Jordan Huie of the Overtimer here and the second half of the biggest show in the history of New Japan Pro Wrestling is about to go down. I’ll be with you all throughout the wee hours of tomorrow morning, giving you the live recap and results from the event! Watch this space!
We of course begin with introductions for the gauntlet match.
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships – Gauntlet Match
Bullet Club – repped by Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens – start out alongside Chaos, repped by Tomohiro Ishii, Yoshi-Hashi & Robbie Eagles. Fale swiftly gets the much smaller Eagles with a Pop-Up Samoan Spike for a nearfall, Yoshi-Hashi comes in with a mighty lariat that takes the big boy down, Eagles manages to tag in Ishii. Ishii takes out Owens, Yujiro strikes from behind with a Reverse DDT, Yoshi charges but gets taken out as well. Ishii being triple teamed now, Owens covers for a nearfall. Package Piledriver attempted, Ishii blocks it, Eagles with an enziguri leads to a Standing Shiranui, tope to Fale! Ishii and Owens exchange elbows. Spinning back elbow from Owens, met with another shot, he rebounds off the ropes into a mighty lariat. Pump knee blocked, leaping knee takes him down though. Yoshi with a Dragon Whip, Ishii with a big clothesline, Brainbuster! Bullet Club have been eliminated.
Team #3 is Suzuki-gun, represented by Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado. Despy and Kanemaru double whip Ishii to the corner for a double clothesline. Ishii fights back but eats a spin kick from Desperado, rolling elbow from Kanemaru, enziguri from Taichi for a nearfall. Ishii blocks a kick, turns it into a German Suplex! Charges in the corner, Taichi evades him, enziguri, Desperado takes Ishii down with a spear, Eagles comes in to clip him though, everyone scrambling and fighting now, Taichi with another enziguri on Yoshi-Hashi forces him to bail. Pants are off now. Thrust kick to Ishii evaded, roundhouse kick whiffs, second nails! But Ishii bounces right off, another lariat, Ishii collapses afterwards. Desperado rushes in, Eagles gets taken to the apron, Springboard Dropkick to the shin! Kick ducked, roll-up through, Eagles hits the ropes but Kanemaru hits him from behind. Kanemaru tagged in, double team Shotgun Dropkick/Side Slam combo, Kanemaru with a vicious reverse DDT, Yoshi-Hashi has to break it up. Kanemaru comes off the middle rope, Eagles evades, goes for Sliced Bread #2, lengthy waistlock counter sequence starts, Eagles turns this into a roll-up for the pin! Suzuki-gun have been eliminated.
Team #4 is Los Ingobernables de Japon. Their reps are Evil, Bushi & Shingo Takagi. This is easily the most high profile team in the gauntlet. Champs will get to come in last then. LIJ brawl with Chaos, Eagles ducks a back elbow from Bushi, headscissors, rolling wheel kick and kip-up! Eagles has gotten a lot of shine in this match. Whips Bushi to the corner, Shuriken counter, Bushi comes in with a missile dropkick, spinaroonies to his feet! Body slam, tag to Evil. Evil with a Bronco Buster, tag to Shingo! Eagles escapes from his shoulders though, Michinoku Driver! Tag to Yoshi-Hashi, series of clotheslines, reverses a back body drop with a Reverse Blockbuster! Charging Blade Chop, suplex onto the top rope, charging dropkick to the back of the head! Cover for a nearfall. Yoshi-Hashi catches a kick, gets some chops in, hits the ropes, Shingo stops him with one clothesline, drags him out for a harder one, big applause! Tags to Evil and Ishii! Big exchange of forearms! Evil with a shoulder block but Ishii bounces off for one of his own! Bushi runs in but Eagles stops him with a dropkick. Evil evades a corner charge, gets a clothesline in, Bushi with a back kick, shot from Shingo, Evil covers for a nearfall! Bushi with a suicide dive to Eagles! Evil pulls Ishii, STO blocked, Ishii with a driving headbutt, hits the ropes, stopped by a lariat! Evil hoists him onto his shoulders, Sit-Out Spinebuster for the pin, bell ringer went too early there… but the champ’s music is already playing so Evil just casually STOs him.
