Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is finally over. In just a mere short couple of hours after this posting, Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 1 shall begin. I’m Jordan Huie of the Overtimer and timezones be damned, I’ll be here to give you the live recap and results from the show as they go down! After all, it’s the single biggest show of the year outside of WrestleMania! And this year’s version of the January 4th Dome Show promises to be bigger than ever – after all, it’s extending to January 5th! This two day event is sure to be unforgettable, so watch this space!
The stream is ongoing at NJPWWorld.com as I type this, seeing highlights from the press conferences ahead of the show. Soon as the matches begin, so too shall the recapping in earnest!
Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji & Great Bash Heel (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe) vs. Toa Henare, Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors, and Karl Fredericks
Very chippy before the match starts, everybody wanting to brawl. Lions begin, Connors and Uemura I think. Arm drag, side headlock from Connors. Tag to Coughlin who comes in with some huge chops, real loud and meaty ones getting him in the corner. Snapmare, dramatic stomp for a nearfall. Taken to the corner, tag to Karl Fredericks who comes in with some European Uppercuts and a big body slam, elbow drop for a nearfall. Uemura fights back with uppercuts of his own, standing dropkick, tag to Makabe who comes in as a house of fire with a shoulder block for everyone. Clotheslines Fredericks in the corner, Corner Ten Punch, Coughlin stops him for massive heat! Whip reversed, Snap Powerslam! He’s taken to the opposite corner, Honma comes in, Stereo Corner Ten Punches from both sides of the ring! Stereo Northern Lights follows, Makabe bridging for a 2 count. Makabe hits the ropes but runs into a big boot. Charges for a lariat, but gets taken out with a Spinebuster!
Tsuji and Henare tag in! Henare with forearms and elbows, whip to the ropes, Tsuji counters with a dropkick! Henare has actual gear of his own tonight, first I’ve seen that. He’s getting ganged on by everyone now though, corner clothesline from Makabe, body slam from Tsuji, Kokechi from Honma for a massive pop, cover broken up! Henare wins a strike exchange with Tsuji, clothesline, gets him in the Fireman’s Carry but Tsuji escapes, trip, transitions nicely into the Boston Crab, the traditional finish of the Young Lions! Coughlin comes in and laces his chest with gruesome chops but he won’t break! One big one finally lays him out though! Coughlin hits the ropes, gets caught by a spear! Strike exchange, Henare with a wicked thrust kick, whip to the ropes but Henare counters with a lariat for a nearfall! Henare plants him with a Uranage and gets the duke!
Winners: Toa Henare, Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors, and Karl Fredericks
Solid stuff and cool to see Henare get the pin, he’s certainly a prospect. Coughlin looked pretty dangerous in that one as well, Tsuji was smooth, Fredericks is quite far along too… definitely a lot of bright young hopefuls out of that LA Dojo. Also man the team with the vets on it lost! Very subversive.
Tencozy vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
Nakanishi starts and gets the double chops from both Tenzan and Kojima! But Nakanishi counters a double DDT with a Northern Lights Suplex on both men, very impressive! Manabu and Yuji with a simul takedown, Nagata with a running roundhouse kick, Nakanishi with an inch high running splash for a nearfall. Headbutt takes Kojima down, charging flail takes Tenzan to the floor. Nagata tags in, strike exchange, roundhouse kicks to the chest of Kojima until he falls. Nagata with a charging big boot in the corner. Whiffs another charge, tag to Tenzan who comes in with a serious of double chops and a headbutt in the corner. Whip to the opposite corner, charging clothesline. Takes him out of the corner to hook him for a suplex, cover for 2. Whip to the ropes, back body drop. Nagata counters a charge with an Exploder Suplex! Both men drained. Rolling to their corners, simultaneous tags.
Kojima takes Nakanishi to the corner for his million overhead chops! Whip to the opposite corner, charging elbow and the ensuing chant actually echoes! There’s a legit echo in here that’s incredible. Charging stereo clotheslines, Nakanishi covers for 2. Takes him up for the Torture Rack, Tenzan comes up and he lets him go to chop the both of them. Hits the ropes, runs right into a 3D! Kojima covers, Nagata breaks it up. Kojima hits the ropes, Nakanishi stops the first lariat attempt but the second nails him and Tencozy pick up the win.
Winners: Tencozy
No surprises there.
The main card is starting now! The first of Liger’s two retirement matches will be opening the show! Kuniaki Kobayashi is the first to emerge, the manager of his team, his tron only showing him wrestling early Liger.
