The most popular factions in NJPW & NOAH will clash in one of the two main event matches. Los Ingobernables De Japon are here in full effect, and KONGO is bringing their best. Included in that is the GHC Heavyweight Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima, and National Champion Kenoh. Manabu Soya, Tadasuke & Aleja fill out the ranks. L.I.J carries no gold, with Takagi losing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Okada, and was mocked for this when NOAH invaded NJPW on January 5th. Can he redeem that loss by defeating the biggest faction in NOAH in what is a legitimate dream match?
KONGO hit the ring as a united force, but like always – L.I.J hit the ring one at a time. Not a sign of distress in the faction, but rather a show of everyone being equal. From BUSHI to Shingo Takagi, no one in L.I.J is posted up as more important – even if card position and wins says otherwise. SANADA & Soya are actually former All Asia Tag Team Champions – a fun thread in this match. These are two anti-hero factions, meeting for perhaps the only time.
The Crowd Can’t Stay Quiet For This Massive Match At Wrestle Kingdom
Nakajima would start for KONGO, and Naito started for L.I.J. The crowd was hyped for this, as the aces of these factions would stare each other down – breaking the rules and cheering instead of just clapping. They met in a G1 Climax back in 2016, with Naito claiming the win that time. Instead of one on one, the factions rushed each other before Naito & Nakajima took the ring. They’d trade arm drags and poses, before KONGO stomped out Naito like he was on fire.
L.I.J saved Naito, and it became clear that it was not going to be easy to keep order. Hiromu & Aleja would take the ring, the fastest men in this match. They’d trade blows to start this encounter, and Hiromu would almost get the corner Death Valley Driver, but Aljea was elusive. The cameras had issues keeping up with these two, but Hiromu was sent outside and dodged a feint kick – before BUSHI & Hiromu took the fight to Aleja, before Shingo tagged in.
Speed is not worth much when a shoulder tackle doubles you over, and Shingo was flaunting his size with a scoop slam and elbow drop. Instead of a sliding lariat, Shingo went after Kenoh on the apron – goading him into the ring and catching him with a dragon screw leg whip. BUSHI got the tag and would catch Aleja with the pendulum kick – before a dropkick and an attempt at the swinging neckbreaker.
Tetsuya Naito & Kenoh Bring The Fight
Aleja finally had a chance after KONGO hit a series of elbow drops. Tadsuke would yank the shirt off BUSHI, and Soya tagged in to flaunt his power. He’d swing BUSHI around in a sleeper hold, before Kenoh tagged in. Kenoh would goad L.I.J to try and make the save, and Nakajima would nail a heavy kick to the back of BUSHI – nearly enough to pin BUSHI right there.
BUSHI would fight off Soya and Tadsuke with a double hurricanrana, and SANADA got the tag. Former partners would clash, but Nakajima & Kenoh would rush the ring as Soya was sent outside. SANADA fought them all, and got Soya back into the ring. Soya countered a leapfrog into a German Suplex, but SANADA landed on his feet. SANADA was dropped with a set of chops before he’d get a springboard dropkick and an attempt at Skull End.
Kenoh & Naito got tags, and Kenoh would get a side headlock takeover with intents on just punching Naito in the face. Naito would counter a suplex and get the neckbreaker into a submission, but Kenoh was able to get a rope break. Kenoh would take the strikes of Naito and was able to block Gloria before some heavy strikes were exchanged. A tight German Suplex and Pele Kick all but knocked Naito out.
Shingo Takagi Claims The Win For L.I.J
Nakajima tagged in and nailed a roundhouse kick, but BUSHI helped to even the odds. The sunset flip into a dropkick came out of nowhere, no words exchanged – just the chemistry of L.I.J at work. Shingo hit the ring and nailed one of his perfect vertical suplexes, before L.I.J set up a three way dropkick for a two count.
Pumping Bomber was met by a superkick and saito suplex. Tadasuke tagged in and got some help from Soya and Kenoh in setting up a swanton bomb – but Naito broke the pin. Left in the ring with Shingo, he’d take a DDT and a sliding lariat. All hell broke loose, and everyone was nailing some signature blows.
Shingo & Tadasuke were still alone, and a Pumping Bomber landed. A series of elbow strikes was met by a punch to the jaw, before a huge lariat got Tadasuke two. Another Pumping Bomber got a two count, and finally Last of The Dragon ended this one out – L.I.J winning!
This one is up to 5-4-1 in favor of NJPW with one match to go. Will these two factions ever meet again? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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