Team #5 is Taguchi Japan, repped by Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano and Togi Makabe. Yano with the immediate roll-up on Evil for a nearfall. He swiftly rips off a turnbuckle cover, evades an Evil charge, he bounces off, Yano wraps his shirt around Evil’s head for a roll-up nearfall, Bushi puts a stop to his nonsense with a dropkick to the head! Shingo tags in, Yano with an eye rake, whip to the exposed buckles, Shingo stops himself, sends him into the buckles instead, vertical suplex for a nearfall! Bushi chokes him with his shirt, Yano escapes, tag to Makabe who knocks everyone away. Clothesline in the corner, Evil stops him from doign corner ten punches, Makabe hits him away and gets driving clotheslines in each corner! Corner Ten Punches to Bushi, pulls him out for a Northern Lights Suplex, bridge for a nearfall! Bushi stops a charge with an enziguri, DDT. Tag to Shingo! Exchange of forearms! Shingo wins out, wants a back suplex but Makabe elbows his way out. Hits the ropes, colliding lariats but neither go down! And another, but on the third Makabe collapses! Shingo hits the ropes, but so does Makabe, big lariat! Tag to Taguchi who comes in for the first time! Hip attack, hits the ropes for another but Shingo turns it into an Inverted Atomic Drop! Vertical Suplex, Taguchi keeps him hooked, three amigos lands to an ovation! Taguchi with the Shinsuke poses… Bushi with a dropkick to the funky weapon to stop him. Makabe thwarts a double team attempt from Evil and Shingo, Taguchi with the Running Hip Attack, Wheelbarrow Facebuster, Shingo kicks out – but he ends up in the Ankle Lock! Shingo pulls the ref away, rolls out of it, letting Bushi spit mist in Taguchi’s face! Shingo attacks Taguchi, Last Of The Dragon for the finish!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon
Strongest team, makes sense that they won.
After a lengthy intermission, the main card is now just about to get underway!
And we begin… with Liger the Final.
Ryu Lee is the first man out, Liger spikes added to his mask.
Jushin Liger Retirement Match #2: Jushin Liger & Naoki Sano vs. Ryu Lee & Hiromu Takahashi
Hiromu and Liger starts! Lock-up! Hiromu wrestles him into the ropes, clean break. Liger wrestles him into the ropes in return, and another clean break, bow as the crowd applauds. Trip, Liger positions him into the Romero Special! Hikes him once, twice, all the way up to get the Inverted Dragon Sleeper in! Ties up his legs, Indian Deathlock cinched in! And now, transitions right into the Surfboard! Hoists him once, twice, all the way up and Hiromu is upside down now! Liger showing a lot of leg strength elevating him! Big applause after Hiromu escapes. Ryu Lee tags in and surprisingly attacks Liger from behind, Ryu and Hiromu gang stomp him to big heat! Ryu and Hiromu with successive clotheslines in the corner, double dropkick to the back! Ryu stops to take Sano off the apron before getting a low single leg dropkick to Liger.
Hiromu tags in, puts Liger in a Fujiwara Armbar – as Fujiwara watches! Liger chops his way up, Ryu and Hiromu want to continue double teaming but Liger manages a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the both of them! Tag to Sano, Missile Dropkick to both men! But Ryu hooks him for a superkick from Hiromu! Sano ducks a double clothesline, dropkick to each, Hiromu has to bail! Ryu charges but a shoulder block takes him down… he kips up though and rips off his shirt! Forearm exchange now! Ryu wins out… big knee lift to the face of Sano! Hits the ropes, but Sano flips him over with a lariat! Tags to Liger and Hiromu, forearm exchange, Hiromu wins out and takes Liger to the mat! Pounds on him in the corner, wants Corner Ten Punch but Liger powerbombs him to the mat!
Tons of slaps to Hiromu now, stomp to the back of his head! Hooks him for a Liger Bomb but Ryu Lee runs in for a dropkick to stop him. Hiromu takes Liger and Sano together on the outside, Ryu hits the ropes, Liger and Sano dodge and Ryu takes out his partner! Liger posts Ryu, then throws Hiromu into the ring! Pursues, hooks him, Throw Down Powerbomb for a nearfall! Hiromu escapes another attempt, German Suplex nailed but Liger no sells! Lariat, Brainbuster! Nearfall, Ryu has to break it up. Sano in, whip reversed, Ryu with a dropkick takes him to the floor, suicide dive! Hiromu reverses a Liger suplex into a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall! Whips him into a superkick from Ryu, double knees from both sides! Cover for a nearfall! Hiromu with a Running DVD into the corner! Wants the Time Bomb but Liger reverses into a sunset flip! Charges, but Hiromu stops him with a big lariato! Time Bomb nailed! And that is that.
Winners: Hiromu Takahashi & Ryu Lee
Godspeed, Liger.
