the Tranquilo pose. White used a Muta lock. Naito came back with a tijeras off the second rope, then a leg sweep and a low dropkick.
White tried to block the combinacion cabron in the corner. Naito hit a low dropkick in the corner anyway. Naito used a crucifix hold. White forced a rope break. White ducked a lariat and hit a DDT. White hit a DVD for a near fall near the 15 minute mark.
They did a series of counters. Naito missed with two flying forearm attempts. White hit a chop. Naito grabbed the left arm and hit a series of hard elbows to the back. Naito then hit the flying forearm.
White hit a complete shot, then a deadlift German. White teased a superplex. Naito fought it off and hit a neckbreaker over his knee. Naito went for a top rope rana, but White dropped him face-first on the top turnbuckle.
White hit a dragon screw over the middle rope at the 20 minute mark. He tried to shoot Naito off the ropes, but Naito collapsed, selling his knee. They repeated the same spot with Naito collapsing. Naito couldn’t connect on a swing DDT. White hit a uranage for a near fall.
White suplexed Naito over the top rope. Naito crashed onto the apron, then fell to the floor. White tried a Blade Buster, but Naito blocked on the first two tries. White hit it on the third try, then hit a Kiwi Krusher for a two count.
White teased a sleeper suplex, but Naito blocked. White hit an inverted dragon screw, then used his TTO, an inverted figure four. They did a long submission tease, but Naito finally reached the bottom rope.
White tried to apply the hold a second time. Naito spit in his face, then hit an up kick. Naito hit a rolling capo kick. White hit the ropes but ran right into a pop-up spinebuster, into a double down.
Naito tried for Gloria. White fought it off with elbows to the head. Naito hit a series of hard elbows. Gedo jumped in the ring. Naito fought off the distraction and hit an enziguri, then a swing DDT.
Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner, then hit Gloria for a near fall.
Naito went for Destino. White dropped to the mat. Naito hit a low dropkick and went for Destino. White shoved Naito off into the referee. Gedo jumped in with a chair. Naito swatted Gedo away. White hit a low blow.
Naito hit a dragon suplex to White. Gedo jumped back in and ate a low blow. White hit Naito with a chair, then used a sleeper suplex. White went for a Blade Runner as the ref was revived. Naito blocked. White hit another sleeper suplex. Naito popped right up and hit Destino, into another double down.
Both men teased their finishers. Naito hit a poison rana, then hit Destino for a near fall.
Naito tried another Destino. White blocked. He went for Blade Runner, but Naito reversed into a Valentia. Naito then hit another Destino and got the pin.
This dragged in spots, but the last few minutes were very good.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: KAZUCHIKA OKADA DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI TO RETAIN THE TITLE (39:06)
This was amazing. A main event worthy of the biggest show of the year. Whether you preferred this or the Ospreay/Hiromu match is just a matter of what you prefer in your wrestling. Both were all-time great matches.
Okada’s entrance was badass.
They traded holds at the outset. Okada wrenched on Ibushi’s arms. Ibushi grounded Okada and worked on his legs. They methodically continued to trade holds. Ibushi used a hammerlock. Okada did the same. Ibushi used a drop toe hold into a side headlock takeover. Okada used a headscissors escape.
Okada used a side headlock as they continued to work slowly. Okada hit a shoulder tackle. Ibushi kipped up. They traded strikes. Ibushi ducked a Rainmaker, hit a mid kick, then used a standing moonsault for a two count.
Ibushi used a chinlock. Okada struggled in the hold, but finally forced a break. Ibushi hit a thunderous kick. Okada answered with a running back elbow. Okada hit another back elbow and used a DDT for a two count.
Ibushi rolled outside. Okada sent him into the barricade, then hit a draping DDT off the railing. Okada tossed Ibushi back inside and covered for a one count. Ibushi fired up. Okada offered his neck and Ibushi hit some hard forearms. Okada answered with another DDT.
Okada used a chinlock. Ibushi elbowed out, then hit a dropkick. Ibushi then hit a leaping mid kick. Ibushi hit a powerslam and a moonsault for a near fall. Okada reversed a whip into the buckle, placed Ibushi on the top rope, then dropkicked him to the floor.
Okada sent Ibushi into the barricade, then booted him up and over it. Okada hit a running crossbody over the barricade. Back inside, Okada used Red Ink. Ibushi forced a rope break.
Okada hit a scoop slam, a top rope elbow, then hit his Rainmaker pose. Ibushi ducked a Rainmaker, then spiked himself on his head on what was supposed to be a backflip kick. Okada pulled Ibushi up into a tombstone attempt. Ibushi reversed into a spike package piledriver.
