Tag: wrestle kingdom results

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 live results: Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final match

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The final match in the legendary career of Hiroshi Tanahashi takes place in the Tokyo Dome as part of tonight’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20.

Tanahashi takes on longtime NJPW rival and current AEW roster member Kazuchika Okada on a night that will also feature a retirement ceremony.

IWGP World Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji in a winner takes all bout.

Olympic judo gold medalist Aaron Wolf makes his pro wrestling debut against NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL.

In another winner takes all match for the IWGP Women’s Championship and NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, Saya Kamitani goes one-on-one with Syuri.

NJPW TV Champion El Desperado defends against Chris Brookes while El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. Sho will decide the next IWGP Junior Heavyweight title challenger.

In a 10-man tag, the Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd & Drilla Moloney) and Unaffiliated (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) take on Andrade El Idolo and United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Henare & TBA).

The show will also feature a Ranbo match for the NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles.

Our live coverage begins at 1:15 PM Eastern.

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Pre-Show

Katsuya Murashima & Masatora Yasuda defeated Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto

Murashima and Matsumoto began grappling to a standstill in the Tokyo Dome. Yasuda gained control following two suplexes. Kato quickly recovered with a suplex to Murashima. Three consecutive bodyslams saw Kato maintain an edge over Murashima. He bounced back with a Back-Body Drop. and a Murashima Stampede. Through gritted teeth and applied pressure, Murashima’s Boston Crab tapped Kato.

(Crisp match with a quick pace. While the Young Lions were hungry, they stayed coloring in the lines, so as not to take any unwanted risks. Just enough to have a serviceable match.)

El Phantasmo (c) defeated Chris Brookes for the NJPW World Television Championship

Phantasmo and Brookes wrestled to a standstill. Employing sportsmanship with a handshake, Phantasmo earned a kick to the midsection as recompense for his good deed. Attacking Phantasmo’s ally, Jado, Brookes exploited the confusion and the environment using his DDT cohorts to inflict whiplash via a brightly colored rope.

Brookes from the top rope landed a senton that rattled the champion. Phantasmo slingshot himself from the ropes to deliver a Thunderkiss 86. His UFO attempt nearly finished the match. Brooks regained control, sneaking his knees up to disrupt another Thunderkiss 86. The challenger’s Brainbuster resulted in a nearfall. Phantasmo’s CR2 preceded a final Thunderkiss 86 that secured a title retention over Brookes.

(Phantasmo and Brookes had chemistry. The Dome sizzled with this one, and I imagine Brookes will revisit this bout with Phantasmo in the future to build something else. There’s something here, but not enough to go nuts over. Solid affair.)

Main Card

TMDK eliminated Oleg Boltin & Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) in the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship Rambo

House of Torture (SANADA, Ren Narita, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) promptly went to work on Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, & Kaisei Takechi. They bounced back, however, flinging Narita into the corner as War Dogs (Yuto-Ice, OSKAR, & Clark Connors sauntered to the ring, accompanied by AEW’s Thekla. Narita unwisely took this time to sneak up on Umino, Uemura, and Takechi and was stomped out. War Dogs barreled into the standing babyfaces.

Thekla distracted House of Torture so Connors could batter them with a tire. TMDK emerged next, featuring Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa, and Hartley Jackson. Oiwa and Yuto-Ice clobbered each other with forearms. Connors punctured Sabre with a Gore to allow Yuto-Ice more breathing room. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Togi Makabe joined the four teams as Oiwa battled OSKAR and Yuto-Ice in the ring. Oiwa flung OSKAR out, thereby eliminating War Dogs. They were replaced by Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Oleg Boltin.

Team 100 (Taichi & Satoshi Kojima) & Tomohiro Ishii were the new entries as Boltin eliminated Tiger Mask via pinfall. Boltin and Ishii teetered in a vertical suplex standoff, which the latter gained the upper hand in. The champions Toru Yano, Master Wato, & YOH rounded out the participants; YOH came out emulating “Toru YOH-no”. Taichi and Uemura tumbled into the ropes, each spilling outside, therefore eliminating their teams.

YOH singlehandedly stood his own against the challengers. Wato and Yano saved YOH from elimination. However, House of Torture pulled him off the ropes after nearly toppling SANADA, who fell out as well. Bishamon and Boltin coordinated well to disorient TMDK. Sabre outwrestled Boltin’s Kamikaze attempt to secure a pinfall with a bridged pin.

(This Rambo Match felt like a party. It won’t be for everyone, but the chaos was a part of the charm. I genuinely didn’t expect TMDK or Bishamon & Oleg Boltin to be the final two.)

Syuri (c) defeated Saya Kamitani (c) for the IWGP Women’s Championship & NJPW Strong Women’s Championship

Despite the swift agility of both champions, each woman evaded the other’s lethal strikes to a stalemate. Syuri trapped Kamitani’s arm, but a rope break was her salvation. Kamitani used the referee as a shield to break up Syuri’s momentum. H.A.T.E. pulled Syuri out of the ring, allowing Kamitani to dive at her into the steel blue barricade.

Kamitani weakened Syuri following a spiteful forearm exchange. A Bridging Northern Lights Suplex lent the Strong champion more momentum. Syuri swung a comeback as she dragged Kamitani over the top rope and cranked back on her opponent’s arm. The terrified and panicking Kamitani squirmed to a rope break, even though both of her arms were within Syuri’s grasp. A confident Blue Thunderbomb placed Kamitani inches from victory, as did a Star Crusher. Syuri grounded Kamitani with a Fujiwara Armbar, followed by a knee to the face. Kamitani garnered some steam, but Syuri caught her with a roundhouse kick. A Buzzsaw Kick dazed Kamitani. Syuri became a double champion by use of her signature Syu-Sekai.

(To the surprise of absolutely no one, this match was a classic. A hard-hitting bout with close nearfalls, this added poignancy to the seriousness of tonight. If this match doesn’t land in the conversation of match of the year in most, if not all, circles, then I’d be surprised.)

United Empire (Jake Lee, Andrade El Idolo, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & HENARE) defeated War Dogs (David Finlay, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd) & Unaffiliated (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi)

Finlay quickly went to work on Lee. Meanwhile, Kidd contended with Idolo, whose conditioning overwhelmed the madman, resulting in a Flying Crossbody. Takagi and HENARE collided, two bulls clashing in tackles, the former gaining an upper hand with a DDT. HENARE withstood most of Takagi’s offense, but couldn’t survive a lariat. Moloney outcircled him, leading to a dropkick. Reunited with Takagi, HENARE fell prey to an elbow from him and Moloney.

Takagi’s lariat and Moloney’s Gore continued to rock the Maori wrestler. Finally, HENARE snagged a comeback with a Berserker Bomb. Finlay and Newman’s hate boiled over in their hot tags; a backbreaker crushed the latter. Lee joined in, powerslamming Finlay. Takahashi and Finlay used each other as a weapon, flinging the other into Lee in the corner. By way of Finlay’s Dominator, Takahashi landed on Lee in a 2-count pin attempt. Moloney endured Newman’s onslaught to return fire with a Drilla Killa. Finlay tossed Takahashi into the sea of War Dogs and United Empire members. Irate, Takahashi flipped him over onto all their partners and opponents.

The jubilant Takahashi, now isolated, looked at the lights after Lee’s Facebreak Shot awarded him the pinfall victory.

Post-match: Jakob Austin Young joined the group in a white-collared shirt and tie. A masked figure also joined the United Empire’s celebration, revealed to be Francesco Akira.

(This match had some unhinged energy to it, with so much going on. I loved the chaos. Social media may be divided on Jake Lee, but the overall storytelling and action in this match was truly something to behold.)

El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori, SHO, Kosei Fujita for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Contender

SHO found himself on the receiving end of everyone’s ire, absorbing everyone’s kicks. He pointed into a random corner and scurried away. Desperado and Ishimori formed a temporary alliance toward Fujita. SHO returned to the fray and promptly fell to a drop toe-hold from Fujita (with a Desperado and Ishimori assist). Ishimori left Desperado reeling with a La Mistica. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI swarmed Ishimori with stomps and a lead pipe from the latter. SHO almost struck Ishimori with a wrench when Robbie Eagles, Robbie X, and Kuukai came to his rescue.

Fujita would have helped them, had it not been for SHO striking him with a black sheet pan. He followed up with a Shock Arrow. Desperado usurped him, nevertheless, with a Pinche Loco.

(Thrilling Junior Heavyweight action here, don’t get me wrong. But this match was so disorganized in the end. Though I’m excited to see the Robbies and Kuukai involved, I could have sworn the House of Torture interference had resulted in a bell being rung, so I thought this had already ended in disqualification with a wild post-match angle. Whatever. It should’ve been Fujita with the win, though.)