Afterwards he wants to shake Ryu’s hand, but he falls to the mat and bows to his presence instead. After showing their respects, they give him the floor, big chant of Liger’s name. He says goodbye to the people at the Tokyo Dome. Theme hits one last time.
Special entrance video for Roppongi 3K paints them as having a bunch of future tech, they speed away on hover bikes, on their way to the Tokyo Dome.
IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Roppongi 3K
As the bell rings, RPG3K gets a stereo dropkick knocking both opponents out of the ring for a stereo tope! Throws Phantasmo back in the drop, drop toe hold into a basement dropkick. Double arm drag to Taiji, kick to the chest, knee drop to the face and he has to escape. El Phantasmo bails after a whip and he and Taiji demand a time out. Back into the ring, SHO with a side headlock in on Phantasmo, shot off where Taiji gets a cheap shot, dropkick lands from Phantasmo taking SHO out of the ring. He gets pummeled out there for a bit, taken back in, Taiji tags in, Running Sliding German Suplex off the ropes! Headscissor takedown into the spinning neck snap! Knocks YOH off the apron, tag to Phantasmo. Taiji holds SHO in place as Phantasmo does his rope walk kick! Chop in the corner, dropkick keeps YOH on the floor. Whip reverses, Phantasmo flips over his head, springboard crossbody, springboard moonsault, pops right up for a suicide dive to YOH!
Top Rope Frog Splash, YOH barely manages to break up the pin! Taiji tags in, puts SHO in the Tree of Woe. Phantasmo and Taiji each with running dropkicks to the face! They tease a double team one, only to stand together on SHO’s groin! YOH comes in to stop this, but gets double teamed himself. They put YOH up in the Tree of Woe as well! They’re now standing on both men’s groins! They gloat too much after this though, SHO manages to escape, hot tag to YOH! Deposits both men, tope crossbody takes each of them out! Whip to the corner, driving elbow to Taiji, Taiji escapes a suplex but gets a spinning back kick, YOH hits the ropes but Taiji stops his charge with a Handspring Enziguri! Simultaneous tags, SHO ducks a clothesline, Rolling German Suplexes! After the second Phantasmo grabs Taiji to stop himself, but SHO manages to German the both of them at once!! Inside cradle from Phantasmo, quick kickout, Phantasmo gets SHO on his shoulders, Taiji tags in, comes in with a running knee lift, Phantasmo spins into an Argentine Neckbreaker, Taiji covers for a nearfall!
Tag to Phantasmo, Taiji with a Lungblower, holds SHO in place as Phantasmo comes off the top with a Shooting Star Press, nearfall! They mock 3K, try to steal the tag finish but SHO turns it into a Canadian Destroyer on Phantasmo! Taiji tries to cut him off but YOH clotheslines him out of the ring! SHO with a thrust kick to Phantasmo, hooks both arms for a Package Piledriver, Phantasmo escapes, trips him up, hoists him for a Styles Clash!! Nails it, nearfall! Ref gets taken out, Phantasmo grabs one of the title belts to use but Rocky Romero pulls it away from him! Phantasmo tries for the low blow instead but hurts his hand – SHO has a golden cup on! They nail the 3K on Taiji, Straitjacket Piledriver from SHO, Straitjacket German from YOH! Missile Dropkick/Package Piledriver combo for the win!
Winners: Roppongi 3K
Good match, nothing mind blowing but pretty much what it was meant to be.
RevPro British Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Sanada
ZSJ with a wrist lock, takedown. Sanada kips up and flips out of it, spins around him, side headlock takeover, escapes from the headscissors, keeps control of the arm for a takedown, ZSJ with a headscissor, Sanada kips up out of it, stand-off and applause. Roll up and sunset flip exchange with no one getting a count, Sanada with a trip, wants his Paradise Lock, ZSJ escapes, wants an ankle lock, Sanada with a floatover cover for a quick kickout, another stand-off for applause! ZSJ with a headlock, turns it into a Straitjacket Hold! They wrestle over this and Sanada manages to reverse the hold! ZSJ bridges out of it though and puts it right back on! I love this. Sanada with a back roll to put it back on Zack! Zack pushes Sanada’s arms down, steps out of the hold and puts it on Sanada! Sanada slowly manages to do the same and reverse it AGAIN! ZSJ with a flip, up kick stops the sequence, he bails, Sanada with a tope attempt, ZSJ moves out of the way but Sanada manages to bounce off the ropes back into the ring, big applause!
