Great-O-Khan is building up as much steam as possible for the 2022 New Japan Cup. He’s been taking on legend after legend in singles matches, with some Young Lions thrown in as well – and has been all but unstoppable since falling to SANADA at Wrestle Kingdom. Tonight, he gets Tomoaki Honma in a rare singles showing, and likely intends to send him packing as fast as possible.
Great-O-Khan Goes 14-1 In 2022 Singles Matches
This was the first singles match for Honma in this venue since the 2014 G1, where he lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi. However, despite being the underdog against Great-O-Khan, upset victories can happen to anyone. Great-O-Khan would take Honma to the ropes, before getting put into a headlock.
A bodyslam would follow as Great-O-Khan got free, which was followed up with a pump kick. Honma kicked out of the pinfall attempt before nearly being choked out – but found the bottom rope with his foot. Great-O-Khan looked for the claw hold to set up that Eliminator Slam, but Honma fought valiantly to block and spike Great-O-Khan with the DDT.
A shoulder tackle would drop Great-O-Khan for a second time, before Honma hit some stiff knife edge chops. Kokeshi Headbutt would be set up, but Great-O-Khan was able to dodge with ease. Great-O-Khan would take a chop to the throat and come back with one of his own, with both men welcoming the back and forth strikes.
Honma would put his hands behind his back and take the strikes, before being taken down with a hip toss. Great-O-Khan applied The Sheepkiller, before moving into a powerslam for a near fall. Honma would fire back with the rocket Kokeshi, before hitting the falling variant. Body slam and top rope Kokeshi attempt would follow, but Great-O-Khan was able to intercept only for Honma to look for a powerbomb.
Great-O-Khan held on but took Rocket Kokeshi to the back of his knee, before the second rope variant got a near fall. A headbutt into the lariat got just a one count, but Great-O-Khan was rattled. The final Kokeshi would be blocked by Great-O-Khan however, and the Eliminator would see the end for Honma tonight.
Kazuchika Okada Has Had Bad Luck Against Naito In 2022
Tomorrow night, we get the next chapter in the storied rivalry of Kazuchika Okada & Tetsuya Naito. Okada will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Naito – who has had Okada’s number all tour in tag team matches. Tonight, Okada brings former champions in Nagata & Kojima to the fight, as he looks to get a shred of momentum ahead of tomorrow’s world title clash.
Naito would start this match with Okada, going right after the wrist before Okada forced the rope break. Okada took a chop to the chest, which got him fired up as he kicked Naito in the gut and applied a tight side headlock. Naito would be able to slip out, and hit his signature taunt. Nagata would get the tag from Okada, and Shingo Takagi got the tag from Naito.
They’d battle for control of the wrist lock, before just trading forearm blows. Shingo would be snapped down for the kick to the back, before coming back with a bodyslam. Hiromu Takahashi got his tag before hitting a shoulder tackle alongside Shingo. A rake to the eyes would just anger Blue Justice, who hit a knee to the midsection and tagged out to Satoshi Kojima who ran down Takahashi.
Shingo Takagi Claims The Win For L.I.J
Okada would get the tag back into the match, and nailed a neckbreaker on Takahashi. Kojima came back in and nailed some Machine Gun Chops in the corner – before setting up the top rope elbow drop, only for Takahashi to dodge and nail the dropkick. Naito got back into the match and was dropped on his head with a DDT.
Okada would tag in and meet Naito head on in an exchange of stiff forearm blows before Okada hit the running back elbow to the jaw. Heavy Rain would drop Naito, as Okada pulled out a deep cut from his moveset. Naito hit the dropkick to the knee, setting up the neckbreaker in the corner before a second in the middle of the ring.
Okada would take some elbow strikes to the back of the neck, before applying a Full Nelson hold using his legs. Naito would be unable to get the submission victory, and Okada would get Naito into the Money Clip. He’d manage to slip free, before Nagata & Shingo got back into the ring.
Shingo would hit a vertical suplex, and Nagata got the Exploder and Nagata Lock II, but was unable to take him out. Justice Knee and Fire Thunder Driver would manage a near fall for Nagata, getting a near fall. Okada would look to help Nagata after Shingo would look for the finish, but was dropped with Destino from Naito. Pumping Bomber landed, and Last of The Dragon closed out this match.
Will Tetsuya Naito become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion tomorrow? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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