Death Vegas Invitacional and further event dates

An April 16, 2026, show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, was revealed to be titled “Death Vegas Invitacional”. Further shows revealed were the New Japan Cup, Sakura Genesis, Wrestling Red Zone in Hiroshima, Wrestling Dontaku, and G1 Climax 36 (with U.S. dates).

Aaron Wolf defeated EVIL (c) for the NEVER Openweight Championship

Wolf emerged with a shaved head and black trunks, eschewing his judogi.

EVIL and Wolf wasted no time, sharing forearms. The fiery Wolf used EVIL’s headlock against him, hurling him every which way. An elbow drop left EVIL fleeing to the outside. Propping a chair on Wolf’s neck, EVIL swung like he was famed baseball player Ken Griffey Jr in 1997. The arrogant EVIL taunted Wolf after an Irish Whip into the corner wrecked the former judoka.

Another whip into the corner devastated Wolf. EVIL tried several pinfalls to no avail. Using his judo experience, Wolf overcame the flood of House of Torture members with relative ease. EVIL swung powder in his face and sank in a deep Texas Cloverleaf. Tokyo erupted as he crawled to the bottom rope. EVIL regained dominance as he bullied Wolf with strikes. Wolf found his spirit with an Olympic Slam. He rocked EVIL with a Splash. House of Torture stole the referee before he could get a pin. Preventing further aid, the team wiped out YOH, Master Wato, and Toru Yano, who stormed in on Wolf’s behalf.

Don Fale erected a wooden table and splashed Wolf through its unforgiving structure. Miraculously, Wolf kicked out of EVIL’s lariat. Wrapping his legs around EVIL’s neck, Wolf stretched EVIL’s arms until he was left unconscious. Wolf became the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

(Tokyo was not ready for, yet hotly anticipated, Aaron Wolf. The long build to his debut and the overall execution made for a special moment and atmosphere. EVIL was actually in good form here, and the House of Torture antics added to the drama to give a superhuman performance. Wolf is a made man, and I hope the booking has the vision to ensure he is a successful prospect.)

Yota Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

Exchanging headlocks, both men remained remarkably calm. Reaching a standstill, Tsuji paintbrushed Takeshita in the face. He sent Takeshita reeling courtesy of a hurricanrana. Slowing the match to a crawl, Takeshita took a stroll to regain composure. The audience audibly grimaced, hearing the thud of Tsuji’s chest from Takeshita’s chops.

Tsuji rocked Takeshita with the double-knee Gut Buster. The World Heavyweight Champ retaliated with a vertical suplex. Takeshita dropped Tsuji with a DDT onto the apron, to head-crunching effect. He sent Tsuji outside with a Frankensteiner. Tsuji countered a Power Drive with a backbreaker and a stomp to grasp a comeback. Tokyo clamored for Tsuji following a well-executed Fosbury Flop.

Takeshita’s Power Drive hit its mark on Tsuji, and he hit his own version of the Gene Blaster. Escaping Takeshita’s forearms, Tsuji was devastated with an elbow low blow. Takeshita lay dizzied on the mat after suffering a Destroyer. Though he suplexed Tsuji, Takeshita still ended up on the receiving end of a Gene Blaster. Readying for another Blaster, Tsuji withstood Takeshita’s knee, a Blue Thunderbomb, and a Raging Fire with a rope break. Takeshita found some wiggle room with a Poisonrana. Tokyo became unglued after a top rope Blue Thunder Bomb and Power Drive failed to put Tsuji away. Aiming for one last Power Drive, Takeshita instead fell victim to a Gene Blaster. Tsuji sank in a Boston Crab and lowered it further to keep Takeshita grounded. Ultimately, Takeshita acquiesced, tapping out to Tsuji’s pressure.

Post-match: Tsuji celebrated, enjoying sportsmanship from Takeshita and expressing his pride as the new World Heavyweight Champion, as well as retaining his Global Heavyweight Champion. Jake Lee attacked him from behind and tossed his title carelessly into his lap.

(Yes. I agree with this. The absolute correct call, and I am a Takeshita fan. But man, this match’s intensity became so stressful, so compelling that any meandering spots were meaningless to the overall spots that elevated it to another level. Takeshita and Tsuji have such gripping chemistry that reliably results in instant classics.)

Main Event

Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi soon wrestled control of the match in his favor. Okada wrenched it to his with a relentless headlock, taunting him by saying, “Go, Ace!” Tanahashi retorted with an elbow drop and a senton. Slamming his opponent to the mat, he teased a High-Fly Flow when Okada dropkicked him to the ringside. The Rainmaker faced Tokyo with a cheesy grin as he tormented Tanahashi with a knee to the barricade and a DDT off of it.

Bullying his old rival in the corner, Okada planted him with a DDT. Fighting back with punches, Tanahashi dazed Okada with a slam and a senton. Okada flung Tanahashi over the top rope, but he ricocheted back, replying with a Dragonscrew Leg Whip. Recuperating on the outside, Okada returned to the floor upon a top rope High-Fly Flow. Giving the camera the middle finger, Okada hinted at a Rainmaker Lariat, only for Tanahashi to flop him around with three successive Twist ‘n’ Shouts. A Tombstone from Okada was The Ace’s reward. The crowd pleaded with Okada not to drop Tanahashi with a Tombstone on the ramp, but he did it anyway. With the weight of the world and the match crushing his body, Tanahashi narrowly slipped back in the ring at a close 19-count.

Okada greeted him with a series of Rainmakers, with a third one eliciting a fire from The Ace. Wrist control firmly locked, Okada resumed his unloading of Rainmakers. With a second wind, Tanahashi reversed one with a Rainmaker of his own. Okada employed one more Rainmaker with some extra emphasis added to it. Changing strategies, Okada targeted Tanahashi’s knees with a Boston Crab. As though holding his last breath to savor life itself, Tanahashi refused to give in, grasping for that rope break. Distancing himself from another of Okada’s Rainmakers, Tanahashi pulled out a Slingblade.

Sitting Okada down with a sleeper hold, Tanahashi evoked Katsuyori Shibata with a Penalty Kick. He then paid homage to Shinsuke Nakamura with a Bomaye. While he did land a High-Fly Flow, Okada denied him a successful pinfall. Once more, Tanahashi reversed a Rainmaker with a Slingblade. At the last second, Okada lifted his knees to rupture Tanahashi’s midsection to disrupt a High-Fly Flow. Tanahashi absorbed a series of uppercuts, doling out forearms in return. Battling for leverage, Okada stole Tetsuya Naito’s Destino, followed by a Cobra Flowsion. Visibly exhausted, he struck with a stiff Rainmaker. Using a classic Rainmaker pose, Okada followed suit with his patented lariat and retired Hiroshi Tanahashi in the middle of the ring.

Post-match: Okada bowed to Tanahashi, and on the microphone, he said, “Thank you.” Officials gifted Tanahashi his flowers. Former NJPW talents Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and a tearful and agonized Kota Ibushi gave The Ace more flowers, embracing him with a hug as the locker room joined at ringside.

Katsuyori Shibata, playing heel, wearing an Opps t-shirt, handed Tanahashi his own bouquet, and they locked up one last time before hugging. Keiji Muto also gave his flowers, as did Tatsumi Fujinami. Just when it seemed everyone had their moment, BUSHI and Tetsuya Naito surprised Tokyo with his presence as he gave his own flowers, taking his time as he did so, as is his wont. He took the microphone and said that even if he didn’t ever wrestle in an NJPW ring again, he’d hope to meet Tanahashi again someday. Tanahashi concluded the evening’s proceedings, giving a heartfelt thank you and a couple of air guitar solos. As was the case throughout the last dates of his run, Tanahashi greeted every fan he could feasibly reach.

(Okada was exceptional here; trying to be a heel, delighting in mischief, only to give in to his emotion for a memorable last encounter. A bittersweet finale for a wrestler who changed the game. Tanahashi, even in his final year, contributed so much. Elevating younger talent, earning accolades (such as his 100th G1 Climax victory), all while embodying the spirit of The Ace. I watched this match, as I had all his other matches in 2025, holding in each moment in my mind so as to remember the feeling of a Tanahashi match. Inevitably, we all have to let go. In the end, it was an honor covering Tanahashi’s final bout on this platform. Thank you, Ace.)

Final Thoughts

While I think poorly of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship contender match and was unmoved by Jake Lee’s return, I found social media’s reactions to the show to be exaggerated. Plenty of matches were either satisfying or good. Great, even. Saya Kamitani and Syuri had an incredible workrate display. Aaron Wolf and EVIL moved the entirety of the Tokyo Dome in a feel-good debut. Yota Tsuji and Konosuke Takeshita thrilled in a dramatic match that could easily be taken as a message of Japan placing its homegrown talent first. But everyone likely was here for Tanahashi and Okada running it back one last time.

And to that effort, they did exactly what they were supposed to do. All emotions on the line. Okada, breaking away from his Don Callis Family persona over time, ended the match on that cathartic note.

