When it comes to matches to headline a joint show between NJPW & Pro Wrestling NOAH, you can’t get bigger than this. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi don’t team up often, but tonight they unite to take on Keiji Muto & Kaito Kiyomiya.
Muto is a legend of NJPW, but hasn’t clashed with Tanahashi since 2009 – and has never wrestled Okada. Okada has praised what he ‘used to mean’ to professional wrestling. Kiyomiya meanwhile is a rising star for NOAH, and this is perhaps the biggest match of his career.
Originally, Kota Ibushi & GO Shiozaki would have made this a six man tag, but Ibushi was not cleared to return yet. This is still an all-star crew, and a fitting way to see who is the #1 in Japan – NOAH or NJPW?
Keiji Muto Locks Up With An Old Rival And The Rainmaker At Wrestle Kingdom
Kiyomiya would start this one off with Okada, and get taken right down to the mat. He’d look for the armbar as a counter, and was able to get control on Okada’s arm. Technical issues came, but the stream returned with Mutoh grappling with Tanahashi. They’d battle for control on the mat, before Okada would get a chance to lock up with the legend.
Okada would tease a Dragon Screw leg whip, before just hitting the ropes and taking a hip toss and flashing elbow. The STF would be applied, but Okada got free. Kiyomiya tagged in and nailed a jumping back elbow, before a running leg drop for a two count. Okada came back with a flapjack.
Tanahashi & Kiyomiya met in the ring, with Tanahashi hitting the basement dropkick and applying the Texas Cloverleaf. Okada would tag in and hit the DDT on the floor – but Kiyomiya got back in before being counted out. He’d trade some heavy blows with Okada, before Tanahashi tagged in and nailed the flipping senton out of the corner.
Kazuchika Okada Will Not Be Denied
Muto got the tag, and nailed Tanahashi with a basement dropkick and dragon screw. Okada would try to make the save, but took the Dragon Screw as well before Muto applied the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. Tanahashi knows this situation well – and was able to fight his way free.
Another basement dropkick landed, but Okada would get a tag in. He’d nail the scoop slam and go up for the elbow drop. Rainmaker was set, but Muto dodged – hit a basement dropkick, and a shining wizard followed. Kiyomiya tagged in and unleashed a flurry of uppercuts, before a springboard elbow strike.
Okada attempted the comeback with the tombstone, but Kiyomiya would slip behind. Tanahashi saved Okada from a Tiger Suplex with a Slingblade, Muto hit a Shining Wizard on Tanahashi, and Okada dropped him with a dropkick. Kiyomiya hit a big running knee, and now all four men were down.
Okada would be up first and get the shor tarm clothesline before a spinning tombstone. Rainmaker missed and Kiyomiya hit a dropkick to the back of the head. Muto hit a Shining Wizard, and Kiyomiya would follow up with a German Suplex. Okada would nail the dropkick in response. Landslide into Rainmaker, and this one was done!
This ends the show with NJPW winning 6-4-1 for NJPW. Did this show live up to expectations? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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