Ibushi jumped in the air to avoid a shotgun dropkick, then hit a double stomp on the landing. Okada rolled outside. Ibushi hit a Golden Triangle off the top to the floor. Back inside, Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick.
Okada tried an air raid crash. Ibushi blocked it, then hit a sit-out Last Ride for a near fall. Ibushi went for a Bomaye. Okada cut it off with a dropkick.
Okada hit a tombstone. He went for a Rainmaker. Ibushi hooked his arm on the top rope to block. Okada hit an uppercut forearm.
Ibushi no-sold a series of uppercuts and a forearm to the neck. Ibushi hit a palm strike to the face. Okada hit a dropkick. Ibushi no-sold it, then hit a strike to the face. Ibushi hit a series of closed fist strikes to the chest.
Okada dropped to the mat. Ibushi hit a series of heavy shots to a downed Okada. Red Shoes had to pull Ibushi off of Okada.
Ibushi teased a deadlift German from the apron to the ring. Okada blocked and tried for a tombstone. Ibushi teased lawn-darting Okada into the post. Okada then hit a tombstone on the apron. This was a scary sequence. Ibushi just made it back in at 19.
Okada hit an air raid crash for a near fall, then hit heavy rain for another near fall.
Okada hit a German, grabbing Ibushi’s wrist on the landing. Okada went for a Rainmaker. Ibushi countered with his own thunderous lariat. Okada rolled to the apron. Ibushi hit a deadlift German from the second rope back into the ring for a two count at the 30 minute mark. Okada landed right on his head on the suplex.
Ibushi tried for a lawn dart. Okada slipped out and hit a spinning tombstone. Okada went for a Rainmaker. Ibushi reversed into his own Rainmaker, into a double down.
Ibushi hit a high kick, then a Bomaye. Okada kicked out at one. Ibushi hit another Bomaye for a two count. Ibushi hit a high kick, then hit a Kamigoye. Okada kicked out at the last possible instant.
Ibushi tried for another Kamigoye. Okada shoved him off and hit a picture perfect dropkick, just a work of art this kick was.
The two traded strikes from their knees. They climbed to their feet and continued striking. Ibushi hit one especially nasty kick to the back of the head. Ibushi hit another kick and collapsed at the 35 minute mark.
Ibushi made it to his feet and placed Okada on the top buckle. He teased a top rope tiger driver, but Okada shoved him off. Okada tried a missile dropkick. Ibushi plucked him out of the air and hit a powerbomb for a two count.
Ibushi missed a phoenix splash. Okada hit a spinning Rainmaker, then hit a second Rainmaker. He stacked Ibushi up, covered — and only got a two count. This reached all-time levels of greatness here.
Okada hit another Rainmaker, but held Ibushi’s wrist. Okada hit another Rainmaker, then hit his pose. He picked Ibushi up for another. Ibsuhi ducked and hit a high kick. Ibushi hit a V-Trigger, then went for Kamigoye. Okada blocked and hit a sit-out tombstone. Okada then hit another Rainmaker for the 1-2-3.
Epic.
Naito came to the ring after the match. He asked Okada if he remembered what he told him two years ago in the Tokyo Dome. Naito said he’s back in that spot and he’s going to beat Okada tomorrow night. Both men posed with their titles. Naito then left, leaving the ring to Okada.
Okada thanked the crowd for being there. He thanked Ibushi for the fight of his life. Okada said he doesn’t care what Naito wants He said he’s the strongest IWGP champion of all time.
He again thanked the 40,008 for selling out everything except the seats opened up after production holds on the day of the event. He said this is the best wrestling in the world and he hopes to see everyone again tomorrow when he will make it rain.
The original alternate has returned…and look who decided to show back up?
But before I take more time out for these messages about the Mid-Atlantic events coming to your area, Adam Summers and I give our thoughts on what we think will go down this weekend at the Tokyo Dome.
Before those 90 minutes get started, Adam takes us on a tour of the country, hitting everything there needs to be hit from All Japan, NOAH, Big Japan, Stardom, and everywhere else as we begin 2020.
It’s the radio show that still can’t believe sometimes that they won’t have to wait for the show to be uploaded in chunks a week from now; It’s the Adam and Mike BIG AUDIO NIGHTMARE~!
F4W NEWSLETTER: Recapping WWE TLC 2019 Joseph Currier gives his thoughts on WWE’s final PPV of the decade.
WWE’s final pay-per-view of the decade took place on Sunday night and exemplified some of the changes we’ve seen over the past 10 years.