NJPW sold the Tokyo Dome out on this night, January 4. I hope the company learned the right lessons from the show. Japan may still be struggling economically, but if it pivots correctly, the lion crest may find its bearings and become a driving force in 2026. This is the year to be forward-thinking. The Ace won’t be here this time to turn things around as he did against Inoki-ism.

Once more, thank you, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 live results: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shota Umino

Posted on by Corey Michaels

NJPW kicks off its biggest weekend of the year today with its biggest show of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 19 in Tokyo Dome.

In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Shota Umino.

This is undoubtedly the biggest match of Umino’s career, as the 27-year-old tries to establish himself as the leader of the next generation of NJPW stars.

For Sabre, the match caps a year where he won the G1 Climax, the IWGP World title, and established himself as the top foreign star in NJPW.

A Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi “dream match” is in today’s semi-main event position. Both are Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemates, but have agreed to a one-time dream encounter.

Today’s other title matches include David Finlay vs. Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global title, DOUKI defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against E Desperado.

The AEW International and NEVER Openweight titles are on the line in a winner takes all match with Shingo Takagi vs. Konosuke Takeshita in a potential show-stealer.

Hiroshi Tanahashi puts his career on the line in a lumberjack match against EVIL. Ren Narita defends the NJPW World TV title in a four-way against Jeff Cobb, El Phantasmo, and Ryohei Oiwa.

Mayu Iwatani will defend the IWGP Women’s Championship against AZM. The main card kicks off at 3 a.m. Eastern time with a Tokyo Terror four-way ladder match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles with Intergalactic Jetsetters vs. Ichiban Sweet Boys vs. Catch 2/2 vs. Bullet Club War Dogs.

The New Japan Ranbo to determine the number one contender to the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is set for the pre-show.

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Pre-show

Hirooki Goto won the New Japan Ranbo

This year’s Ranbo featured the stipulation of determining the #1 contender to the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Having relinquished and retired the King of Pro Wrestling Championship during the Road to Tokyo Dome tour, Great-O-Khan put on an Iron Man performance along the likes of SANADA, Tomoaki Honma, Tomohiro Ishii, and more.

The match came down to a seesaw struggle on the ropes between Khan on the inside and Hirooki Goto on the outside apron. Inevitably, Goto won the Ranbo, earning him the right to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at a later date.

Main Card

Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) defeated Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & Kushida) (c), Catch 2/2 (TJP & Francesco Akira), and Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) in a 4-way Tokyo Terror Ladder Match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

With ladders and chairs in hand, the War Dogs got an early advantage by incapacitating everyone else. As they climbed to the top, Kushida propelled his body to the ladder at the last moment to deny them an easy win. TJP and Akira sent Moloney through a table, leaving Connors to contend with Knight and Eagles. Having already landed on a horizontally-hanging ladder, Eagles was once again dropped onto it by TJP. As Kushida held a recovered Moloney on the mat, Knight dived onto the War Dog, only to miss at the last second.

Inches away from grasping the belts, Knight careened off the ladder and out of the ring as Moloney lifted the bottom rung from his prone body. Atop two ladders, the members of Ichiban Sweet Boys and United Empire battled. With TJP and Eagles out of the picture, the hopeful Akira lost his momentum as Fujita held his body over the ladder while grabbing wildly for the hanging belts. Eventually, they were in grasp of Fujita’s firm hands.

Moloney and Connors wearing fur coats while flanked by women immediately sets the stage for the pageantry for this match. The match itself was fun, with plenty of tense moments. Though not as exciting as most ladder matches, this showed a lot of promise as NJPW stepped out of its comfort zone. I’m a sucker for the tag team ladder matches of the Attitude Era, and I’d love to see more of these in the cerulean blue.

Mayu Iwatani (c) defeated AZM for the IWGP Women’s Championship

AZM’s speedy offense stunned Iwatani initially, who opted for the resilience of her patented zombie state. The champ withstood two Canadian Destroyers like it were a minor inconvenience. A gnarly suplex to Iwatani by AZM managed to earn a 1-count pin.

Despite a failed Tombstone Piledriver breaking her zombie mentality, Iwatani closed the match with a Closed Dragon Suplex for the win.

In some respects, this match was plotted like a horror movie—an unkillable force that would require luck to survive. Unfortunately for AZM, she was no final girl. As one of Stardom’s great young talents, however, she remains one to watch as her lengthy match catalog would suggest. Iwatani is forever one of the best women to step into a ring in the modern era. Much like Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr at Halloween Havoc 1997, Iwatani and AZM made the most of every second they had.

El Phantasmo defeated Ren Narita (c), Jeff Cobb, Ryohei Oiwa for the NJPW World Television Championship

Phantasmo immediately displaced Narita with a vicious tope. Meanwhile, Oiwa and Cobb locked horns like two angry wildebeests in a savannah. Narita bounced back, even throttling the still-weak knee of Cobb. Phantasmo, out-maneuvering Cobb, was sent flying to the flattened Narita and Oiwa on the outside; Cobb relished this opportunity to do the same with a Tope Con Hilo. A hopeful Phantasmo’s top rope aspirations onto Cobb were dashed by Oiwa, leading to a Tower of Doom spot with Cobb as a sturdy base.

Seeking out his handy board, a distracted Narita lost his weapon to Jado, leading to a combined beatdown. Mere breaths from victory, OIwa’s Doctor Bomb nearly earned a pinfall over Cobb had it not been for Narita. Cobb broke Narita’s reintroduced board and followed suit with a Tour of the Islands but couldn’t make the pin. Phantasmo, however, took out Narita with a Thunderkiss ’86 for the win.

Just as the previous match maximized their minutes, so did the NJPW World Television Championship match. I went into this match hoping that either ELP or Oiwa would walk away with the belt, but Cobb’s injury gave him an undeniable underdog status. Phantasmo’s work landed significantly, providing an entertaining battle to the top. All hail your new NJPW World Television Champion.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated EVIL in a Lumberjack Match

Should Tanahashi lose, he would retire sooner than he originally planned. As such, EVIL dished out every dirty tactic he could devise, but the undeterred valiance of The Ace is a fire that refuses to go out so easily. Smashing Tanahashi with chairs and spray-painting colleagues like Master Wato, EVIL sought to ruin anything Tanahashi held dearly: his health, his career, his friends. EVIL sought to flee like a coward now Tanahashi stood with replenished vigor, but was dragged back by lumberjack Oleg Boltin.

House of Torture forwent the lumberjack formalities as they proceeded for Dick-to-Dick Contact. Tiger Mask, Wato, and Boltin came to The Ace’s rescue, giving him enough respite. Tanahashi made a rousing comeback, featuring a Sling Blade and a failed High Fly Flow, thwarted by Dick Togo. EVIL proceeded to throw everything at Tanahashi, confident that this would be it. After a Dead End, EVIL went for a pin, ending in a nearfall, reversed by Tanahashi. In this reversal, Tanahashi gained the pinfall victory.

— Post-match: House of Torture gave a cruel beatdown to the victorious Ace, stopping at nothing. Then, Katsuyori Shibata emerged to his rescue. Following the save, Shibata challenged Tanahashi for Wrestle Dynasty.

Evil’s special entrance rocked. The gothic vibes of the organ, transformed into a cyberpunk syntheziser coagulated wonderfully into an excellent musical presentation. He felt like The Kurgan from the 1986 film “Highlander”. Hard to be mad at any House of Torture interference, as this match welcomed it. Despite the later Togo interference, the last half of this match created an unreal atmosphere of adrenaline and hope. I was on the edge of my seat. I’m positively looking forward to Tanahashi versus Shibata.

On an important note, Tanahashi’s last year already feels special. This is a man who had saved a company through performance alone and steered the company into a golden age. His work is transformative, adapting to any match format while still retaining his Ace aura, from bloodbaths with Jon Moxley to working Kenny Omega’s unique modern style. When Tanahashi hangs up his boots on January 2026, professional wrestling will lose that important voice in the ring, but gains an incredible president and figure.

Konosuke Takeshita defeated Shingo Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Championship and AEW International Championship

Two behemoths collided, with AEW’s International Champion delivering ruthless power. Takagi prevented a dive from Takeshita, turning the tide with a Death Valley Driver. Through an evenly-matched collision and standoff, Takeshita swung the trajectory to his favor, broken by a Pumping Bomber by Takagi.

Making a spirited comback, Takeshita nearly gained a pinfall with a Blue Thunderbomb, but Takagi soundly countered it with a Last of the Dragon. Lariats and clotheslines, one after the other, led to Takeshita clutching control of the match. With one last Blue Thunderbomb, Takeshita added the NEVER Openweight Championship to his collection of now two belts.

An adrenaline-pumping taste of what’s to come at Wrestle Dynasty. Warrior vs Hogan vibes, except I liked this much better. This has been a nice turnaround for Takeshita, having struggled to get anywhere in AEW for so long, to holding gold in among two big wrestling companies. Takagi as always was in superb form.

