NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: G1 Climax 29, Part 2!
Time for B Block to begin the Climax!
NJPW returns home!
After the G1 Climax made it’s United States debut, the action returns to Japan for B Block to begin the round robin! More big names in NJPW will battle, who takes crucial points in this summer blockbuster?
Coverage of the G1 Climax 29 will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Gifs to come courtesy of https://frentique.tumblr.com/
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Shingo Takagi VS Juice Robinson; Robinson wins.
- Jon Moxley VS Taichi; Moxley wins.
- Testuya Naito VS Toru Yano; Yano wins.
- Tomohiro Ishii VS Jeff Cobb; Ishii wins.
- Hirooki Goto VS Jay White; Goto wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scene for this first round finale!
The classic tournament kicked off deep in the heart of Texas, spreading Strong Style to the world! The A Block has had their turn, now B Block steps up! Their ten wrestlers will wage war to take their first steps towards the Tokyo Dome!
Tetsuya Naito is once again IWGP Intercontinental Champion, but his destino of becoming a dual champion is still very possible. Jon Moxley has become the Death Rider, and even IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, and vows to prove he is THE purveyor of violence. The Stone Pitbull is always a force to be reckoned with, but being NEVER Openweight Champion might give him that edge to finally take the top spot! The Flamboyant Juice Robinson lost his title but has gained a new fire. Toru Yano may be a trickster, but he promises to fight fair and be serious threat to everyone’s run!
The Fierce Warrior is ready to prove his training with Shibata and the LA Dojo will help him return to prominence. The Switchblade, Jay White, won’t have anyone else saying they’re the best in the world before him. Jeff Cobb is a Hawaiian Juggernaut and a suplex machine planning to give the entire Block a Tour of the Islands. The Raging Dragon all but dominated the Super Juniors, and now he’ll prove he can dominate bigger competition! Suzuki-Gun’s Sliest and slickest wrestler relaxes with his pals, but he’ll fight when it matters most. This year’s G1 is packed more than ever, who from these ten take a critical first win to lead the pack?
Shingo Takagi VS Juice Robinson!
It is muscle versus machismo as the Dragon’s G1 debut already brings him up against some strong competition. Can Shingo hang with the big boys? Or is he going to bite of more than he can chew right out the gate?
The bell rings and these two circle. Fans duel as the two tie up and push each other around. Shingo backs Juice up but Juice turns it around to put Shingo on the ropes. Juice lets up but Shingo swings on him. Juice gets back, and the two circle again. Shingo and Juice tie up again, and Shingo knees low. Shingo headlocks but Juice powers out. They collide shoulders but neither falls. Shingo dares Juice to try again, and he does. They collide, and still neither man budges. Juice dares Shingo to try, but Shingo forearms Juice instead. Juice gives one back, and it’s a back and forth of forearms. Shingo kicks low then whips, but Juice reverses, and speeds things up, only to leap into the fireman’s carry! Juice slips out but Shingo elbows him back, to run, into Juice’s elbow!
Juice runs but into Shingo’s elbow. Shingo runs but into Juice’s leg lariat! Shingo bails out and fans cheer. Juice hears his fans cheering as he aims. Juice slingshots but Shingo dodges to yank him down for a DDT to the floor! The ref checks but Juice is okay to continue. Shingo drags Juice up and puts him back in. Shingo slingshots to drop a knee and then grinds it in. The ref counts and Shingo backs off. Shingo comes back to stand Juice up and whip for a low knee. Then he runs to run Juice over! Fans cheer this super strength and Juice is dazed. Shingo drags Juice back up to a suplex, high and fast! Cover, ONE! Juice is tougher than that, but Shingo keeps on him with a neck wrench. Juice endures as Shingo shifts to an armlock. Shingo drives in elbows then drags Juice back down to a chinlock.
Fans cheer as Juice fights up and out of the hold. Juice headbutts but Shingo gives a forearm back. Juice forearms Shingo, so Shingo CHOPS. That was a blunt one, but Juice gives one right back. Shingo CHOPS, Juice grits his teeth. Juice puts some stank on his CHOP, but Shingo double hand CHOPS Juice off his feet! Juice is reeling again as Shingo runs over to clothesline him right out! Shingo aims as Juice rises, the Dragon runs but into the slingshot spear! Juice fires himself up now as the crowd rallies behind him. Shingo gets to a corner but Juice runs him over with an elbow. Juice starts rallying and whips Shingo to a SPINEBUSTER!
Fans fire up with Juice as he goes up top. Juice leaps, and hits the crossbody! Cover, TWO! Juice keeps his cool while fans duel. Shingo sits up but Juice is on him. Shingo resists the lift and clubs away. Juice headbutts back then fireman’s carries, but Shingo denies Juice Box to run and slide! Juice dodges that and full nelson slams Shingo down! Cover, TWO! Fans duel again as Juice thinks of what he has to do. Juice walks over to Shingo and blocks the punch to jab away! Fans echo “JUICE! JUICE!” but the Left Hand is denied by Shingo’s right! And then Shingo’s left lariat! Both men are down but the fans are fired up for them both!
Juice finds his way to ropes in a daze while Shingo aims from the corner. Shingo runs in and blocks the boot to clothesline! Then he runs, only for Juice to return the clothesline! Shingo sits down and Juice run in, CANNONBALL only gets buckles! Shingo avoids the impact and both men are down again! Fans rally up as Shingo rises. Shingo drags Juice up in a wheelbarrow, for a suplex! Cover, TWO!! Juice still lives and Shingo is frustrated. Shingo grits his teeth as he stands back up. He drags Juice back up, chicken wings, but Juice slips out. Juice ducks the lariat and chicken wings Shingo. Shingo resists the turn but Juice turns him around to a fireman’s carry. Juice Box hits! Shingo flies off from the gutbuster!
