Back in the G1 Climax 32 semi-finals, we’d see Tetsuya Naito barely lose to Will Ospreay. Tonight we run this match back, after Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr in the UK to earn a shot at the IWGP United States Championship. Considering how violent their match in the G1 would be, and with Tokyo Dome so close – both men know they’re battling for more than a belt. They’re battling for a chance to be high up on the card, potentially even closing the show – but that story starts tonight. This is the final chance for Naito to have any chance of main eventing Wrestle Kingdom, a goal he set for himself back in January.
Will Ospreay Rushes Down Tetsuya Naito As The Match Begins
Ospreay rushed right in with a kick as the bell rang, and Naito avoided it. Headscissor takedown would follow, with Ospreay landed on his feet before a double pose down in the ring. Already they had the clap only crowd on the edge of their seats, before a proper move even connected. Naito avoided a lock up attempt from Ospreay, before locking up on the ropes and Ospreay asking for a clean break and getting one.
Naito proceeded to pummelled him and hit a high angle hip toss into his knee, attacking the previously injured back and neck before applying the Double Leg Nelson. Ospreay was forced to the floor, and he’d take the time until seventeen to get in – still far too soon for Ospreay. Naito went right into a tight cravate on the mat, with Ospreay getting to his feet and the ropes – forcing the break.
Naito immediately hit a hard back elbow smash to the neck, Ospreay already in agony just five minutes into this match. The combination kick in the corner was blocked, with Naito set up on the ropes and chopped down hard to the floor. Ospreay would use the barricade, before chopping him hard and sending him tumbling over with an elbow smash.
Back in the ring, Ospreay would stick to the dangerous striking ability that many overlook, getting a two count off a simple chop. The spinning backbreaker would follow, another simple move with added flair, something that Ospreay does so well as a heavyweight – truly having learned a lot from his previous mentor of Okada.
The Neck Of Ospreay Might As Well Be Glowing Red
A rear chinlock would be applied in the middle of the ring, with Naito able to fight free and nail a single leg dropkick – heel of the boot hitting the chin of Ospreay, and his head bouncing off the canvas on the way down. Naito would follow up with a back elbow smash, before a sliding dropkick to the back. In the corner, Combinación de Cabrón would land – but getting the back of the neck instead of the face.
Downward elbow smashes would land, before the super neckbreaker out of the corner. Two count followed, before the Double Leg Nelson would be applied. Ospreay had to work double hard to get the ropes, and when the rope break was called – Naito just happened to forget how to let the hold go for a few extra seconds of punishment to the neck. Naito would pummel Ospreay into the mat, before he’d recover and hit the backflip kick.
Ospreay would send Naito down to the floor, before a vaulting body press to the floor. Springboard would miss in the ring, before Ospreay halted a swinging DDT, with the strain of stopping Naito adding damage to the neck – but less than the DDT would manage. The springboard forearm would land, but Naito was easily able to kick out at two.
OsCutter was signalled, with Naito blocking on the ropes into a series of neckbreakers, including one off the apron. Naito kept the attack on the neck coming, but Ospreay blocked a neckbreaker on the barricade and hit a flash OsCutter, a more defensive move. We’d nearly see a double countout – but both men made it into the ring at the count of nineteen.
Will Ospreay Survives To Reign Another Day
Both men would trade forearm smashes as they found their fighting spirit, and eventually their feet as well. Naito hit the downward elbows, with Ospreay blocking into a suplex – but Naito maintained wrist control and kept the elbows coming. Running hurricanrana was blocked, but the swinging DDT was not – Ospreay being spiked on his head.
He’d avoid disaster in the corner, before being able to hit the OsCutter. Ospreay would look for the One Winged Angel out of the corner, and it doesn’t matter as Natio hit a super rana. Somehow, Ospreay would block a Destino and turn it into a sitout powerbomb, an insane feat getting a two count. Naito came back with Esperanza, before Destino landed in the middle of the ring.
Ospreay barely kicked out – but a Stormbreaker blocked into Destino would follow. One last Destino would be attempted, with Ospreay hitting a hard forearm smash and a Hidden Blade to the face. A second Hidden Blade would follow, and still Naito was able to kick out. Stormbreaker would finally end this match, before someone ended up retired. Ospreay retains. Naito has no clear path to Tokyo Dome.
Ospreay would call for an open challenge at NJPW x Stardom X-Over, willing to defend against anyone. No one would answer right away, but the challenge remains open. A new song would hit, and Roughneck Shota Umino is here. His excursion is done, and he will be the man to challenge Ospreay next. Can Umino claim the belt his mentor Moxley has held? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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