Sasuke comes out in a mask that fuses his own with one of Liger’s. Suffice to say, the ovation for Liger is tremendous and the moment he emerged on the stage I got emotional…
Jushin Liger Retirement Match #1: Naoki Sano, Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Ryusuke Taguchi (w/ Kuniaki Kobayashi) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, The Great Sasuke & Tatsumi Fujinami (w/ El Samurai)
Liger starts with Sano. Enormous chant of Liger’s name. Liger with a trip… immediately setting up for the Romero Special! But instead he stands up, arms still hooked. Side headlock as Sano struggles too much, Liger shot to the ropes but gets the shoulder block, Sano with a leapfrog and standing dropkick, takes him out of the ring! 54-year-old Sano with an honest to god Suicide Dive! Back in the ring, tag to Otani, who comes in to give Liger a repeating facewash, running one to cap it off! Another one, nails Great Sasuke on the outside! Hits the ropes, Liger up for a Shotei but it’s no sold! And another! But a clothesline takes him out, tag to Tiger Mask! Takaiwa in now, multitude of chops but Tiger answers with a spinning back kick!
But Takaiwa with a Death Valley Driver! Takes him to the corner, Taguchi tags in, snapmare, hip attacks commence, falling hip attack for a nearfall. Tag to Sano. Works him over, quick tags and isolation, Takaiwa with a body slam, elbow drop off the top for a nearfall! Fujinami makes the hot tag! Enormous ovation as he hits some leg drags! Gets Takaiwa in a Dragon Sleeper!! Sano comes in to clobber him over the back to make him break but gets a shot to the stomach and a smack in the face, tag to Sasuke! Snapmare, he taunts as he goes up top. Senton, Takaiwa moves and he crashes hard on the canvas! Sano tags in, double footstomp off the top rope misses, ow, why would you, Sasuke with a spinning heel kick, going up top once again but Sano cuts him off! Superplex!
Tag to Taguchi and in comes Liger to counter the hip attack with an inverted atomic drop! Takes Taguchi up top, Super Frankensteiner for the nearfall, broken up! Tiger Mask flies off the top to the floor with a crossbody! Fujinami and Sano brawl on the floor as Taguchi gets hooked with a Victory Roll for a nearfall, Enziguri nailed but Liger no sells! Charges into a second one, Taguchi now doing the Shinsuke poses! Charging Hip Attack, nearfall! Hooks both arms, Tiger Facebuster! And that is that, he pins Liger!
Winners: Naoki Sano, Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Ryusuke Taguchi
I think everyone’s stunned at that one! Man what a ton of fun that match was though.
Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. (Sanada, Evil, Bushi & Shingo Takagi) vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki)
Before the bell ZSJ initiates a fight and everyone brawls to the outside except for Evil and Suzuki who trade blows. Back kick from Evil, clothesline in the corner makes him fall to the bottom buckle. Evil with a Bronco Buster for a nearfall. Suzuki ducks a clothesline, turns it into a Triangle Choke in the ropes! Has to break, but pulls Evil outside of the ring. Grabs up a chair and hits him with it. It’s never been adequately explained but basically anything is legal if you do it outside the ring in New Japan. Back in the ring, Suzuki tries for his Cradle Piledriver but Evil escapes, only to be taken down anyway, tag to El Desperado who comes in with a Camel Clutch. Ref is distracted as Taichi comes in just to grind the boot onto Evil’s face. Desperado releases the hold then actually tags Taichi in. He stomps Evil as he raises. Forearms to the face, Taichi responds with a choke! Hooks Evil for a suplex, but it’s reversed with a Fisherman Suplex!
Shingo tags in, charges to knock ZSJ off the apron, runs through everybody. Taichi elbows out of a German attempt but eats heavy shots, capped off with a lariat! Taich igets the boot up in the corner, then throws him into the corner for an enziguri! Rips off the pants! Roundhouse kick caught, Shingo with a double axe handle, Taichi with a back kick, hits the ropes, clothesline! Clothesline collision, Taichi with a roundhouse kick, Shingo with a heavy lariat, Taichi with an enziguri, both are down as the crowd applauds! Tags to ZSJ and Sanada! Sanada lands on his feet off of a snapmare, leap frogs, standing dropkick! Desperado rushes in, gets tripped up, taken into the Paradise Lock! He is utterly trapped folks. Sanada charges, dropkick to the backside! Fireman’s Carry on ZSJ gets countered into an Octopus Stretch!
Sanada escapes, tries to get ZSJ in the Paradise Lock but he counters this into a sunset flip pin, 2 count, Sanada fights to his feet, big forearm. Tag to Bushi who comes off the top for the missile dropkick, into his Spinaroonie! Bushi and Shingo with a double whip, charging knee from Bushi, running clothesline from Shingo, thrust kick from Evil, Backstabber from Bushi for the nearfall, broken up by the Suzuki-gun mates! ZSJ with a suplex, Bushi escapes, backslide, ZSJ counters into a submission, hooks both arms deeeep! Bushi has to submit!