TLC 2019 was very much a B-level PPV in the WWE Network era. Not only were the top men’s and women’s singles titles from each brand not defended, there were no singles titles on the line at all. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens and AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton seemed like they were being built up as non-title matches that would help anchor the card, but they didn’t end up getting added. The show even ended with an angle instead of a match. After Asuka & Kairi Sane’s tables, ladders, and chairs match against Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair, a locker room brawl that featured Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin continued. The image that closed the show was Reigns spearing Corbin from an elevated area onto a pile of bodies. It felt like the ending of an episode of Raw or SmackDown instead of a major event.
A look at the industry as a whole as we end 2019 and go into 2020 is the lead story of the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We go into the birth of AEW and its numbers thus far, the situation with Impact, ROH, New Japan in the U.S., value of AXS to New Japan, UFC moving to streaming PPV and the key to a value in this not talked about, why the big companies are falling upwards, Bellator numbers, AEW’s interest level peak and PPV demand, the change over the last two years in the non-WWE U.S. business, NXT business, shows with strong advances, ideas for AEW, NXT skewing older, the Wednesday night wars, attempts to make new stars, live viewing on Wednesday and where all the other shows with weekly TV stand at this point.
The issue also covers:
A feature on the career of Mr. Niebla, his death, his troubles, and his biggest matches.
Live event business and how things changed from 2018 to 2019, looking at numbers of big shows, and average attendance for the different groups.
Royal Rumble show and ticket demand.
WWE injuries, a new football league with a name awfully close to XFL, a look at names at WWE tryouts, new events over WrestleMania week, current WWE market value and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
WrestleKingdom shows, the controversy over the women’s match on the card, why the match won’t air on New Japan World, the lineups, the main selling points, and the angles on the final show with full coverage of New Japan’s last event of the year.
UFC show in South Korea, the Korean Zombie, with match-by-match coverage.
Career of Rene Goulet, with his highlights, how he faded out, his bitterness over being let go by WWE, his career title history and highlights.
Biggest kickboxing match in years, and the back story that drew one of the largest television ratings for sports ever in Holland. We look at The Baddest vs. The King and what happened.
This past week’s PWG show, including notes showing how the business is changing.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Our weekend show is up here. On a side note, we are still in the process of getting our video site issues resolved so please bear with us in the meantime.
New Japan is pushing that Hiroshi Tanahashi will get a shot at the AEW title if he beats Chris Jericho on 1/5 at the Tokyo Dome. That’s a long way from a few months ago when nobody in New Japan was allowed to publicly acknowledge AEW’s existence.
Fedor Emelianenko qualified what he said last night saying that last night was part of his retirement tour but he was not retiring after the fight. That was a really pitiful performance by Rampage Jackson in that fight.
For those voting for match of the year, the David Starr vs. Jordan Devlin match that you should see can be found here.
Mizuki Inoue vs. Tecia Torres has been announced for the 3/28 show in Columbus, OH.
MISCELLANEOUS
AAW from last night in Merrionette Park, IL: Myron Reed won six-way over Air Wolf, Colt Cabana, Clayton Gainz, Ace Austin and Josh Briggs, Kimber Lee b Hyan, Killer Kross b Matt Justice, Good Brother #3 b Jimmy Jacobs in a dog collar match, Kris Statlander b Jessicka Havok, Jake Something & Curt Stallion b David Starr & Eddie Kingston, Hakim Zane b Paco to win the Heritage title, Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega b Sami Callihan & Jake Crist to retain the tag titles, Mance Warner b Josh Alexander to win AAW title when Jacob Fatu no-showed without calling ahead. This is the second time in recent months Fatu has missed an AAW show (thanks to Case Lowe)
Big Japan Pro Wrestling has had a really bad flu strain. Those who are out of action and will miss the 1/2 show at Korakuen Half are Abdullah Kobayashi, Ryuji Ito, Ryota Hama, Orca Uto, Yuki Ishikawa, Masaki Morihiro, Kota Sekifuda and referees Mac Takeds and Ryohei Nakatani.
CZW will start on PPV with a taped show called CZW’s Bloodiest Wars with DJ Hyde & Masada vs. Atsushi Onita & Matt Tremont and Mance Warner & Rickey Shane Page.
Mike Bailey is out of the next DDT tour. He said it was due to Fed Ex losing his visa paperwork in the mail and the replacement documents won’t arrive in time. Bailey & Mao were going to challenge Soma Takao & Daisuke Sasaki for the KO-D tag titles. Takao & Sasaki instead are defending against Keisuke Ishii & Kazuki Hirata. Bailey was to face HARASHIMA for the DDT Extreme title. HARASHIMA will now defend against the DDT seal mascot on 1/12. (thanks to Patrick Tobin)
In a video posted to his Instagram Saturday morning, AEW Champion Chris Jericho officially added a stipulation to his match against Hiroshi Tanahashi for night two of next week’s Wrestle Kingdom 14 show.
