Tag team wrestling doesn’t always produce massive matches in NJPW, but tonight’s match could main event the Tokyo Dome. On February 19th, SANADA challenges Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP United States Championship. Then on February 20th, Tetsuya Naito challenges Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Tonight, it’s the dream team of Okada and Tanahashi vs. SANADA and Naito in one of the biggest tag team matches in recent memory.
Big Match Feel Doesn’t Even Begin To Sum Up This Match
There was a massive match feel for this one, despite the Japanese crowd still being forced to be non-verbal with COVID-19 restrictions. The energy whenever Naito and Okada are in the same ring is hard to match, as is the energy when Okada tags with Tanahashi. Add in SANADA who is on the cusp of being one of NJPW’s top players – and you got a match of the year contender.
While Osaka is generally a very pro Los Ingobernables De Japón town, the EDION Arena is a venue that has seen many Tanahashi victories over his career. This is his venue, and NJPW is Okada’s company – and this is the same building that held the Rainmaker Shock back in 2012, nearly ten years to the day. All these layers make this an incredible match before the bell even rings – but the talent in the ring will make this a classic.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & SANADA Are Already Putting On A Wrestling Clinic
Tanahashi would kick this match off with SANADA, quickly locking up. SANADA would work to get the arm of Tanahashi, who dropped down and picked the ankle of SANADA before floating up into a side headlock. Unable to break the grip on the first time, SANADA would stomp on the leg of Tanahashi to loosen the grip before applying a headlock of his own.
Tanahashi was able to wrestle his way free, before applying a Boston Crab. SANADA pushed out, only to be taken down with an armdrag. Okada got the tag, and Naito would join him in the ring. Naito got the wrist lock on Okada and cranked down on it, before having his leg picked. He’d be able to grab the headlock on Okada, and start working on that neck. Naito loves to soften up the neck for Destino, with 95% of his offence working towards that finishing blow.
Okada would force his way free using the ropes, and did not allow the clean break before kicking the recently injured knee of Naito. Naito shot back with a dropkick to the knee Okada, before laying it on the ropes and hitting some hip attacks. SANADA got the tag and hit a quick leg snap, before Okada was sent to the outside. Naito got some blows and sent Okada right back into the ring.
The left leg of Okada remained a steady target for SANADA, who slammed his knee off the mat before tagging in Naito for a double knee smash. Naito applied the Indian Deathlock, trapping Okada in the middle of the ring. Okada was able to push to the ropes, but Naito pretended to forget how to let the hold go, getting more damage before the break.
The Leg Of Kazuchika Okada Remains A Problem
SANADA would remain steady on the attack to the leg of Okada, before Naito stepped in to stomp on the face of Okada. Okada would fight off the Paradise Lock attempt, and catch SANADA with the sky high flapjack. Tanahashi was reaching for the tag, and got back into the match. He’d drop SANADA with a bodyslam before the somersault senton landed flush.
SANADA would avoid the damage of the Dragon Screw and tagged in Naito. Naito would look for a neckbreaker, but Tanahashi was able to block and nail a neckbreaker of his own. Okada was ready to get back into the match, nailing a back elbow strike to the face of Naito. However, he’d have that knee stomped again. Naito would lose his cool when the referee tried to stop him, leaving an opening for Okada to place him on the top rope and nail the dropkick.
Stumbling to the outside, Naito would be followed by Okada hitting the draping DDT to the floor. Naito barely made the referee’s twenty count, before trading forearm blows with Okada. The neckbreaker from Okada was blocked into an armdrag before the swing DDT landed. Naito quickly followed up with the top hurricanrana, but the running Destino was well scouted. Tanahashi & SANADA got tags, but Tanahashi would be locked up in that Paradise Lock – and just had to wait as SANADA hit a basement dropkick.
SANADA would be caught with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip soon after, with Naito rushing into the same fate. On the outside, Okada would move the barricade back and hold both opponents, calling for Aces High to the floor – and Tanahashi caught both with the diving crossbody.
Tetsuya Naito Brings An End To This Dream Tag Team Encounter
Not wanting to win with a countout, he’d take SANADA into the ring, and hit a set of dragon screws through the ropes. Tanahashi would apply the Texas Cloverleaf, and Okada stopped Naito with the Money Clip. SANADA would power up and start the climb to the ropes, and Tanahashi was unable to stop the crawl to the ropes. Tanahashi would block the European Clutch, but was unable to avoid being locked into Skull End.
Okada was now held back by Naito to prevent the breakup, before Naito was kicked into the barricade. SANADA would now fall for that Muta Moonsault, setting it up with the Backbreaker. Tanahashi dodged but SANADA landed on his feet and went right back into Skull End, before it was countered into that Twist & Shout neckbreaker. SANADA moved into the Dragon Screw Neck Whip, using the top rope.
Naito would get the tag, and start to nail some elbow shots to the back of the neck. He was one Destino away from victory, as we passed the thirty minute mark. A neckbreaker would be followed by a two on one attack from L.I.J as a backdrop set up a near fall. Okada rushed in and nailed a dropkick to Naito, before Tanahashi landed the Slingblade on SANADA and Naito.
Going up top, Tanahashi would miss the High Fly Flow – Naito dodging at the last possible second. Destino was blocked, but SANADA took the attention of Tanahashi for a moment. Naito tried for a reverse Dragon Screw, before Okada missed a rainmaker on Naito and took Destino. Valentina landed on Tanahashi before Destino for the win.
Will Naito & SANADA claim gold next weekend? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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