Winners: Suzuki-gun
ZSJ just keeps Bushi in the hold, not breaking even as Sanada comes in to stomp him. Puts him in the Cold Skull to break the hold, but ZSJ swiftly breaks out and bails from the ring!
Chaos (Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Bullet Club (Kenta, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale)
Bullet Club emerge with some backup, couple of rugby players apparently? Yano and Fale start. Yano charges, Fale stops him with a shoulder block. Yano strips away a turnbuckle cover, ducks a clothesline, raises a hand, Fale just doesn’t react. Instead Yano turns and runs and tags in Yoshi-Hashi. Chase Owens tags in as well, Yoshi ducks a clothesline, corkscrew kick, clips Yujiro as he tries to run in. Ducks a shot, gets his Inverted Blockbuster! Chase throws a forearm, Yoshi responds with a chop, hits the ropes, Yujiro trips him up and drags him from the ring. Yoshi-Hashi takes him down with a forearm but eats a Baseball Slide from Chase. Fale tags in, bulldozes everyone.
Quick tags and isolation on Yoshi-Hashi, big bodyslam from Fale. Owens and Fale both grind away on his back. Owens and Yujiro with a double team, back suplex from Yujiro, charging knee from Chase, Yujiro covers for a nearfall. Ishii tags in! Throws Yujiro, knocks Chase off the apron, hooks Fale for a suplex… crowd reeeaaaaally wants it but he’s just too heavy and he slams Ishii! Yano clubbers Fale from behind! He slowly turns… Yano runs, tries to low bridge him but Fale just stomps him out of the ring! Yujiro tags in, but Yoshi-Hashi gets him with a suplex, simultaneous tags to Kenta and Goto! They immediately meet in the middle with clotheslines and stagger one another! But Goto recovers first, big shots in, tries for his Snap Neckbreaker but Kenta counters with a DDT, tag to Yujiro who nails an Inverted DDT. Everyone ganging up on Goto now, leading to a Yujiro Fisherman’s Suplex for a nearfall. Ishii in the ring with Fale, nails a headbutt that staggers! Hooks… CROWD GOES WILD FOR THE BRAINBUSTER!!! Yujiro and Kenta try and ouble team Goto but he ducks a double clothesline, clotheslines Yujiro, kick to the face of Kenta, gets the GTR for the win!
Winners: Chaos
Kenta and Goto with a tense staredown after the match.
IWGP Tag Team Championships: GoD (c) (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)
The two teams find themselves brawling on the ramp before the bell rings! Finlay is taken down on the stage whilst Juice gets back body dropped on the ramp! They drag him closer to the ring as the bell randomly sounds to start the match proper. Loa throws Juice into the ring and pursues. He stomps Juice into the corner. GoD with a double dropkick, Tama tags in, Stinger Splash. Loa tags in, hooks Juice for a suplex but he escapes, turns it into a Reverse Neckbreaker! Tag to Finlay, who rushes in take Tama to the floor, forearms to Loa! Whip reversed, but he ducks a shot, running dropkick! Charging back elbow in the corner, goes up top for a flying spinning elbow! Celebrates, Tama clips him from behind and attacks Juice as well.
Double team whip, Tama charges but Finlay deposits him from the ring, Loa charges as well and he evades it, wants the tag but Loa grabs him. David escapes the back suplex, goes up top but gets tripped up onto the top buckle! Loa knocks Juice off the apron again, takes Finlay up, hoists him onto his shoulders for a big running powerslam. Tama tags in, headbutt lays Finlay out. He chokes him. Irish whip, flying back elbow. Snap Suplex, floatover for the cover and a 2. Another suplex in the heel corner, tag to Loa who comes in with a hilo, Tama with a hilo of his own. Finlay tries to fight his way up, Loa no sells a shot. Thrown to the corner, but he explodes out of it with a flying lariat!
Crowd applauds as he makes his way to the corner, tag to Juice! Bionic elbows, thrown to the ropes, comes off with a flying clothesline! Tama rushes in, eats a Spinebuster! And one for Loa as well! Charging cannonball in the corner! Gets the people chanting Juice! Combination of punches! Loads the left but Loa cuts him off with a combo of kicks and knees, capped with a German Suplex! Thrown to the corner, GoD both charge and both whiff, Juice with Spinning Heel Kicks to both men! Tag to Finlay, who immediately hits a tope crossbody to Loa, running dropkick/russian legsweep combo to Tama for a nearfall! Double whip, Flapjack to Tama! David takes Tama up top but Loa sneaks up, big shot to Juice, clips David and powerbombs him to the mat, Tama with a flying elbow, Juice has to break up the pin!