Zack rolls back into the ring, looks for an Abdominal Stretch but Sanada reverses it into an Octopus Stretch! Take down, rolls him around the ring to eventually stack him up for a 2 count! Standing moonsault countered into a Crossface/Fujiwara Armbar! Sanada trying to get his feet to the bottom rope as ZSJ starts with the joint manipulation, eventually Sanada manages to get his boot to the rope to break. ZSJ with a spinning arm breaker, singles out the elbow for a leaping stomp! Sanada fights his way up, ducks a clothesline, basement dropkick takes out ZSJ’s legs! Snapmare but Sanada lands on his feet, low dropkick evaded this time, ZSJ with a kick but Sanada catches it, Dragonscrew Legwhip! ZSJ rolls to the floor where Sanada quickly greets him with a tope crossbody! Appeals to the crowd and they go wild chanting his name!
Back into the ring the match goes where ZSJ catches Sanada with a pele to the arm, tries to lock in a hold but Sanada counters with the Cold Skull! Sends ZSJ spinning around by the head as he takes him to the mat! He goes up top for the moonsault but ZSJ evades it, dropkick to the face! Standing 10 count. European Uppercut exchange, Sanada wins out, goes for a springboard, ZSJ evades, sunset flip, cradle exchange here… Sanada with a jackknife at the end of it that allllmost gets the win! Sanada knocks ZSJ away, second rope back flip into a Cold Skull attempt but ZSJ avoids it, ZSJ with a jacknife nearfall of his own but Sanada counters into another Cold Skull attempt, Zack wrestles out of it, cinches in an Octopus Stretch! Sanada hoists him onto his shoulders to counter, body slam into the Cold Skull, another cradle exchange, ZSJ with the deep bridge on the roll-up – and gets the pin!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
Welp, guess he had to break the trend eventually. And ZSJ was due for some shine at a Wrestle Kingdom.
IWGP United States Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Juice Robinson
Before the bell, Juice catches Mox with a tope! Throws him into the barrier! Hotshot onto the steel railing, body slam on the floor! Throws him into the ring, Mox just keeps rolling and leaves from the opposite side. Juice pursues, Mox drives him into the post. Looking under the ring now! Everything’s legal on the outside. Sets up a chair. Gets Juice up onto his shoulders, Juice escapes, drop toe hold onto the chair! Juice sits him down on the seat. Charges, big cannonball! Throws him into the ring, charging clothesline in the corner, Juice runs to the opposite corner but so does Mox, clotheslines Juice out of the ring! Goes outside to grab the chairs again, cracks one across the back of Juice!
Throws him into the ring, back suplex, camel clutch with crossface blows! Juice escapes but eats a clothesline into the corner, snapmare, sliding clothesline for a nearfall! Takes Juice to his feet, big chops. Juice gets in his face, chops him back. Exchange now. Mox bites at the forehead of Juice! Hits the ropes, come off right into a spinebuster! Spinning Heel Kick! Gutbuster! Hoists him for a Powerbomb, stacks him up for a nearfall! Juice gets the people chanting his name along with his combo of punches! Rears up for the last but Mox trips him up, figure four leglock! Juice struggles towards the ropes, manages to grab onto the bottom rope for the break. Mox grabs his leg and pulls him out to the post though, slams the leg into the post a couple of times. Ringpost Figure Four! Ref counts, he has to break.
Mox pulls Juice to the floor, takes a chair and wraps it around his head, grabs a second one to come swing – Knockout Punch from Juice hits the chair into Mox’s face, very loud! Juice throws Mox int othe ring, pursues. Takes Mox up top. Open hand chop. Headbutt, pursues him up there. Hooks for a superplex. Nails it, big impact… and keeps him hooked! Hoists him up for a Jackhammer! Nearfall! Juice wants Pulp Friction, Mox counters with a big German Suplex! Juice responds with one of his own! Clothesline collision in the middle, Mox answers with a second that takes him out! Juice ducks a clothesline, roll-up for a nearfall, huge lariato! Mox yells at Juice as they both slowly rise. Forearm exchange! Headbutt from Juice, Mox gives him one back, series of elbows! Wicked slap to the face! Juice responds in kind! Elbow takes Juice to his knee, running knee to the face! Juice ducks some shots and gets a few big ones in! Knockout blow and Mox is down! Pulls him up, Pulp Friction, Mox escapes, kick to the gut for the Double Arm DDT! Keeps him hooked, hoists him – Paradigm Shift!
Winner: Jon Moxley
Rad finish, playing off his own trend from last year really well. I was wrong on this one. Cool to see that Mox is sticking around in New Japan though, there’s so much he still hasn’t done.