El Desperado defeated Douki (c) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (Injury)

From the first bell, Desperado sought to slow the flow of this match. Throwing everything (including himself) at the champ, Desperado maintained relative control. Douki attempted a top rope seated senton to Desperado on the outside, but landed his elbow nastily on the blue steel barricade. Officials declared Douki was unfit to continue. Desperado was visibly upset by this turn of events.

Shido Nakamura’s presence in Douki’s entrance made for a spectacle made possible by massive events like this. A fan of foreign cultures, I grinned stupidly at this treat. Having spent the last few months invested in Douki and El Desperado’s story, I was gutted to see this match cut short and the champion denied this big moment. All the best wishes to Douki in his recovery from this injury.

Yota Tsuji defeated David Finlay (c) for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

Finlay’s underhanded tactics gained him an early advantage, with an impactful barricade bump to his challenger. Briefly losing control, Finlay regained it by tossing Tsuji into the ring post and through an abandoned table near the announcers. The champ could only look on with malicious glee as Tsuji crawled and tripped to a 19-count return to the ring. Three consecutive Dominators by Tsuji immobilized Tsuji, but could not get the job done.

Tsuji made a brief comeback, trounced by four consecutive powerbombs, once again to no avail. Tsuji pulled out a Gene Blaster, but Finlay countered with a Gun Stun into Oblivion. Tsuji successfully landed a Gene Blaster, and went for the pin but Finlay lifted his leg to the rope at the 2-count. Finlay threw everything else he could, but Tsuji reached deep within himself to deliver a Powerbomb and one last Gene Blaster to a pinfall victory to a thunderous Tokyo Dome crowd.

Both men had aesthetically pleasing special entrances, with Finlay’s machine gun syncing well with the tron behind him, much like Kenny Omega’s Final Fantasy entrance at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Following up on the Douki injury sapped the energy from the building, but the crowd gave it their best. And to their credit, it worked. I’ve not given Finlay enough credit, but he excelled here with fantastic chemistry to Tsuji.

What was my least anticipated match going into Wrestle Kingdom 19 quickly became my match of the night. Unreal stuff from Tsuji and Finlay, making the crowd happy after such a tragic moment. Now the stakes with Tsuji against Jack Perry at Wrestle Dynasty are raised.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Hiromu Takahashi

Five years of destiny denied. Takahashi’s face told the story all too well, that this match means more than friendship—it means graduating out of junior heavyweight competition. Naito’s prepared for any and everything Takahashi could think of. It won’t be easy. A Time Bomb to the outside finally granted Takahashi an opening, planting a Dynamite Plunger to his stablemate.

Naito began a comeback, but a failed second Destino returned the momentum to Takahashi courtesy a Time Bomb. Softening the neck of Takahashi with elbows, Naito’s efforts were countered with a Destino by Takahashi followed by another Time Bomb. Naito weakened Takahashi with holds and Destinos, leaving Takahashi on his knees. Eventually, Naito landed one that granted him a bittersweet pinfall victory.

For fans of the Yakuza series, the tension and relationship between Naito and Takahashi in this match gave me strong yet vague Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Mijima vibes. This wasn’t some sort of workrate classic, but something far more. The determination in Takahashi’s eyes, and the apprehension in Naito’s. Even when Naito won, there was a sense of regret as he lay on the mat. Sometimes the best storytelling isn’t solely in dialog or action, but reading between the lines and the emotions that lie therein.

Main Event

Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Shota Umino for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Umino’s back, while not noticable at first, grew to being an important factor. While in Sabre’s realm of holds and submissions, Umino barely clawed his way out, but in terms of high-paced frenetic action, he surpassed the champion. Spiking Sabre’s head on the apron, Umino gained a moment to catch his breath, save for the fact his ankle has been weakened thorughout his landing. Propelling the champion into the guardrails, Umino is showered in boos, just like in Ryogoku. Throughout any swing in momentum, his eyes glare in reproach, eschewing the babyface heroics he’d adopted throughout 2023.

With spite in his arsenal, Umino had a modicum of control, but still Sabre did implore him to bring his best to this match, that he’s in the main event and should act like it. Wrenching back Umino’s arms, Sabre nearly put the challenger to sleep. A rageful Umino rampaged through the champion, but fell to a lariat. Both men frenzied, urgently exchanging stiff strikes until Sabre landed a Sabre Driver to a 2-count. Umino planted the champion with a Death Driver, also to a 2-count. An extended leglock hold on Umino brought Umino beyond his threshold of pain, yet he crawled to the ropes in sheer desperation.

Meekly throwing weak elbow strikes, Umino is fueled by the derisive laughs in the crowd. Slipping on his way to the top rope via his hurt ankle, Umino was ensnared by Sabre. A last-ditch effort by Umino saw a Death Driver from the top rope, leaving Sabre prone. Viciously, Umino kicked and stomped on the champ’s helpless body. Vitriol, no remorse. At last, Umino’s ankle caught up with him. Sabre, ever the opportunist, deployed Sabre Drivers and a Suzuki-esque Piledriver before one last Sabre Driver put Umino down once and for all.

Ebbs and flows through this entire bout. So many flashes of greatness, tainted by moments of lulls and a strong lack of urgency. Umino gaining some originality in his character was nice, certainly, and added much to the story. The same applies to his ankle. Umino needs to complete his character. I loved his ruthless side, sharing disdain for the audience.

Long story short, this match felt like being fed an incredible steak, only to take turns pouring hot tar into your mouth. Not a bad match, but not a Tokyo Dome main event match.

Overall, Wrestle Kingdom was a blast. Much like AEW World’s End, however, it’s main event suffered. Pretty much any other match is worth watching. My highlights were the last half of Tanahashi versus EVIL, Takahashi versus Naito, AZM versus Iwatani, and Finlay versus Tsuji.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two live results: Ibushi vs. White

Posted on by Ethan Renner

One night after defeating Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, Kota Ibushi defends those titles against “‘Switchblade” Jay White in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two. 

These two last met in singles competition in November 2020 at Power Struggle, where White illegally used the ropes for leverage to pin Ibushi and win the right to challenge for the top IWGP titles on tonight’s show.

In tonight’s semi-main event, Taiji Ishimori will defend the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against Best of the Super Jrs. 27 winner Hiromu Takahashi. Hiromu earned his spot in this match by beating 2020 Super J-Cup winner El Phantasmo on last night’s show. 

Former tag team partners SANADA and EVIL will face off in a special singles match, Shingo Takagi will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Jeff Cobb, while El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru will defend the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato. 

In the main card opener, The provisional KOPW 2021 Champion will be decided in a four-way. Toru Yano, BUSHI,  Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale will square off for the title after being the final four in last night’s New Japan Ranbo. 

Two Stardom matches will be held on the pre-show, but not broadcast on NJPW World. Mayu Iwatani and Tam Nakano will take on Giulia and Syuri, plus Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM will face Maika, Himeka & Natsupoi. 

Our live coverage begins with the main card at 3 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

Pre-show matches —

Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM defeated Maika, Himeka & Natsupoi (9:48)

Kamitani beat Natsupoi with a phoenix splash. 

Giulia & Syuri defeated Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano (12:49)

Giulia beat Nakano with a Glorious Driver. 

**********

Provisional KOPW 2021 Championship match: Toru Yano defeated Bad Luck Fale, BUSHI & Chase Owens to win the title (7:24)

This featured a lot of comedy and a little bit of good wrestling. There were the usual Yano shenanigans, and those will continue in the new year with his victory here.

Yano and BUSHI teased not getting in the ring at the opening bell. Fale and Owens did a finger poke of doom. Fale covered Owens, but Yano and BUSHI jumped in to break up the pin. 

Yano exposed a buckle and BUSHI missed a charge into the exposed steel. Owens used the turnbuckle pad as a weapon on Yano. BUSHI teased a tope to Owens, but Fale pulled him to the floor. Fale and Owens doubled up on Yano. BUSHI saved Yano from an Owens pin. 

BUSHI hit a bulldog/dropkick combo on Owens and Fale, then hit a tope suicida on Owens. Fale took out BUSHI with a shoulder tackle. Yano tried to slam Fale. Fale collapsed on Yano and covered for a two count. 

BUSHI and Owens had a nice exchange. BUSHI hit a rewind kick and a backstabber. Owens blocked an MX. BUSHI blocked a package piledriver attempt. Fale and Owens hit the Grenade Launcher on BUSHI. Owens covered, but Fale kicked him to break up the pin. 

Fale and Owens argued over who should get to pin BUSHI. They decided to try a chokeslam on the referee. Yano used that opportunity to hit a double low blow on Fale and Owens. 

Yano then covered BUSHI for the pin. 