GoD pick Finlay up, try for Magic Killer but he escapes and suplexes Tama! Still they catch him with a Back Suplex/Neckbreaker combo! Nearfall. Magic Killer nailed this time but Juice breaks up the pin! But now they hook him and nail him with a Magic Killer as well and he rolls from the ring in a heap. Finlay driven to the corner, Loa up top, Tama suplexes him into Powerbomb position, Finlay with a Super Rana to counter, Loa might’ve landed on Finlay’s leg there… Gunstun avoided, Tama trips Finlay into a kendo stick shot from Jado, roll-up for a nearfall! Tama tries the Gunstun on both of FinJuice and they each avoid it, Finlay hits him with it instead for a nearfall, Loa has to break it up! Hoists Finlay up for a powerslam, Juice pulls him free, Loa grabs Juice instead but he escapes to the back, tries for the Pulp Friction, Loa shoves him away, Jado on the apron, Juice with a huge left hand takes him to the floor! Loa eats a leftie as well but no sells… so he gives him a second knockout shot to rock him, Pulp Friction! Finlay hits the Sliced Bread #2 on Tama, pin for the win!
Winners: FinJuice
Definitely a good match and while I didn’t predict it, very nice to see Finlay and Juice get a victory here on the big stage and take these titles.
Texas Deathmatch for the IWGP United States Championship: Lance Archer (c) vs. Jon Moxley
Mox throws tons of chairs into the ring during his entrance. Archer emerges with Mad Max gear and wielding two trash can lids. Flips him off on the way into the ring. The bell rings and we’re already swinging! Archer with a crossbody! Big heymaker, throws Moxley to the ropes but he catches himself, deposits Archer, hits rthe ropes, suicide dive takes them up the ramp! Big ovation. Mox throws Archer into the crowd, irish whips take him into some chairs and barricades! Drags him into the ring, grabs a kendo stick from under the ring! Moxley goes up top, flies but Archer evades it – tosses a chair right into his face! Big chair shots to the back! Grabs a can lid and smacks him in the back and over the face with it!
Some mean shots to the head in with that lid, before cracking him across the back with the kendo stick! Chokes him with it! Shot to the small of the back. Yells at the crowd before lashing him again! Crack to the chest! Archer already demanding that he give up. Prod to the gut, crack across the shoulder. Archer with a wristlock, tries the rope walk but Mox trips him, vicious stick shot to the side of the head, wicked series of shots that splinter the stick ending with a big one to the forehead! Mox takes up a trash can lid, Archer blocks it, but Mox wrestles it away, hits the ropes, ludicrous running shot to the head! Sets up two chairs against each other with the lid between them, suplex takes Archer right onto the lid between the chairs! Driving forearm!
Archer has to bail, Mox with a tope but he’s caught out of the air with a chokeslam onto the apron! Archer grabs a random ring boy, pulls him up to the apron and chokeslams him onto Moxley to the floor! A bunch of ringboys crowd Moxley and help him to his feet as the big man hits the ropes – Archer with the Taker Dive wiping out everyone! Archer sets up a group of chairs now, kendo stick to the back of Mox keeps him down as he does this. He tries to pick Moxley up but he escapes, hoists him onto his shoulders but Archer slips out, Mox goes up top but Archer cuts him off! Grabs him off the second rope for an Emerald Flowsion through the chairs! Our first 10 count starts now… Mox makes it up at 8, but Archer swiftly grabs him with the claw and slams his head into the chair repeatedly before trying for the submission… but Mox with a nice counter, hooking the legs around his head to turn it into a Cross Armbreaker!
Archer fights out of it, both hands around his throat… lifts him up to his feet, Overhead Choketoss! Archer charges, Mox explodes out of the corner with a clothesline, Double Arm DDT! Crowd is actually rising for this ten count, Archer makes it to his feet in time, Mox wants the Paradigm Shift but it’s blocked. Mox hits the ropes, Archer does as well, Pounce nailed! High Elevation Uranage right onto a chair! Another ten count here… Mox makes it up at nine! Archer takes him right back down with a shot. Another claw hold locked in. My feed messed up but it seems Mox escaped again, Archer now on the outside setting up tables! He takes Moxley up top, grating his spiked hat onto his head before trying for another Emerald Flowsion! But Moxley escapes, hits the ropes, charges, Archer catches him for a chokeslam but Moxley escapes to the apron… PARADIGM SHIFT TAKES THEM BOTH OFF THE APRON AND THROUGH THE TABLES! 10 count starts, both men are down! Moxley slowly rises as the crowd is up big… Archer can’t make it, his arm is sliced and the bell has rung!