As he celebrates… Minoru Suzuki’s theme hits! Holy crap! He appears in his track jacket… but slowly strips it off on his way to the ring, he’s in his gear! Steps up to the apron, Mox dares him to enter the ring! Enormous Kaze Ni Nare! They brawl in the ring, Suzuki gets his choke hold in, Cradle Piledriver! Mox is laid out! Suzuki gets on the mic and calls Mox out, he wants a shot at the US title! Mox is dazed, attacking young boys for trying to help him! Slowly rolls from the ring.
NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA (c) vs. Hirooki Goto
Goto drops KENTA with a shot, rains down elbows before the bell! As it rings, he’s clubbering, whips him to the ropes but he reverses but Goto gets an arm drag, shoulder block, KENTA bails but Goto follows, throws him into the ring, corner clothesline for a bulldog, KENTA bails once more. Goto again throws him right back in, stomps him, snapmare, sharp kick to the back! Headlock, driving elbow! Whip, but KENTA gets him with a running big boot, throws him to the floor, Goto rushes right back in, deposits him again, Goto back on the apron but eats another running big boot taking him to the floor! KENTA whips Goto into the barrier! And again! Batters him towards the ramp, DDT onto the rampway! Goto with the slow crawl up the ramp to get into the ring and beat the count at 19! KENTA grabs him and just throws him from the ring again. Goto makes the count again but KENTA whips him to the ropes, Kitchen Sink Knee!
Kneedrops to the face, fake-out into the face rake and a 2 Sweet gesture. Side headlock, Goto elbows his way out of it, hits the ropes, but another Kitchen Sink Knee flips him onto his back. Mocking face kicks. Roundhouse to the chest! Smack to the back of the head and another kick to the chest! Goto catches a kick to the chest though, comes up with a lariat! Pounding forearms, Kenta spins him into the corner for big forearms of his own, they both exchange repeatedly in the corner! Goto with a WICKED forearm knocks KENTA for a loop, big pop for that one! Throws him to the opposite corner, Running Wheel Kick! Clothesline, cover for a nearfall! Goto hoists KENTA onto his shoulders, KENTA with the eye rake, snap powerslam! Goto charges in the corner but KENTA with a boot up, hits his Tornado Hot Shot! Missile Dropkick follows for a nearfall! Goto tries to fight his way up but a DDT quells that. Puts him against the second rope, KENTA charges, knee to the back of the head!
Clotheslines ducked by both men, Goto takes the advantage with an Ushigoroshi! But as he tries to capitalize, KENTA pulls him into a crossface! Goto gets a foot on the ropes to break the hold. KENTA slings him between the ropes, Draping DDT, vicious! As is the Hesitation Dropkick against the corner that follows! KENTA up top now! Diving Double Footstomp, nearfall! KENTA stalks, charges, but Goto slips behind him for a sleeper only for it get reversed! KENTA sits him on the mat, steals Shibata’s PK! Buisaku Knee follows for a nearfall! KENTA with a throat slit, goes for the GTS but Goto escapes, headbutt takes KENTA to the mat! Goto with a lariat, but KENTA no sells! Spinning Backfists, brutal! Hits the ropes, Goto no sells a lariat, Discus Clothesline takes KENTA down for a nearfall! Yikes! KENTA catches a roundhouse kick and JESUS a brutal series of slaps! Back and forth, back and forth, just destroying each other! Goto wants the GTR, blocked, but on the second attempt he nails it and that is that!
Winner: Hirooki Goto
Didn’t expect that finish at all but tonight is the night for nice babyface victories. And if Shibata truly will just never get cleared, it is good that Goto got to avenge him.
Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White
Exchange of shots, whip to the ropes, Kota with a leg lariat! Spin kick to the gut, roundhouse kick to the chest, standing moonsault for a nearfall! Wants a whip, Jay holds onto the ropes, forearms to get separation, Kota charges but Jay takes him to the apron, hot shot, Jay knocks him off the apron and he falls to the floor! Kota climbs his way up but Jay stops him, throws him into the barrier! Jay throws him into the ring, rolls in, cover for 2. Blatant choke. Gets in the ref’s face after he has to break. Jay pulls Kota up to his feet, spinning neckbreaker for a nearfall! Side headlock, Jay grinding him down. Kota fights his way up, chops his way out, Jay throws him to the ropes but a Flying Headscissor takes Jay to the outside! Crossbody Tope! Throws Jay into the ring, off the top with a Missile Dropkick! Charges, Jay evades, Kota ducks a clothesline, Powerslam, Kota up top with a moonsault for a nearfall!