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) to retain the titles (13:20)

This was a solid undercard tag, but these guys weren’t out there to steal the show.

Wato fired off an immediate shotgun dropkick to Desperado. He then knocked Kanemaru off the apron with a running boot. Wato sent Desperado rolling to the floor after a series of strikes. Wato then hit a tornillo. 

Taguchi tagged in and tried some comedy with Desperado. Taguchi got sent outside and whipped into the barricade. Desperado took the referee. Kanemaru brought a chair into the ring and drove Taguchi’s left leg into it. 

Desperado and Kanemaru used quick tags and continued attacking the left leg of Taguchi. Taguchi missed one hip attack, but hit a second and tagged out. Wato hit a springboard uppercut to Kanemaru. Kanemaru used the ref as a human shield three times, then hit an enzuigiri. Desperado tagged in and ate a mid kick from Wato. 

Desperado blocked a Taguchi hip attack. Taguchi hit a series of strikes with his butt, then hit a hip attack. Taguchi hit three amigos for a near fall. Desperado came back with a Numero Dos. Wato jumped in to break up the submission attempt. 

Desperado went for Pinche Loco. Taguchi blocked and got an ankle lock applied. Taguchi threw Desperado into the ropes. Wato kind of hit a sloppy 619. Taguchi hit Dodon. Kanemaru broke up the ensuing pin attempt. 

Taguchi tried another Dodon. Desperado rolled through for a cradle and a near fall. Wato was late on the save. 

Kanemaru jumped in with a whiskey bottle. Taguchi threw Desperado into Kanemaru. The ref was distracted by the Kanemaru interference. Desperado then hit a closed fist strike. 

Desperado then hit Pinche Loco and pinned Taguchi to retain. 

NEVER Openweight Championship match: Shingo Takagi defeated Jeff Cobb to retain the title (21:11)

This was an awesome match. This was Cobb’s best NJPW match to date. 

A striking battle kicked things off. After the strikes resulted in a stalemate, both tried a series of tackles. Shingo used a misdirection spot to send Cobb into the buckle, then hit a hip toss. Shingo then scored with a tackle for a one count. 

Cobb came back with a dropkick, then hit a belly-to-belly on the floor. Back inside, Cobb tried working a side headlock. Shingo used the ropes to aid him in hitting a back suplex. 

They fought on the apron. Shingo teased a DVD on the apron. Cobb blocked and teased a razor’s edge off the apron to the floor. Shingo escaped and hit a tope con giro. Back in the ring, Shingo hit a DDT and an elbow drop for a near fall. 

Cobb fought out of a noshigami attempt and hit a spin cycle. Cobb hit a leaping uppercut forearm and two gutwrench suplexes. Shingo escaped a third suplex attempt with a headscissors takeover. Cobb hit a black tiger bomb for a great near fall. 

Cobb set up for Tour of the Islands. Shingo blocked and hit a death valley driver. Shingo hit a corner lariat and a superplex. He followed with a wheelbarrow suplex. They traded strikes and suplexes. Shingo rolled to the floor for a countout tease, but made it back in at 19.

Cobb hit a gonzo bomb for a near fall. Shingo hit a dragon screw and Made in Japan for a two count. 

They traded strikes. Cobb hit a German and a Tour of the Islands, but Cobb sold his knee giving out on the landing. Shingo got hit foot on the ropes as Cobb made a late cover. Cobb then hooked both legs but only got a two count. 

Cobb teased a Tour of the Islands off the top rope. Shingo slid out and hit a powerbomb. Shingo tried a pumping bomber. Cobb blocked and hit a lariat. Cobb hit a moonsault powerslam. Shingo hit a pumping bomber but Cobb didn’t go down. Shingo hit two more lariats, a headbutt, a jab and another headbutt, but Cobb refused to go down. Shingo hit a belly-to-belly throw into a double down. 

Shingo was first up and hit a pumping bomber. He followed with Last of the Dragon and scored the pin. 

***** Intermission *****

SANADA defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (23:40)

If you can set aside the usual Bullet Club hijinks and ref bumps, this was very good. They worked it like a true grudge match. 

EVIL hit a kick to the knee and tried to bait SANADA into following him outside. SANADA refused. They did a quick series of finisher teases as EVIL went for Everything is EVIL, SANADA teased a Skull End, then SANADA teased Everything is EVIL. SANADA got a paradise lock applied and broke it with a dropkick. 

SANADA teased a tope. EVIL side-stepped. SANADA tried a moonsault off the apron to the floor, but EVIL stepped away from that as well. EVIL whipped SANADA into the barricade, wiping out ring announcer Abe on the other side. EVIL and Togo set up a table to use later. 

EVIL put a chair around SANADA’s neck and hit a baseball swing with a second chair. Back in, EVIL used a cocky cover for a one count. Togo exposed a turnbuckle and EVIL sent SANADA into it. They went back outside and EVIL again sent SANADA into the barricade. Abe took another bump. 

Togo used a chair on SANADA while the ref was on the outside tending to Abe. EVIL covered for a couple of two counts. SANADA came back with a low dropkick and a TKO attempt. EVIL slid out. The camera missed a move while Togo was fiddling with a table on the floor and EVIL regained control of the match. 

They fought on the apron. EVIL teased Darkness Falls off the apron through the table. SANADA blocked and teased a TKO through the table. EVIL escaped. They fought back into the ring. EVIL tried a ref-assisted Magic Killer. SANADA blocked and hit a magic screw. 

SANADA hit a Tiger suplex for a near fall. SANADA used a spinning Skull End. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL. SANADA blocked and went back to Skull End. EVIL rammed SANADA into the exposed buckle to break the hold. 

EVIL hit a superplex, then applied the Darkness Scorpion. SANADA reached the bottom rope to force a break. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a near fall at the 15 minute call. 

SANADA blocked Everything is EVIL. EVIL took a sternum-first shot into the exposed buckle. SANADA hit a back suplex and a TKO for a two count. 

SANADA hit a backbreaker and went for a moonsault. EVIL rolled away and SANADA landed on his feet. EVIL threw SANADA into the ref, who took a bump. 

Togo jumped in and hit SANADA with a series of strikes. EVIL and Togo hit corner clotheslines and a Magic Killer, EVIL and SANADA’s former tag team finisher. Togo teased a senton bomb. SANADA shoved EVIL into the ropes and crotched Togo, who fell to the floor. 

SANADA used a cradle for a near fall, then hit the rounding body press to set up Skull End. SANADA grounded EVIL with Skull End and applied the body scissors with the hold. 

SANADA gave up the hold and hit a moonsault to the back. SANADA tried a second moonsault. EVIL got his knees up to block at the 20 minute call. 

Togo jumped up to the apron and choked SANADA with his cord. SANADA escpaed and shoved EVIL into Togo. Togo took a bump off the apron through the table. 

SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall. EVIL answered with a huge lariat for his own near fall. 

SANADA blocked Everything is EVIL and blocked a low blow. SANADA hit Everything is EVIL. 

SANADA then hit a pop-up TKO and a moonsault for the pin. 

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Taiji Ishimori to win the title (25:31)

This really would have benefitted from having a crowd that could make noise. They were out there killing themselves, working a crazy pace for 25-plus minutes to almost absolute silence. The match was great, but a victim of the pandemic era in that this won’t reach that iconic match status. 

They came out going a million miles an hour. They teased some moves on the apron. Hiromu went for a sunset bomb. Ishimori landed on his feet on the sunset attempt, but Hiromu hit a pop-up apron bomb. 

Hiromu teased a running shotgun dropkick on the long entrance ramp. Ishimori caught him with what was supposed to be a powerbomb on the ramp, but the timing got messed up and the move didn’t look good. 

Ishimori exposed a buckle, then hit a golden triangle moonsault off the post. Ishimori sent Hiromu into the exposed buckle. Hiromu came back with some palm strikes to the chest, a flying headscissors, a shotgun dropkick and a falcon arrow for a near fall. 

Ishimori hit a sliding German, then a springboard 450 onto Hiromu’s left arm. Ishimori used the Yes Lock. Hiromu reached the ropes for a break. Hiromu hit a release German into the corner pad, then hit a running DVD. 

Ishimori escaped a Time Bomb attempt and hit a jumping knee strike. Hiromu hit a German. Ishimori hit a destroyer into a double down. They traded forearm strikes. Hiromu finally dropped Ishimori with a big forearm strike. Ishimori fired up and dropped Hiromu with a forearm. 

Ishimori hit a series of hard forearm strikes, unanswered. Ishimori continued with the hard shots at the 15 minute call. They teased a ref stoppage as Ishimori continued hammering away with hard strikes for several minutes. 

Ishimori sent Hiromu’s left shoulder into the post, then hit a shoulder breaker. Ishimori used La Mistica to set up the Yes Lock. Ishimori applied the hold in the center of the ring. Hiromu fought his way to the ropes for a break. 