Winner: Jon Moxley
It’s a real good thing that was the finish because Archer was bleeding like crazy after that, it was all over his arm. Brutal, violent match, as you’d expect.
Moxley gets on the mic afterwards. Says he’s a gambler. He came to Tokyo to either leave with nothing or leave with everything, calls out Juice Robinson! Tomorrow night, the two of them settle the score once and for all.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
As the bell rings Hiromu swiftly charges, only to stop short, headgames immediately! Crowd is on their feet for this one! Waistlock takedown from Ospreay, spisn around on his back, smack to the back of the head and now he poses on the top rope to mock Hiromu! Hiromu charges, boot up, shoved away, shot ducked, big boto deflected, exchange of forearms! Hiromu wins out momentarily… back elbow ducked, whip reversed, Ospreay with a leap frog, monkey flip deflected, standing moonsaults evaded, suplexes escaped, heel kick ducked, chop lands, Hiromu with a spinning headscissor and Ospreay rolls to the apron as the crowd goes wild! Hiromu with a charge, goes for the Sunset Flip Bomb, Ospreay blocks it, Hiromu pulls him off… hikes him up and powerbombs him hard on the apron! Hiromu goes back up to the apron, charges off with a missile dropkick! Throws him into the ring and pursues. Mean chop.
Mocking kicks to the face from Hiromu, OSpreay fights back but gets a rake to his eyes. Suplex, Hiromu escapes, boot up off the charge, wants the Poison Rana onto the apron, Ospreay blocks but Hiromu chokes him against the ropes with his legs, knocks him away, Ospreay avoids the back body drop, leaps up for a double foot stomp onto his back! Draping DDT for a nearfall! Ospreay takes him outside, chokes him on the barricade. Hiromu with some weak chops to try and fight back, Ospreay with a spinning neckbreaker on the floor! Takes him inside, snapmare, sharp kick to the shoulder blades. Ospreay with a Triangle Choke variant. Hiromu gets his foot on the ropes to escape. Chops, Ospreay with a spinning back kick, hits the ropes, Hiromu with a Leaping Facebuster, thrust kick to the face, Michinoku Driver for a nearfall! Chops to the chest, charges for a clothesline, ducked, Ospreay with a springboard corkscrew kick!
Hiromu bails, Ospreay with a big back flipping tope but Hiromu evades, German Suplex onto the ramp but Ospreay lands on his feet, charges, Hiromu wants an overhead Belly-To-Belly but Ospreay just slips between the ropes and lands into the ring to finally nail the big backflipping corkscrew tope!! Jesus Christ that was the best high spot of all time! Springboard Forearm for a nearfall! Hesitation Dropkick from Hiromu sends Ospreay headfirst into the corner! Charge in the corner, Ospreay with the boot up, hesitation on the headkick, 619 across the turnbuckle post! Hiromu laid out on the apron, Springboard Double Footstomp right to the head, Christ! Ospreay rolls him into the ring, goes up top… Missile Dropkick to the cheek! Nearfall. Ospreay prepares the Hidden Blade but Hiromu just collapses to the mat. Ospreay with mocking kicks.
Ospreay powers Hiromu to the top rope, positions the head against the pad, Cheeky Nandos Kick! Goes up top with Hiromu on his shoulders now! Hiromu fights out, leaps to the mat, chop to the chest, Hiromu goes up top with him, wants the Inverted Code Blue but Ospreay stops it, gets him on his shoulders again! But Hiromu escapes and nails the Inverted Code Blue off the top rope for a nearfall! Dynamite Plunger for a nearfall! Ospreay with a kick into an enziguri to make the comeback, Robinson Special kick! Blocks a clothesline, PUMPHANDLE DRIVER FOR A NEARFALL! Ospreay up top, Shooting Star Press to the back of Hiromu for a nearfall!! OSCUTTER! Very narrow kickout! 540 Kick! Hidden Blade attempt but Hiromu avoids, extremely sudden Sit-Out Powerbomb for a nearfall! Standing 10 count as they both slowly rise.
Elbow exchange now! Both get to their feet and continue it! It goes for quite a while, Hiromu finally wins out but Ospreay with a roundhouse kick quells him! Handspring gets turned into an extremely high elevation German Suplex! Charging lariat but Ospreay flips out of it, gets him onto his shoulders BUT HIROMU TURNS THIS INTO A CANADIAN DESTROYER OUT OF NOWHERE FOR A NEARFALL! Fireman’s Carry drive into the corner! Hiromu gets Ospreay onto his shoulders, wants the Time Bomb but Ospreay escapes only to eat a couple of superkicks! Hoists him up again, Ospreay escapes for the 540 Kick! Looks for Strombreaker but Hiromu escapes, hits the ropes, charges right into a Spanish Fly!