Jay fights his way up, plants him with a DDT. Running Fireman’s Carry Slam for a nearfall! Body slam, hooks him for a suplex. But Kota escapes, hoists him up, Single Overhook Piledriver!! Kota stomps the small of Jay’s back. Hoists him up with a front facelock, Jay clubbers the back of Kota but eventually gets nailed with a hard forearm that lays him out! Kota stalks, his arms down, Jay is begging off! Keeps pushing him away… stands up for an exchange, hits a weak forearm, Kota fires back with a destructive shot! Big pop! Jay struggles to his feet, sharp elbow to the face takes him right back down! Kota pulls him to his feet, demands he attack him, again the forearm is immediately answered with a much better one! Jay weakly tries to swing, Kota is pounding him mercilessly! Jay desperately struggles, gets a waistlock into a German Suplex sending Kota onto his head! Pulls him up to his feet, Spinning Suplex! Keeps him hooked, pulls him up, Kiwi Crusher! But no, Kota kicks out!
Jay pulls Kota to his feet, Kota tries to fight out of it but a snapping High Angle Back Suplex sends him right onto his head again! Jay takes Kota to the top rope! Kota tries to fight back but Gedo distracts the ref, Jay rakes the eyes, clobbers him until he falls to the apron! Jay grabs the hair and tries to pull him back but Kota chops him, springs up for the rana but Jay clips the legs in mid-air and he falls gut-first to the ropes! Jay pulls Kota back up… T-BONE SUPERPLEX! Nearfall!!! Drives him onto his head again, signals for the Blade Runner but Kota gets a big boot to quell that! Kota with the Shinsuke pose, charges, Jay wants to counter but Kota slips behind him, roll-up, into a German Suplex, bridge for a nearfall!
Boma Ye for a nearfall!! Wants the Kamigoye, Jay counters for the Blade Runner but Kota escapes, Jay pulls Kota into the ref and knocks him to the floor! Gedo in the ring with a chair now! Kota slowly stands… Gedo with a chair shot to the back! But now Kota’s killswitch has been flipped yet again!! He slowly looks back at Gedo! Kicks to the gut, completely no sold! Palm strike to the chest and Gedo is dead! V-Trigger to Jay!! Hoists him up, Golden Star Bomb! But there’s no ref for the cover! Kota has to roll outside and grab the ref, slowly bring him into the ring! Kota pulls Jay up but he falls limp to avoid any more. Nonetheless he manages to keep hold of a wrist, vicious roundhouse kicks to the face, pulls him in for the Kamigoye! Covers, but Gedo pulls the ref from the ring! Gedo slips inside the ring behind Kota’s back… charges, Kota blocks the clothesline and twists his arm! But Jay tosses a steel chair right into Kota’s face! He no sells and rises, but Gedo with a knockout punch lays him out! Jay slowly crawls over. Ref rolled back into the ring. Jay grabs Kota’s arms, hooking them Straitjacket style as he pulls him up… into a Brainbuster! Pulls him up once more, Bladerunner, he can barely stand for his own move, but he nails it and that is that.
Winner: Jay White
Evidently it’s a mistake to ever pick Kota.
A video plays and in retaliation to Jericho’s former video, a ton of guys in Painmaker outfits are rocking out, Tanahashi appears to slap the singer to the floor… and he too is in full Painmaker garb, facepaint included!
Jericho emerges, and for some unGodly reason the theme song that he wrote, performed and recorded himself is blocked internationally due to rights issues. They must not have even tried with that one. He comes out seemingly not having his title… but he takes his jacket off and rips off the shirt to show that he was hiding it! He brandishes the title proudly!
Hiroshi Tanashi vs. Chris Jericho (If Tana wins, he gets a shot at Jericho’s AEW World Championship)
Lock-up, Jericho escapes, yells “Bakahashi!” and flexes. Cups his ears to hear the heat. Tana swiftly gets them chanting his name. More chain wrestling, Tana wins out and does a little air guitar. Jericho works over the left arm with an arm wringer and elbows. Tana fights out, Jericho throws him to the ropes, Tana with a kick to counter the back body drop. Hammerlock, Jericho back elbows his way free to reverse it, Tana pushes him into the corner, Jericho grabs the hair, both have to break, Tana with a back elbow and reverse dropkick! Charges, Jericho casually evades, but Tana with a back elbow, hops up, twisting crossbody! More air guitar. Bodyslam, Tana steps on the chest and poses, a Jericho standby! Jericho shoves him away, exchange of fierce slaps! Jericho with a low bridge sends Tana to the floor, Springboard Dropkick nails flush!