Ishimori hit a cipher utaki for a near fall. Hiromu blocked a Bloody Cross attempt and hit victory royal into a double down. 

Hiromu hit a lariat, then followed with a DVD into the exposed turnbuckle. Hiromu hit Time Bomb, but Ishimori kicked out. Ishimori blocked Time Bomb II and used the Bone Lock. Ishimori rolled through and tried a Bloody Cross. Hiromu blocked and hit another victory royal at the 25 minute call. 

Hiromu then connected with Time Bomb II and pinned Ishimori to win the title.  

IWGP Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Intercontinental Championship match: Kota Ibushi defeated Jay White (w/Gedo) to retain the titles (48:05)

This was an epic and an all-time classic. 

Ibushi is one of the very best ever. White should enter the conversation surrounding the best of his generation after this performance. This was the match of his life. This will sound blasphemous, but White is a modern Ric Flair. His moves won’t blow you away, but in-ring he is the perfect heel pro wrestler. 

White started out with his customary stalling. He then agreed to lock up. He backed Ibushi into the ropes and feigned a clean break, but Gedo tripped Ibushi and White pounced. White hit a series of stomps. 

Back in the center of the ring, White used a headlock to keep Ibushi grounded. Ibushi kipped up off a shoulder tackle, then missed with a wild kick. After some misdirection from White, Ibushi hit a flying mid kick. 

They rolled to the floor. Gedo tried to get involved. Ibushi hit him with an elbow to the ribs. As they climbed back inside, White hit a DDT to regain the upper hand. White threw Ibushi outside, then hit a back suplex onto the apron. 

White continued to target Ibushi’s core and continued to use the ring frame as a weapon. He drove Ibushi’s ribs into the apron. White continued methodically working over the abdomen and lower back. Ibushi tried to fire off a dropkick, but White avoided it. 

White hit a DDT. White spent some time jawing with Red Shoes in the corner. Ibushi used that opening to hit an overhead kick. He followed with two mid kicks and a standing moonsault for a near fall, his first significant offensive sequence of the match. 

Ibushi sent White outside. White rammed Ibushi into the edge of the ring and into the barricade. On the way back in, White hit a dragon screw in the ropes. Ibushi tried to fire off a springboard attack, but White shoved him off the ropes to the floor. 

Ibushi climbed back inside and ate an underhook suplex into the turnbuckle pad. White covered for a near fall. Gedo called for the Kiwi Krusher. Ibushi blocked and hit a snap German. They exchanged forearm strikes. 

Ibushi strung together a combination of strikes at the 20 minute call. They traded cradles for quick near falls. Ibushi rolled through on a cradle and hit a bastard driver for a two count. 

Ibushi missed a Bomaye and went knee-first into the turnbuckle. White hit a half-and-half suplex and a uranage for a near fall. White hit the Kiwi Krusher for a two count. 

White called for the Blade Runner. Ibushi countered into a back suplex. Ibushi hit the Bomaye for a two count. White tried a pin with his feet on the ropes in the way that won him the match at Power Struggle, but Red Shoes caught his feet on the ropes and stopped the count. 

They fought to the top rope at the 25 minute call. White teased a sleeper suplex off the top. Ibushi elbowed out and White dropped to the mat. Gedo grabbed Ibushi and bought White some time. White hit a chop block and two dragon screws to the right leg. 

White used the TTO submission. Ibushi grabbed the bottom rope and forced a break. White hit some short kicks to the face. Ibushi no-sold them and went into his no-selling trance. Ibushi no-sold a series of strikes, then dropped White with a palm strike. 

White crawled to the corner. Ibushi hit more strikes with White in the ropes. Ibushi stood in the middle and demanded that White strike him. White obliged. Ibushi no-sold and dropped him with one strike. They repeated that again. They traded forearms. White rolled to the floor after one shot from Ibushi. 

Back inside, Ibushi offered up his neck. White laid on his back and begged Ibushi to cover him. Ibushi refused and hit a series of strikes. Red Shoes tried to pull Ibushi off. Ibushi shoved Red Shoes down. White then hit a low blow. 

They rolled to the floor. White sent Ibushi into the barricade and the ring again and again. White posted Ibushi. White dragged Ibushi to the ramp and hammered away with forearms. White went back to the ring and Ibushi followed, staggering. 

White hit a complete shot at the 35 minute call. White hit a pair of deadlift German suplexes. They fought on the apron. White teased a German on the apron. Ibushi blocked and hit a high kick. Ibushi hit a German off the second rope back into the ring. 

Ibushi hit a last ride for a super close near fall. Ibushi called for Kamigoye. White blocked and dumped Ibushi on his head with a sleeper suplex. White hit another sleeper suplex. White hit a Regal suplex for a near fall at the 40 minute call. 

White called for the Blade Runner. Ibushi used a backslide to set up Kamigoye. Ibushi connected, but White kicked out at two. 

Ibushi hit a phoenix splash. Red Shoes counted 1, 2 — but Gedo pulled Red Shoes out of the ring. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Ibushi blocked the shot and hit a Kamigoye on Gedo. 

Ibushi revived the ref. Ibushi slowly walked towards White. White popped up and hit a Blade Runner. Ibushi kicked out at the last possible instant. 

White tried for another sleeper suplex. Ibushi elbowed out. Ibushi tried to set up a German. White rolled through and applied the TTO. Ibushi tried to fight his way to the ropes. White pulled him back to the middle of the ring. Ibushi teased tapping out, but finally crawled to the ropes at the 45 minute call. 

White tried a Blade Buster. Ibushi escaped and hit a v-trigger. White hit another Regal suplex for a near fall. White hit a bloody sunday DDT. Ibushi popped up and hit another v-trigger. 

Ibushi grabbed the wrists. They traded kicks. Ibushi hit another v-trigger. Ibushi tried a Kamigoye. White reversed into a Blade Runner attempt. Ibushi escaped and hit a high kick. 

Ibushi hit a Kamigoye to the back of the head, then hit a standard Kamigoye. Ibushi covered for the 1-2-3. 

**********

White was great in the post-match, clawing for the titles, clawing for Ibushi while Young Lions pulled him out of the ring. 

SANADA came to the ring and challenged Ibushi for a future match. Ibushi accepted. 

Ibushi cut a short promo as SANADA left. Ibushi said he has done it, he has become God. 

Ibushi posed on the turnbuckles with his title belts. He walked around ringside and bowed to Jushin Liger.

Ibushi took his time as he walked up the ramp. He then posed on the stage, holding his belts aloft as fireworks shot off. 

This felt like a huge deal. This is how it’s done.  

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one live results: Naito vs. Ibushi

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s biggest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom, begins tonight in the Tokyo Dome. 

In the main event, IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito will defend both titles against Kota Ibushi, the G1 Climax 30 winner. Ibushi lost the right to challenge for the titles when Jay White beat him for the G1 briefcase at Power Struggle in November 2020. 

Naito later held a press conference where he threatened to boycott the event unless he was given a chance to defend against Ibushi and the match was later sanctioned. 

The winner will go on to defend both titles against Jay White in tomorrow’s main event of night two. 

In the semi-main, Kazuchika Okada will face Will Ospreay. This match was set up when Ospreay beat Okada on the final night of A Block action in the G1 in October 2020. Ospreay turned against his stablemate Okada, siding with Bea Priestley, Great-O-Khan and later Jeff Cobb to form the new Empire faction. 

Speaking of O-Khan, he gets his toughest test since returning from excursion when he face Hiroshi Tanahashi tonight. 

KENTA will defend his right to challenge certificate for the IWGP United States Championship against Satoshi Kojima, while Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles against 2020 World Tag League winners Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. 

In the first match on the main card, Best of the Super Jrs. 27 winner Hiromu Takahashi will face 2020 Super J-Cup winner El Phantasmo. The winner of that bout will go on to face Taiji Ishimori tomorrow for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title. 

The pre-show match is the New Japan Ranbo, a 22-man elimination match with timed entrances. Eliminations can take place via pinfall, submission or being thrown over the top rope. The final four competitors will go on to face off in a four-way on tomorrow’s show for the provisional KOPW 2021 title. 

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

**********

New Japan Ranbo: Chase Owens, BUSHI, Bad Luck Fale & Toru Yano were the final four and advance to tomorrow’s KOPW 2021 match (34:40)

This was an enjoyable battle royal. It did go a little long for my taste. 

The production team did well with getting shots of entrances and eliminations up until the very end when guys started getting thrown out left and right. 

This was advertised as a 22-man match on NJPW’s site, yet there were only 21 entrants. 

Nagata and Suzuki battler to the apron. Henare clotheslined them off for the first eliminations. Nagata and Suzuki continued fighting on their way to the back. 

Ishii threw Henare out over the top rope. Makabe eliminated Goto and YH with a double clothesline over the top rope. Honma and Tenzan teamed up to eliminate Makabe. 