Ospreay wants the Hidden Blade once again! NAILS IT, AND IT IS VICIOUS! Hooks both arms and forces him up for Stormbreaker… COUNTERED INTO A SUNSET FLIP BOMB FOR A NEARFALL! Hiromu hits the ropes for a massive lariat that flips Ospreay onto his back! TIME BOMB! NO, EVEN THIS IS A NEARFALL! Hiromu hits the ropes twice, big forearm! Hooks Ospreay… D DRIVER FOR THE WIN!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi
Hooooly crap… I really can’t say any more than that, Jesus.
And after THAT… we now have our double main event. New Japan spoils us, what can I say?
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
Bell rings, big chant of “Naito”, Jay bails before any action to big heat. He slowly re-enters the ring, teases a lock up but bails again. Naito grabs Gedo’s beard and holds it hostage, forcing Jay to advance and he eats an arm drag, Naito chases him from the ring, springs off the ropes and rolls into Tranquilo! Naito invites Jay into the ring, trips him up as he comes in with a low dropkick! Drags him out onto the apron for a Draping Neckbreaker to the floor! Gedo tries to get in Naito’s face but he turns to him and makes him back off. Naito whips Jay into the barrier. Grabs him by the hair and drags him around ringside, throws him into the ring. Naito with a side headlock, shoved off, Gedo trips him up in the ropes to let Jay pummel him to massive heat.
Chop in the corner. Whip reversed, Naito charges but Jay takes him to the apron, Naito punches him away, Gedo grabs the leg, White with a hot shot. Crotches him against the post! Jay distracts the ref as Gedo slams a steel chair into Naito’s knee as it’s up against the post! White then goes outside to work on Naito’s leg. He hooks it within the steel railing for a perverse single leg crab! Throws him into the ring. White with a charging uppercut in the corner, pulls him out, High Angle Back Suplex and Naito has to roll to the floor! White now teasing a dive. Hits the ropes twice, rolls into a Tranquilo to an ocean of boos! White goes outside, drives Naito into the apron and throws him into the ring. Stomps to the leg, Dragon Screw, working over that knee once again. White hooks both legs, slowly into the Muta Lock to yet more heat! Yells at him to ‘smile’ as he grinds in the hold, gets fishhooks in to force it! Naito grabs the rope for the break.
White with a series of chops lacing the chest of Naito. Whip to the corner, charge, Naito gets the boot up. And then again! Goes up top, flying rana! Snapmare, elbow to the back, running dropkick to the back, hoists him up for a Back Suplex for the nearfall! Naito teases a punch, White covers up, Naito kicks him in the gut and spits in his face! Uses his tripping combo in the corner, hesitates on the dropkick, White blocks but then peeks to eat every bit of that basement dropkick to a big pop! Naito hooks both arms in his legs in a unique lock. White escapes, ducks a shot, Spiking DDT! White gets Naito onto his shoulders, Running DVD for a nearfall! Naito gets thrown repeatedly into the ropes and tries for his flying forearm but White keeps blocking it. Series of elbows as Naito keeps White’s hand in his grasp. Pulls him back up, White keeping his distance to avoid a Destino, reverses for an Inverted Neckbreaker for a nearfall!
Rolls him across the ring to the corner. Takes him up top. Pursues. Hooks him for a superplex. Slow build. Naito with some body shots to force him to the mat. Naito straightens himself out, White charges but gets a boot. Naito goes back to the mat, White charges, Naito forces him onto the second rope and nails a snap backbreaker! Naito takes White up top, pursues, but White escapes, trips him up and he goes facefirst onto the turnbuckle! White with a Dragon Screw Legwhip across the second rope, destroying that knee! Hooks the ankle and nails a second one, wicked! Page out of Tana’s playbook here. Whips him to the ropes but Naito’s leg is so messed up he can’t run, collapses. Naito with forearms, White just kicks him and he falls limply to the mat. Naito wants his Springboard Tornado DDT but his leg gives out, White with an Olympic Slam that seems to land Naito onto that bum leg, geeze, nearfall! White ducks a shot, High Angle Back Suplex takes Naito over the top rope and he lands HARD on the apron, bouncing off to the floor! White goes out, throws him back in and pursues.
Big forearm, wants the Kiwi Crusher, Naito tries to reverse but that entails landing on both feet and the leg gives way! White with the Veritcal Suplex, keeps him hooked, pulls him up – Kiwi Crusher! NEARFALL, Naito barely kicks out! Huge ovation! Slowly pulls him back up, Naito back elbows him to get him off of him but White gets a vicious chop block in, and then another! He locks in the hold that I guess is gonna be called the NTO here – Naito Tap Out! Naito struggling! Crowd is buzzing trying to will Naito to the ropes! He’s been locked in the hold for a full minute here! Finally gets the hand on the bottom rope! White tries to immediately reapply the hold but Naito kicks him away! Rolling Liger Kick! Ducks a shot, as does Jay, Naito with a hammerlock, White escapes, hits the ropes, Naito with a big driving Spinebuster!