Jericho takes him to the barrier, slams a railing on his bum arm. Jericho steals a camera, takes some shots of Tana and flips off the crowd before tossing it aside. Jericho whips Tana into the railing, throws him over to the broadcast table. Poses in the ring. Pursues, pulls Tana up onto a table! Pulls him to his feet, vicious DDT and the table splits in half, Tana landing hard on his head! Jericho stops to take a big swig of somebodies’ water as we get a few replays. Jericho with a big forearm takes Tana to the mat, springing knee drop, second one from the second rope, cover for a nearfall. Exchange of forearms! Tana wins out, big shots and more, Jericho blocks one though, Double Underhook Backbreaker nailed! Basement dropkick, Jericho mocking the air guitar! Big heat.
Jericho goes up top, mocking Tana the whole way, tries for a High Fly Flow but Tana rolls out of the way and he crashes and burns! Tana smiling as he rises. Forearms but Jericho gets a headbutt in, throws him over the top rope but Tana skins the cat back inside! Driving forearms, whip reversed but Tana comes in with a flying forearm! Tana charges, Jericho pulls the ref into the way, Tana crashes into him! Jericho with an immediate kick down south for some loud boos! Jericho takes off the weight belt and cracks it across the back and torso of Tanahashi! Jericho actually takes the time to put the belt back on, grabs Tana by the hair and gets a return low blow for his troubles! Forearms as he rises, into the corner, charge but Jericho gets a boot up, tries for the bulldog but Tana sends him onto the corner, charging forearm! To the second rope for a flip senton, nearfall!
Tana with body shots, hits the ropes, Jericho with a back elbow. Tries for the Lionsault but Tana is up too fast, shoves him to the floor! Tana up top!! High Fly Flow to the floor wipes out Jericho! Tana rolls into the ring, count starts! Jericho very slow to rise, staggering… makes it to the apron at 18, Tana grabs the leg and gets the Dragonscrew Legwhip onto the rope, dropkick to the same leg immediately followed by a second Dragonscrew, dayam! Hits the ropes, Jericho ducks a clothesline, wants a Codebreaker, Tana catches it! Takes him to the mat, Dragonscrew again, and then a second one! Keeps a hold of that leg, Inverted Dragonscrew! Tana goes up top… High Fly Flow, but Jericho gets the knees up! Lionsault!! But Jericho’s bum leg makes him slow to cover, nearfall! Jericho stalks, wants the Judas Effect but Tana blocks it, German Suplex bridge for a nearfall!
Hits the ropes, wants Slingblade but Jericho trips him up into the Walls of Jericho! Crowd rises big as he sinks it in! Tana struggling, crowd chanting his name! He’s fighting… but he’s cinched in the middle of the ring! He’s barely managed to move an inch! Finally starts to but Jericho pulls him further away from the ropes! Tana slowly manages to slip between Jericho’s legs to release the pressure, punches to his face, spin flips Jericho over! Tana nails the Slingblade! Slowly pulls him up, hits it again! Goes up top… Jericho is able to stand, Tana goes for High Fly Flow, Jericho with the Codebreaker out of the air! Jericho stalking for the Judas Effect again… Tana ducks it! Shot to the face… Codebreaker from Tanahashi!! Nearfall!! Tana hits the ropes… Slingblade but Jericho counters into another Walls attempt! Slowwwwlly turning him over… no, Tana turns it into a cradle!!! Nearfall, geeze! Tana with a very sudden snap neckbreaker! Hits the ropes, Slingblade one more time, cover for a nearfall! Up top again! Jericho stands… High Fly Flow, but Jericho rolls through! Wants the Walls yet again! Tana fighting as he tries to slowly turn and this time he gets it cinched!!! Tana fighting for all he’s worth! Jericho sinks deeper… pulls him from the ropes, turns it into the Liontamer!!! Tana has to tap.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Damn…
Double Gold Dash for the IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito (c)
Bell rings, enormous dueling chant. It lasts about a full minute as the two of them just stand there and stare at each other, an incredible atmosphere. Some teased lock ups… but not happening yet. Lock-up now! Okada pushes Naito to the corner, Naito reverses into the ropes… Okada spins him around. Slowly breaks away… teases the big chest chop, just gives him a little pat, then whips him to the ropes! Naito with a leap frog, several dodged shots, Okada with a flying back elbow! Whip to the corner, charging body press, kick to the gut, spikes him with a DDT! Nearfall. Front slam, hilo. Chinlock, Naito trying to fight to his feet. Gets up but Okada with a driving elbow takes him back down, basement dropkick lands flush! Several dodges and rolls, leads to a Naito dropkick! Takes Okada to the corner, trip combo, springing dropkick! Another trip, Naito pulls Okada out across the apron, Draping Neckbreaker to the floor!