DOUKI was disqualified for using his steel pipe as a weapon on Romero. 

BUSHI low-bridged Yujiro out of the ring. Ishii and Owens fought on the apron. Fale knocked Ishii off the apron for an elimination. Fale then threw out Tenzan, Romero, SHO and Tiger Mask in short order.

The Young Lions teamed up to try to take out Fale. Instead, Fale threw out Kidd, Uemura and Tsuji.  

Yano was the final entry and never made it into the ring, as only three competitors remained. 

I would ask those who were critical of this, what is the ratio of good to bad battle royals you have seen in your life? There aren’t a lot of good ones. 

Order of entry —

  • Chase Owens
  • Tomohiro Ishii
  • Minoru Suzuki
  • Yuji Nagata
  • Toa Henare
  • Hirooki Goto
  • Yujiro Takahashi
  • YOSHI-HASHI
  • Togi Makabe
  • Tomoaki Honma
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  • Rocky Romero
  • DOUKI
  • SHO
  • BUSHI
  • Tiger Mask
  • Bad Luck Fale
  • Gabriel Kidd
  • Yuya Uemura
  • Yota Tsuji
  • Toru Yano

Order of elimination —

  • Yuji Nagata
  • Minoru Suzuki
  • Toa Henare
  • Hirooki Goto
  • YOSHI-HASHI
  • Togi Makabe
  • DOUKI
  • Yujiro Takahashi
  • Tomohiro Ishii
  • Tomoaki Honma
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan
  • Rocky Romero 
  • SHO 
  • Tiger Mask
  • Gabriel Kidd
  • Yuya Uemura
  • Yota Tsuji

**********

Don Kinashi opened the main show as the special guest ring announcer. He introduced Riki Choshu, who walked to the ring with his grandson in his arms. 

The show began with a Don King impersonator, Riki Choshu and a baby in a tuxedo, as is tradition. 

They declared the show had started.

Next, we had a video package highlighting tonight’s matches and the safety precautions being taken. 

**********

Hiromu Takahashi defeated El Phantasmo to remain number one contender for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship (17:46)

Every move you can imagine was on display in this good back-and-forth battle. We also had the customary Bullet Club ref bump here in the opener. 

ELP rolled outside at the opening bell. He grabbed Hiromu’s BOSJ trophy and threw it. He then grabbed his own Super J-Cup jacket and demanded that Jushin Liger put it on him. While he was taunting, Hiromu landed a shotgun dropkick off the apron, sending ELP crashing through a gate and off the raised platform around ringside. 

Hiromu hit a seated senton off the top rope to the floor. He went for a sunset bomb, but ELP escaped and hit his own sunset bomb. ELP followed up with a beautiful Asai moonsault off the ropes to the ramp. 

ELP teased a terminator dive. Hiromu landed a shotgun dropkick in the ring. ELP answered by stomping away at various limbs. ELP walked the top rope. Hiromu responded by biting his hand and hitting a cradle driver off the top rope for a near fall. 

ELP did a finger break spot. He teased a Styles Clash. Instead, Hiromu blocked and hit a Dynamite Plunger for a two count. They traded thrust kicks. Hiromu hit a victory royal for a two count, but still sold the damage from the finger break spot and ELP stomping on his hand. 

ELP used a victory roll for a near fall. Hiromu hit a thrust kick. ELP teased an airplane spin neckbreaker. Hiromu blocked that, but fell victim to a bastard driver for a two count. 

They fought on the top rope. ELP bumped the referee, then hit two low blows to Hiromu. ELP hit a super rana off the top, then hit a frog splash for a two count. 

ELP tried CRII. Hiromu blocked and sat down for a two count. ELP then hit a Styles Clash for another near fall. He then hit a v-trigger and teased a One-Winged Angel. Hiromu escaped and hit a DVD into the buckle. 

ELP countered out of Time Bomb and used a bridge with his feet on the ropes for a close near fall. 

ELP went for CRII. Hiromu blocked and hit a hurricanrana, then trapped ELP’s legs for the pinfall. 

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/DOUKI) to win the titles (19:18)

This was very long, but very good. Dangerous Tekkers sort of played babyfaceto make the match work rather than doing a deal where two heel teams tried to out-cheat each other. 

The teams and their respective seconds began brawling before the opening bell. Taichi and Sabre established the early upper hand, trading quick tags and using various chokeholds on Tama. 

Jado provided a distraction from the outside and allowed Tama to tag out. Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI on the floor. Tanga went to work on Taichi and GOD cut him off in their corner. Taichi as babyface in peril is something to see. 

Taichi hit a jumping high kick in the corner and tagged Sabre. Sabre has a heck of a babyface hot tag. He used a European clutch on Tama for a near fall. Sabre used an octopus on Tama. Tanga saved with an attack from behind. Sabre was then cut off and worked over. 

Sabre tried to use a guillotine on Tanga. Instead, Tanga broke the hold with a powerbomb. GOD hit Sabre with Guerrilla Warfare, but did not attempt a cover. Jado called for the super powerbomb. Tama set it up with a Stinger splash in the corner. Sabre used a guillotine on Tanga on the top rope. Taichi used a stretch plum on Tama. 

Sabre and Taichi hit a stacked-up superplex on Tanga for a near fall. Taichi then got a hot tag. All four guys jumped in as the match broke down. Tama hit a Gun Stun on Sabre. Taichi blocked a Gun Stun and hit a backdrop suplex on Tanga for a two count. Taichi took his trousers off. 

Tama jumped in with Taichi’s iron glove. He used it on Taichi. GOD then hit Apeshit and pinned Taichi to win the titles. 

GOD did a big celebration on top the dugout in the stadium. 

**********

A Jon Moxley video promo aired. 

Moxley said everyone who’s fought for the right to challenge him probably thought they’d get off easy, but they’re wrong. Mox said he’s the boogeyman of NJPW and whoever wins the contract tonight, he’s coming for them. 

**********

IWGP United States Championship right to challenge certificate match: KENTA defeated Satoshi Kojima (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) to retain the briefcase (14:12)

This was kept simple, with just a few big moves and lots of selling between the big spots. The match worked because of Kojima’s selling. 

KENTA tried some of his customary stalling at the outset. He got distracted by Tenzan at ringside and Kojima was able to use the distraction to get some early offense. 

KENTA used Kojima as a weapon on the outside, shoving him into Tenzan. KENTA then hit a DDT on the floor. Back in, KENTA hit a top rope clothesline for two. 

Kojima came back with some Mongolian chops and machine gun chops. KENTA went for his draping DDT. Kojima blocked and they fought on the apron. KENTA teased a vertical suplex on the apron. Kojima blocked and hit a DDT on the apron. 

Kojima hit a Koji Cutter for a near fall. Kojima teased a lariat. KENTA blocked and hit a powerslam. KENTA went outside and grabbed his briefcase. He bumped the ref and tried a briefcase shot. Kojima hit a lariat on the case and knocked it away. KENTA blocked one lariat. Kojima hit a left arm lariat for a near fall. 

KENTA ducked another lariat attempt and hit a busaiku knee. They traded strikes. KENTA hit another busaiku knee for another near fall. 

KENTA then followed with the Go 2 Sleep for the pin. 

**********

There was a commercial for NJPW Strong Spirits, a mobile game coming in 2021. A promo also aired teasing the NJPW U.S. and U.K. television deal. The English announcers made reference to the color purple being significant to theTV deal. 

*****Intermission*****

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Great-O-Khan (17:13)

This picked up when Tanahashi made his comeback. Tana is one of the best sellers of all time. But when he’s selling O-Khan’s goofy offense, it takes you out of the match. O-Khan has some building blocks that can be useful, but he needs to make his strikes look better. 

They started with some mat work. They established that O-Khan can hold his own on the mat. O-Khan tried to throw Tana over the top rope. Tana tried to skin the cat back in and O-Khan chopped his hands. 

O-Khan posted Tanahashi and hit a slam on the ramp. They did a countout tease, but Tana made it back in. O-Khan hit some of his wacky Mongolian chops. He used a kneebar, but Tana reached the ropes. 

O-Khan tried a kick. Tana blocked and teased a dragon screw. O-Khan slid out and went for another kick. Tana then hit a dragon screw. Tana hit a series of flying forearms, but sold damage to his knees from landing on them on the forearms. 

Tana hit a slam and a somersault senton for a near fall. O-Khan blocked a slingblade and drove Tana into the mat with a unique throw. O-Khan hit some more Mongolian chops. O-Khan used a kneebar. Tana forced a break. 

O-Khan hit an overhead throw, teasing dumping Tana to the floor. Tana skinned the cat this time, then hit twist and shout and a slingblade for a near fall. 

Tanahashi went up top, teasing a High Fly Flow. O-Khan cut him off and used the claw grip to pull Tana to the center of the ring. O-Khan used a cobra twist with the claw grip to the face still applied. O-Khan hit an inside-out back suplex for a near fall. 

