Ren Narita is no longer a young lion – having completed his excursion. Tonight at Declaration Of Power Narita kicks off the show with his homecoming match. He’s teaming with David Finlay & Robbie Eagles against the Suzuki-Gun trio of Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado and DOUKI.
Wrestle Kingdom 17 To Be Held In Honor Of Antonio Inoki
Before this match would begin, the entire NJPW roster would make their way to the ring – as the life of NJPW founder would be honored. Antonio Inoki passed away earlier this month, and simply put – there would be no NJPW without Inoki. He founded the company, and was their biggest star for many years.
A video package highlight his career would air, showing many of his title victories and iconic fights. He was named the Honorary Lifetime Chairman prior to his death, and it was planned that he would have accepted that title at this event. Instead, Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4th, 2023 will now be held in his memory.
Ren Narita Is The Son Of Strong Style
With the nickname of “Son Of Strong Style” and some new music, Ren Narita would hit the ring for his homecoming match. Having went to the LA Dojo to train under Katsuyori Shibata, Narita would even wrestle Shibata at Wrestle Kingdom 16, and takes a lot of cues from his mentor. A nickname like that will also put a target on your back – which Narita is ready for.
Narita would start up with Desperado, forcing him to the ropes and nailing a chop. Desperado would stand and trade with Narita, before being run down with a shoulder tackle. Forearm smashes would follow, before Suzuki-Gun veteran Yoshinobu Kanemaru yanked him to the floor and drove him into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Desperado nailed a knee breaker and a dragon screw – before Kanemaru followed up with a dropkick. Figure four leg lock would be applied, but Narita would be able to fight free. DOUKI would continue to go after the knee, before Desperado hit a rough punch to the head. Narita would launch him with a back body drop, before Eagles & Finlay were taken off the apron.
Spinning wheel kick would drop DOUKI, before Eagles & Finlay would rush the ring, with Eagles dropping Kanemaru onto the chest of Desperado with Turbo Backpack. Spinning back elbow into the brainbuster would almost get DOUKI beat, before the Gory Kneebreaker would punish Narita further. Suplex De La Luna would be blocked, with Narita winning off a perfect Belly To Belly Suplex with a bridge pin – titled Narita Special IV.
Dangerous Tekkers Take The Fight To TMDK
With World Tag League coming soon, Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi are looking to get back to being an effective tag team. Dangerous Tekkers are former IWGP World Tag Team Champions, and tonight they face two members of TNDK with Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito.
Tito would start with Taichi, before getting into a pep popping contest. Tito won, but that would not decide the match. He’d kick Taichi in the gut before applying a headlock, with Taichi fighting free. Haste & ZSJ would meet in the middle of the ring, with Haste holding his own in terms of mat grappling.
ZSJ would gain control of the wrist, before cranking away at the hand. Haste would force ZSJ into the corner and tagged in Tito to assist in a massive Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Tito would hit an array of suplexes, but was unable to get the deciding fall.
Hate would kick away at a fallen ZSJ before having his ankle snatched – with ZSJ turning this into a kick. Taichi would apply the Greco Roman Throat Hold – before Tito would meet him in the middle of the ring with a big dropkick. ZSJ got the tag and cranked the neck of Tito on the mat, before getting an armbar.
Tito would fight to get free and ended up in the triangle choke, but would powerbomb his way free. Haste dove in with a cannonball, before taking the Axe Bomber. Tito nailed Sky High on Taichi, before ZSJ would get him with the European Clutch for the win.
Will Dangerous Tekkers win World Tag League 2022? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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