Naito throws Okada into the ring. Spinning Neckbreaker, nearfall. Naito with a Reverse DDT Backbreaker, into a armscissor. Elbows, Naito drags him out of the corner with a cravate. Takes him to a knee. Naito with THE SPIT! Back elbow out of a charge, Naito rushes right into a big boot from Okada! Strike exchange, Okada gets Naito up for an Air Raid Crash, Naito fights out but Okada hoists him right back up, nails it! Body slam! Top rope elbow drop! Rainmaker pose! Hooks him, Naito stops the attempt with a series of headbutts! Wicked elbows to the back of Okada’s head! Okada hits the ropes, runs right into a Spinebuster! Naito takes Okada up top, Super Rana! Naito with a kick, Okada responds with a running dropkick! Takes Naito up top, standing dropkick takes Naito to the floor! Pursues, hooks him, Naito elbows his way free! But Okada hooks him again, hoists him up, drops his knee right onto a table, brutal!
Okada rolls into the ring now. Naito still not past the barrier at 13. Struggles his way to ringside… barely crawls to the mats at 18! Finally leaps in right on time, geeze! Okada off the top rope with a missile dropkick, nearfall! Okada wants a Rainmaker, Naito tries to elbow his way out but a German Suplex sends him flying – except Okada keeps him hooked! Goes for Rainmaker, but Naito ducks it, Springing Tornado DDT! Naito hoists him up, nails Gloria! Takes Okada up top. Pursues… he wants a Super Poison Rana and gets it, Okada lands right on the crown of his head! Immediate cover for a big nearfall! Pulls him up, Destino but Okada elbows him away only to take an enziguri! Naito charges for a flying forearm but Okada avoids it, Rainmaker attempt but Naito kicks him away, front facelock… Okada escapes, forearms, Naito ducks a shot, hits the ropes, huge flying forearm! Destino attempt, Okada shoves him off but Naito with a Rolling Liger Kick! Naito hits the ropes, Beautiful Standing Dropkick from Okada but Naito springs right back up and rushes him for a Desperation Destino!! Hooks him for a second one, Okada escapes, clothesline ducked but another Standing Dropkick takes him down!
Okada and Naito fight from their knees now, both drained. A very gradual exchange of elbows, each one with an echoing response. It’s perhaps the most dramatic strike exchange of all time just for the atmosphere. Okada takes Naito to his feet, yet more elbows… Naito with THE SPIT again! More elbows ensue! Okada slips behind him, tries for the Rainmaker but Naito just slaps him! Hooks for the Destino, but Okada fights out, Inverted Discus! Signals, crowd reaches a crescendo, Naito dodges a Rainmaker, wants the Destino again but Okada stops it and counters with a Tombstone Piledriver! Pulls him up, Rainmaker nailed! Nearfall!!! Crowd going ballistic as they lay there, depleted.
Okada wants another Tombstone, Naito fights out of it but just falls to the mat. Loud chant of “Naito”! Okada pulls Naito up… A THIRD SPIT! And he collapses! Okada targeting the knee now, hoisting it up and smashing it against the mat! Boos for this offense, Okada cups his ear to goad it on! And another one now, for more heat! Grabs him by the wrist… Rainmaker! Keeps him hooked, and there’s another one, third of the match! Okada yells, pulls him up, spins him for one last one but Naito counters directly into a Destino!!! Covers!! Okada barely kicks out!!! Body slam from Naito… and he’s going up top now! STARDUST BREAKER!!!! NEARFALL?!?! Pulls him up… Destino try, Okada fights out but Naito nails him with a sudden Tombstone of his own!! A THIRD DESTINO!! AND HE GETS IT!!
Winner: Tetsuya Naito
Hell to the yes! Crowd is going absolutely wild, loud chant of “Naito”!
Naito on the mic, speaking to the crowd about his monumental victory. Names everyone in Los Ingobernables… BUT KENTA JUMPS HIM OUT OF NOWHERE! Takes him down, nails the PK! I really did not expect anything to happen here! To hell with waiting for New Year Dash apparently! GTS! KENTA raining down punches!
KENTA crosses his legs across Naito’s face and holds up both titles! Makes his leave, his point made. Bushi into the ring to escort Naito to the back.
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