O-Khan hit an inverted suplex for a two count, then grabbed a chair. O-Khan called for a Dominator on the chair. Tana slid out and hit another twist and shout. Tana teased using the chair, but tossed it outside. Tana then hit a dragon suplex for a near fall. 

Tana went up top and hit a High Fly Flow to the back. He flipped O-Khan over, then hit a second High Fly Flow. Tanahashi covered for the pin. 

Kazuchika Okada defeated Will Ospreay (w/Bea Priestley) (35:41)

This was excellent, as you might expect from two of the best to ever do it. A very brutal match with a lot of hard strikes. I need to watch this again, but the time flew by on first viewing. 

After locking up, Okada did his customary clean break on the ropes. Ospreay didn’t take kindly to being little brothered like that and fired off a strike. They traded a series of strikes. Okada hit a running back elbow and a DDT. 

Okada hit a rope-assisted tope con giro. Priestley started jawing at Okada as he climbed back inside. Ospreay used the distraction to hit a dropkick, sending Okada crashing to the floor. 

Ospreay and Priestley tore up some of the padding on the ring platform, exposing the wood. Ospreay teased a piledriver on the wood. Okada teased a DDT. Ospreay had to settle for a neckbreaker on a padded section of the platform. 

Red Shoes refused to count the pin as Ospreay threw Okada back in after the tactics on the outside. Ospreay hit a back suplex for a near fall. Ospreay used a chinlock and remained in control. 

Okada hit a backdrop at the ten minute call to turn the tide. Okada hit some bump-and-feed strikes, then a flapjack for a two count. Okada teased his air raid crash neckbreaker. Ospreay blocked. Okada hit a big boot, then hit the air raid crash for a two count. 

Ospreay came back with a pip pip cheerio. Ospreay hit a strike on the belt line, then hit a German into a bridge for a near fall. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker. Okada hit a backdrop out, then hit heavy rain. 

The two traded strikes. Ospreay sat on the top rope. Okada hit a dropkick and Ospreay fell to the floor. Okada sent Ospreay into the barricade. Ospreay blocked a running boot. Okada avoided an Oscutter off the barricade and hit a Woo dropkick on the floor. 

Back inside, Okada hit a picture-perfect shotgun dropkick off the top rope. Ospreay fought off a tombstone attempt and hit a cheeky nando’s kick. Ospreay hit a reverse bloody sunday DDT for a near fall. 

Ospreay hit a hook kick. Okada hit a dropkick. A crazy sequence followed. Ospreay countered a dropkick attempt with a running powerbomb for a near fall at the 20 minute call. The fight spilled back to the exposed platform on the outside. 

Ospreay teased a suplex on the timekeeper’s table. Okada teased a tombstone on the exposed platform. Ospreay suplexed Okada over the barricade and through two timekeeper’s tables. Both guys were down on the floor on the other side of the barricade. 

Ospreay dragged Okada back to the ring. Ospreay hit a springboard forearm strike off the top rope to the back of the head for a near fall. Ospreay hit a running powerbomb for another two count. Ospreay teased a Storm Breaker off the apron to the exposed floor, but Okada blocked. 

Ospreay teased an Oscutter off the post to the apron. Okada blocked and hit a tombstone on the apron at the 25 minute call. 

Okada jumped back in the ring. Ospreay beat the count in at 18,  but ran right into a short Rainmaker. Ospreay ducked another Rainmaker, but Okada hit a dropkick. Okada used a Money Clip. Ospreay slid out, but right into a spinning tombstone. 

Okada went back to the Money Clip. Priestley jumped on the apron. Okada threw Ospreay in Priestley and she took a bump off the apron. Okada maintained the Money Clip. After a long struggle, Ospreay reached the bottom rope to force a break. 

The story now was that Ospreay was out of gas, while Okada still had plenty in the tank. 

Okada hit a series of heavy forearm strikes. Okada hit some short kicks at the 30 minute call. Ospreay tried to fire up with strikes. Okada no-sold the strikes and hit a slam. Okada went to the top rope. Ospreay cut him off and they traded strikes. Ospreay hit a running boot. 

Ospreay hit a top rope Spanish Fly for a near fall. Okada blocked an Oscutter. Ospreay escaped a Money Clip, then connected with an Oscutter. Okada kicked out at two. 

Ospreay hit a series of strikes from the mount. He followed with short kicks to the face. Red Shoes tried to intervene, so Ospreay threw him down.  Ospreay hit a sick strike to the brain stem. Ospreay teased a Hidden Blade, but Okada caught him with a dropkick. 

Ospreay ducked a spinning Rainmaker and went up top. Okada caught Ospreay coming off the top with another dropkick. Ospreay escaped a Money Clip and hit a tombstone and a Rainmaker for a near fall at the 35 minute call. 

Okada blocked a Storm Breaker and hit a sit-out tombstone. He followed immediately with a Rainmaker for the pin. 

IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Championship double title match: Kota Ibushi defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the titles (31:18)

This was very good. They were in a tough spot having to follow the last match. They had a much safer match than any from their 2019 series. 

They started with some mat work, bringing the crowd down a bit after the last match. 

The pace picked up and they fought to the floor. They did a series of counters and teases on the apron and the floor, befofre Naito hit a belly-to-back suplex on the ramp. Ibushi made it back in at 15. 

Naito used a headscissors on the mat, then hit a series of elbows in the corner. Ibushi fought out of a DDT and hit a jumping mid kick and a standing moonsault for a near fall at the 10 minute call. 

Naito hit a wicked back elbow. He tried a follow-up combinacion cabron in the corner. Ibsuhi cut him off with a lariat on the apron. Naito fell to the floor. Ibsuhi went outside after him. Naito hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Naito hit another neckbreaker off the apron to the floor, which looked sick. 

Back inside, Naito used a crucifix. Ibushi forced a rope break. Ibushi blocked a flying forearm and hit a German. Naito no-sold the German, but immediately fell victim to a double stomp from Ibushi. There was a double down at the 15 minute call. 

Ibushi hit a powerslam, but missed a moonsault. Naito applied Pluma Blanca. Ibushi forced a rope break. Naito hit a series of forearms and elbows to the neck, setting up for a later Destino. Naito hit Gloria for a near fall. 

Naito tried to set up a top rope frankensteiner. Ibushi slid out and hit a backflip kick, sending Naito crashing to the mat and rolling to the apron. Ibushi teased a package driver on the apron. Naito blocked and hit a backdrop on the apron. Ibushi answered with a hurricanrana off the apron to the floor. They teased a countout, but Naito made it back in at 19. 

They fought on the ropes. Naito hit a reverse frankensteiner off the top rope. Naito teased a Destino. Ibushi blocked the attempt with two high kicks. Ibushi teased a Kamigoye. Naito avoided it and hit a Destino, but Ibushi kicked out. Naito went for a second Destino. Ibushi blocked and hit a bastard driver. They did another double down at the 25 minute call. 

They traded a series of strikes. Naito used a rolling capo kick. Ibushi answered with a lariat, then hit a last ride. Ibushi maintained wrist control after hitting the Last Ride. Ibushi hit a Kamigoye, but Naito kicked out at two. 

Ibushi missed a phoenix splash. Naito hit a second Destino, but Ibushi again kicked out. Ibushi slid out of a Destino attempt and hit a mid kick, then hit a second Kamigoye. Naito kicked out at two. 

At the 30 mnute call, Ibushi pulled his right knee pad down. Naito hit an enzuigiri and valentia. Naito went for another Destino. Ibushi slid out and hit a jumping knee strike. 

Ibushi then hit a third Kamigoye, covered and pinned Naito to win double IWGP gold. 

**********

Ibushi sold his victory as though he was in a trance. It was really quite an artistic performance. 

Things got weird for a second when Ibushi tried to pin Naito after he came out of his trance. 

Red Shoes went to present Ibushi with the title belts. Naito took the belts from Red Shoes. After a tense moment, Naito handed the belts to Ibushi and raised the new champ’s arm. 

Jay White entered with Gedo. White said that Ibushi’s reign will last for one night. He said he’s taking everything from Ibushi tomorrow. He said Ibushi won’t become God tomorrow, White will expose him as a fraud. White said every time Ibushi is about to reach the pinnacle, Jay will be there to pull him down. 

White said Ibushi will help him fulfill his destino tomorrow when Jay becomes God. Jay said Ibushi will breathe with the Switchblade tomorrow. 

Ibushi then took the mic as White and Gedo retreated to the aisle. 

Ibushi thanked Naito. He said his reign will not end after one day. He thanked the crowd for being there in such trying times. Ibushi promised to keep the titles tomorrow and to become God tomorrow night. 

The show ended with fireworks and Ibushi posing on the entrance stage with both titles.