Naito tries to hook for the Pumphandle, White elbows him relentlessly until he’s laid out on the mat. White pulls him up to his feet, asks him to smile, but Naito with forearms, working him over towards the Destino… Gedo on the apron to distract the ref, Naito turns to confront him… this gives Jay time to recover and he swings but Naito ducks it, Step-Up Enziguri, Springboard Tornado DDT! Takes White up top, Super Rana! Pulls White up… Pumphandle Side Slam for a nearfall! Points to the heavens before trying for Destino, White collapses to avoid it… but then eats a vicious Basement Dropkick! Naito wants the Destino again, White shoves him into the referee! Gedo rushes into the ring with a chair but Naito kicks it out of his hands! White with a low blow!
Hooks for a Snap Dragon but Naito whips around him and nails a Dragon Suplex of his own! Gedo back into the ring, Naito catches a kick, low blow to Gedo! Naito turns around – White tosses a chair right into his face! Destructive Dragon Suplex! White with a throatslit gesture, hooks Naito for the Blade Runner… Naito tries to fight out of it… White spits in his face, another Half Nelson Suplex instead, Naito scrambles up, Desperation Destino! Naito slowwwlly pulls White up, this is tense… White escapes for a Blade Runner attempt, Naito escapes, slap to the face, wants Destino, White escapes, hoists him onto his shoulders, Electric Chair position, turned into a POISON RANA, DESTINOOOO, NEARFALL?! No way! Crowd is electric as Naito struggles to his feet, pulls White up… one last Destino but White catches him, Blade Runner but Naito counters, nails Gloria, pulls him back one last time – nails the third Destino and that is that!
Winner: Tetsuya Naito
Woof… Naito regains the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, masterful storytelling there, starting slow and building to one hellacious crescendo, awesome stuff. There’s something profound about seeing such an extraordinarily sensational modern match in Ospreay/Hiromu followed up by such an exquisite oldschool affair here.
And now, somehow, we still have this main event. Kota Ibushi savoring every single step down the ramp and into the ring on the way out. Okada with a dramatic stormy entrance and a glow in the dark robe.
IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Lock-up. Okada with a waistlock. Ibushi with a top wristlock. Okada rolls out of it, Kota reverses, trip into a leglock. Transitions to a hammerlock. Okada tries to fight out but a drop toe hold transitions to a side headlock. Into a takeover, headscissor, kip-up, both men stand to applause. They lock hands, test of strength, cancel it, go for it again… Kota whips around him for a waistlock. Hip toss counter into a side headlock for Okada. Some nice chain wrestling here. Kota fights to his feet, Okada shoots him off, shoulder block, Okada poses but doesn’t see Kota kipping up! Exchange of elbows! Okada with an early Rainmaker attempt, Kota ducks and lands a combination of kicks, capped by a roundhouse, beautiful Standing Moonsault for a nearfall!
Tries to get him into a hold but Okada makes it to the ropes before he can apply it. Okada to his feet, driving elbows, Kota stops that with a wicked snap roundhouse kick to the chest! Whips him to the ropes, Okada ducks two shots, charging back elbow! Okada rams Kota into one corner, whip to the corner, kick to the gut into a DDT for a nearfall. Okada pulls Kota to the outside, drives him into the railing. Hooks him, suplexes him over the railing to hit a truly destructive Draping DDT onto the floor! Okada throws Kota into the ring and covers for a nearfall. Kota fights his way to his feet with forearms. Okada gets in his face, staring him down, demanding more. Huge forearm staggers him! Okada with a kick to the gut, another DDT nailed! Hits the ropes – Kota steals Okada’s beautiful Standing Dropkick! Whip reversed, but Ibushi with a flying forearm! Okada whips him to the corner, Ibushi floatso over, Okada turns and charges into a Snap Powerslam, Standing Moonsault follow-up for a nearfall!