Last week, Tanahashi floated the idea of a rematch for the AEW title if he is able to defeat Jericho in their first meeting on January 5th at the Tokyo Dome. It surprised many because the two organizations haven’t established a working relationship and there’s some bad blood due to how things ended when Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks and New Japan parted ways.
However, that didn’t stop Jericho from accepting Tanahashi’s challenge after he said he talked to Tony Khan:
A post shared by Chris Jericho (@chrisjerichofozzy) on Dec 28, 2019 at 6:42am PST
Jericho has a clause in his AEW contract allowing him to work in New Japan, but it’s unclear about whether this marks a change in the relationship between AEW and New Japan. The latter has had a working relationship with Ring of Honor for years, further adding questions to what is happening.
It’s the last Pacific Rim of 2019 and the last before Fumi Saito, Dave Meltzer, and I begin our wrestling coverage from Tokyo next week.
In this episode, Fumi gives his thoughts on Stardom’s dark match at Wrestle Kingdom 14 and the retirements of Hazuki and Kagetsu. In addition, he has a really interesting prediction for an unannounced match on January 5th that Minoru Suzuki fans might want to hear. He also talks about his most anticipated WK14 match.
But the show isn’t just all Stardom and New Japan. We also talk All Japan, All Japan Women, and thoughts on the biggest stories of the decade and where Fumi sees the wrestling business headed in the next ten years. Plus, we answer your #AskFumi questions on Takagi, Evil, and Sanada.
It was announced in October that Bushiroad — the parent company of NJPW — had purchased Stardom. The promotions are being kept separately.
New Japan World is owned by NJPW and TV Asahi, while Stardom is on a rival network.
Wrestle Kingdom night one is taking place on Saturday, January 4, with the show being headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and Jay White vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental title. The winners of those matches will face off on night two on January 5, with the winner becoming a double champion.
NJPW has announced the rules for Lance Archer and Jon Moxley’s Texas death match at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
It will be a no disqualification match that can only be won by 10-count knockout or via submission. There will be no pinfalls in the match.
Archer vs. Moxley will be part of the card for Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one on January 4. Archer’s IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship will be on the line.
Moxley vacated the IWGP US title in October when he couldn’t make it to NJPW’s King of Pro Wrestling event due to travel issues associated with Typhoon Hagibis. Moxley was supposed to defend the title against Juice Robinson in a no DQ match at that show, and Archer defeated Robinson after being announced as his new opponent for the vacant championship.
Moxley had won the IWGP US title in his in-ring debut for NJPW. He defeated Robinson at June’s Best of the Super Juniors finals to become champion.
New opening matches have been added to both days of Wrestle Kingdom 14.
NJPW made the announcements this evening. January 4 will now have an eight man tag team match featuring Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Yuya Uemura & Yota Tsuji taking on Alex Coughlin, Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors and Toa Henare. A tag team match was also announced, with Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan teaming up to take on Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi.
On January 5, there will be a five team gauntlet match for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles. Current champions Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe and Toru Yano will defend against the team of Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HISH & Robbie Eagles, EVIL & Shingo Takagi & BUSHI, Taichi & Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens.
These will take place an hour prior to the main shows, which start at 1 a.m. EST.
Full cards have already been revealed for the two Wrestle Kingdom events. Both shows will center around a double title match that will take place on January 5, pitting the winners of January 4th’s IWGP and Intercontinental title matches in a match for both titles.
The past will meet the present in the final match of Jushin Thunder Liger’s legendary career.
NJPW has revealed the cards for Wrestle Kingdom 14 nights one and two. The shows will feature the final two matches of Liger’s career, with a retirement ceremony then being held for him at New Year Dash.
Rivals Liger & Naoki Sano will team together against Hiromu Takahashi & Ryu Lee (Dragon Lee’s new name in NJPW) on Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two. Liger & Sano will be managed by Yoshiaki Fujiwara.
Lee issued a challenge to Liger on the last show of NJPW’s World Tag League, and Liger replied by saying he wanted to face both Lee and Takahashi.
Liger’s match for night one had already been announced. It will be Liger, Tatsumi Fujinami, The Great Sasuke & Tiger Mask IV (w/ El Samurai) vs. Sano, Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Ryusuke Taguchi (w/ Kuniaki Kobayashi). Norio Honaga will referee the eight-man tag.
Liger’s matches will open both Tokyo Dome shows. Night one is taking place on January 4, night two is on January 5, and New Year Dash is on January 6. New Year Dash is taking place at Ota City General Gymnasium.
