At NJPW: Resurgence, Hiroshi Tanahashi would give a classic performance against the Murderhawk Monster Lance Archer to win the IWGP United States Championship. When he challenged for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, he promised Kota Ibushi the first shot, but he failed to win there. However, he has a belt, NJPW had a show in MetLife Dome, and they needed a main event.
This was the first match back for Ibushi after an extremely hard fight with aspiration pneumonia. That kept him away from the Tokyo Dome main event, but now he’s back and looks as good as ever. However, he has a very hard test in Hiroshi Tanahashi who has looked as good as ever lately. Ibushi was emotional as they prepared to lock up, perhaps just overjoyed to be back to what he loved – after it was so close to being over.
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam Results: Hiroshi Tanahashi Prevails Over Kota Ibushi In Emotional Match, Retains IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship (09/04)
Ibushi & Tanahashi would start off by simply feeling each other out. Tanahashi would get trapped in a headscissor hold, getting free for a moment and ending up right back in the hold. Ibushi was showing that his mat game hasn’t suffered, and would show some of his athletic ability as he did a backflip to get out of a wrist lock and take Tanahashi back down.
Tanahashi would be able to finally get free and take Ibushi down with a low dropkick. We’ve seen time and time again that Tanahashi loves to work the legs, and with them being one of the biggest strengths of Ibushi, this is smart. He’d wrap them up in the middle of the ring, and be forced to absorb strikes from Ibushi, who would eventually just pull himself to the ropes.
A desperate dropkick would catch Tanahashi in the nose, but took a lot with the damage to the legs. Ibushi would then manage a standing moonsault, but was unable to make the pinfall. Tanahashi would slip to the outside, and end up taking the Golden Triangle Moonsault, and back in the ring a springboard dropkick. Ibushi went for a kick, but took a Dragon Screw Leg Whip.
Tanahashi couldn’t follow up, as he ended up in a strike exchange with Ibushi, who was able to beat him down and nail some forearms to the back of the neck. However, he’d set up Kamigoye only to take Twist & Shout instead. Tanahashi hit the ropes and nailed the Slingblade like only he could.
Ibushi was right back up, took a chop to the face and was dropped with a second Slingblade. He landed right on his neck, and Tanahashi went up high and went for the High Fly Flow, landing right on the knees of Ibushi. Ibushi would grab the wrist before Tanahashi rolled off and nailed Kamigoye, but was unable to follow up with a pin.
Calling back to Nakamura, Ibushi would nail a Boma-Ye knee strike. He then looked for a second Kamigoye, but Tanahashi would fight back. The wrists would be twisted to prevent Ibushi from hitting the strike and got a Slingblade for a one count. Dragon Suplex would follow, but that only got a two count.
Heading back up top, Tanahashi would nail Aces High, before looking for the follow-up of High Fly Flow. With perfect aim he nailed Ibushi, and got the win.
by far the best match of the night, with Tanahashi & Ibushi really having a simple yet epic match. Ibushi looked great in his return, but Tanahashi was just a step better and more prepared for the match. They had a battle of respect, and just looked glad to be able to work together again after a scary patch for Ibushi. Match Rating: 4.25/5 (**** 1/4)
Who will challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi next? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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