Kota charges, Okada counters and lifts him up onto the top rope, Standing Dropkick takes Kota to the floor! Okada pursues, whips him into the railing, charging big boot takes Kota into the crowd! Okada gets everyone clapping along, charges for the long distance crossbody, soaring over the railing to wipe Kota out! Drags Kota back into ringside and tosses him into the ring, locks in an Cloverleaf/STF. Kota makes it to the ropes to force the break. Okada with a bodyslam, goes up top, Flying Elbow Drop! Very crisp. Rainmaker pose, big zoom out! Okada goes for it, Kota ducks, tries for the Pele Kick but he just falls onto his head?! Okada grabs the legs, but Kota wills him up, Double Overhook Piledriver! Okada charges, right into a vicious dropkick that takes him to the floor! KOTA WITH AN INCREDIBLE TRIANGLE MOONSAULT! Throws him into the ring, Springboard Dropkick! Okada wants a Reverse Tombstone but Kota counters, Sit-Out Powerbomb for a nearfall!
Kota does the Shinsuke pose, charges, Okada with a gorgeous Standing Dropkick nailing him flush in the face with both feet! Hoists him up, Tombstone Piledriver nailed! Wants the Rainmaker, Kota grabs the ropes to escape it. Holding on now to prevent the move. Okada pulls him out, european uppercut lays him out. Kota fights to his feet, uppercut… and then a second and a third but Kota’s just giving him his menacing stare! No sells a few more, then drills him with a brutal palm strike! Kicks him away, Okada with a dropkick that flips him but Kota springs right back up to his feet and mocks him with flicks of the nose! Kicks him to the mat, and now some brutal open hand strikes to the head, Okada trying his best to cover up! Ruthless downward punch, crowd getting on Kota’s case as he’s not letting up! Okada slips to the apron, Ibushi wants his rope hung Deadlift German but Okada pulls him over, wants the Tombstone, Kota reverses… but Okada reverses again, VIOLENT TOMBSTONE RIGHT ONTO THE APRON! Okada rolls into the ring… Kota baaaaarely makes it back into the ring in time to break the count!
But Okada hooks him for an immediate Heavy Rain! Vicious German Suplex drops Kota right onto his head! Okada wants the Rainmaker but Kota counters with a destructive lariat of his own! Kota kicks Okada to the apron, wants his Deadlift German into the ring once more! And this time he hoists him all the way before sending Okada crashing brutally into the canvas! Kota hoists Okada up onto his shoulders for the Lawn Dart, Okada escapes out the back, TWISTING TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER! Pulls him up for the Rainmaker, BUT KOTA GETS THE LARIAT FIRST!! Crowd rising as Kota slowly gets to his feet, hooking the arms… wants the Kamigoye but Okada isn’t letting it happen, so he gets him with a roundhouse kick to the head instead! Boma Ye, but Okada kicks out at 1! So Kota gets him with a running knee to the back of the head instead for a nearfall! Kick to the face, Kamigoye!!! Okada with the weakest kickout possible! Kota hooks the arms again… Okada pops up with an incredible dropkick to counter!!
The both of them are dead on their knees, driving elbows in an exchange. Fighting with what little they have left. They slowly fight their way to their feet, trading elbows all the while. They speed up, getting heavy shots in! Suddenly Kota with a wild combo of chops and spin kicks! Roundhouse kick to the head nailed flush! And a second one lays him out! Spinning Back Kick to the face! Kota falls to his back, too worn out to capitalize! Kota takes Okada up top, pursues, hooks for the superplex. He’s going all the way to the top rope for this one… hooks both arms! Okada fights out with elbows, Kota is knocked to the mat. OKADA TRIES A MISSILE DROPKICK AND KOTA LEAPS UP INTO A SIT-OUT POWERBOMB COUNTER! BUT OKADA KICKS OUT AT 1?! Kota looks desperate now! He goes up top… Phoenix Splash, but Okada rolls out of the way! Lifts him up, Inverted Rainmaker! Pulls him up slowly as the crowd hits a new peak, Rainmaker nailed! KOTA KICKS OUT! Okada grabs the wrist… slowly, painstakingly taking him to his feet, clobbers him with a second Rainmaker! Shakes his head, keeps the wrist locked! Pulls him to his feet for a third, that’s gotta be it. Okada does his pose… still wants to do more?! Pulls Kota up slowly, tries for a fourth, KOTA DUCKS AND HITS A ROUNDHOUSE KICK! V-TRIGGER?!?! KAMIGOYE ATTEMPTED, OKADA COUNTERS WITH A KILLER TOMBSTONE, RAINMAKER FOR THE WIN!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Nnnnngh man, really was hoping Kota could do it… but my lord what a match. What an incredible, incredible show. And to think, Wrestle Kingdom is only half over!
This is an unbelievable weekend in wrestling already. I’m honored to be here to give you the recap and results, folks.
Okada gives his props to the very dead Kota, when Naito makes his way to the ring, IC title in hand! Naito enters the ring with a mic, talking up the main event tomorrow night. The two stand face to face for a huge ovation. They each pose.
I won’t be able to give you a translation of Okada’s post match promo so that’s about it for me, looks like. Signing off!
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