Juice crawls to one corner while Shingo stands in the other. Shingo flops down, so Juice tries again. CANNONBALL hits! Juice is feeling it now as he drags Shingo up to the top rope. He headbutts Shingo again, then climbs up to join him. SUPERPLEX! But Juice holds on, for a JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO!! Shingo survives and Juice is beside himself! Fans are thunderous as both men slowly stand. Juice calls for it, and stalks Shingo. Juice grabs the arms and turns Shingo around, Pulp Friction denied! Shingo runs to slide and lariat! Both men are down again and fans rally again. Shingo gets to a corner and drags himself up. Juice goes to the opposite end, but the two meet with clothesline!
Neither falls, so they try again. Still neither falls, so Shingo throws elbows from both sides. Juice staggers, but comes back with a CHOP! Juice fires up, runs, but Shingo follows to clothesline and SAIDO! But Juice is right back up!? His and Shingo’s lariats collide, but Juice comes around for a discus left! Fans are thunderous again as Juice drags Shingo up again. Juice chicken wings, turns, but pops out into NOSHIGAMI! But Shingo has to crawl after Juice. He runs, AX BOMBER! Cover, TWO!? Juice survives and Shingo is stunned! But the fans are reaching that fever pitch as Shingo fires up again. Shingo drags Juice back up, pump handle, but Juice resists. So Shingo gives point blank clotheslines again and again.
Shingo tries the pump handle again, but Juice rolls him up! TWO!! Shingo blocks the boot, but gets the Left Hand of God! And a second! Chicken wings, PULP FRICTION!! Cover, Juice wins!!
Winner: Juice Robinson, by pinfall; earns 2 points
The Flamboyant One is only the second man to pin Shingo Takagi in NJPW! But this is just the beginning, will Juice and/or Shingo make it to the end of the Block?
Jon Moxley w/ Shota Umino VS Taichi w/ Miho Abe!
The Lunatic has truly freed himself, and has already put his mark on NJPW by becoming their IWGP United States Champion in his debut. Now in his G1 Climax debut, he looks to keep things rolling through the summer. Will the Death Rider leave the Holy Emperor behind in the dust? Or will there be one too many tricks up Taichi’s sleeve for even Mox to survive?
But speaking of, as Moxley makes his way down from the crowd, Taichi attacks from behind! Taichi stomps Moxley down right in front of the fans, then uses Mox’s own jacket to choke him! Security keeps fans clear as Taichi brings Moxley around to ram into railing! Taichi takes someone’s umbrella to SMACK Moxley down! Then he chokes Moxley on the railing. Moxley fights back and starts throwing CHOPS! Moxley CHOPS Taichi and then stomps him to ringside. The bell finally rings the bell to incentivize these two back to the ring.
Moxley drags Taichi over in a headlock but Taichi shoves him into a post! Taichi looks under the ring and brings out a chair. The referee is shoved aside so that Taichi can jam the chair into Moxley’s ribs! And then SMACK him on the back! Moxley writhes from that chair shot while fans duel. Taichi wants Moxley to stand, and he does, for Taichi to clothesline him down! Taichi goes into the ring and lets the ring count begin. Moxley drags himself up at 6 of 20, stands at 10, but hobbles. Moxley clutches that bad back as we get to 15, but still gets in at 19! To get Taichi’s buzzsaw! Cover, TWO!
Taichi decides to get serious already, so off come the pants! He aims at Moxley, but Moxley gets clear of the kick. Moxley forearms, Taichi kicks, Moxley headbutts, and Taichi enziguris! Fans duel more as Moxley is dazed. Taichi vows to end this, and Alabama lifts. Moxley sunset flips and covers, TWO! Moxley blocks a kick to give more forearms. He CHOPS and forearms in the corner, the classic combination! Then he gives knees before he whips Taichi corner to corner. Taichi reverses, but Moxley comes out to clothesline Taichi down! Moxley clutches his back while Taichi gets to the apron. Moxley dropkicks Taichi down, then builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit sends Taichi into railing and Moxley into commentary!
Fans rally as Moxley gets back up. “You went and pissed me off,” he growls as he goes looking under the ring. He finds a table! Moxley sets this up, hearkening back to the US title match. He shoos Miho and drags Taichi over, fireman’s carry, but Taichi flails and escapes. Taichi back kicks, powerbomb position, but Moxley resists! Taichi kicks away on Moxley’s face, but Moxley forearm back! URENAGE THROUGH THE TABLE! Fans are loving Moxley as he flips off Taichi. Miho panics as Moxley drags Taichi up and in. He mocks Miho and blows a kiss before taking off his knee pads. Moxley runs to give a bare-knee shining wizard! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives and surprises Moxley, but Moxley loves having to hurt Taihci more.
Moxleyd rags Taichi up but Taichi slips out of the butterfly. Moxley resists the suplex, but Taichi shoves him into the ref! BIG enziguri! Both men are down and fans duel between the two. Taichi crawls to the ropes and has Miho bring him a chair. Taichi encourages the heat to rise, but Moxley kicks him low! Moxley has the chair, and Taichi begs for mercy. Moxley throws the chair into Taichi’s face! Fans are thunderous for Moxley as the referee returns. Moxley moves the chair aside then drags Taichi up in the underhooks. Taichi slips out, waistlock to Gedo Clutch! TWO!! Moxley blocks the superkick to throw Taichi down! Underhooks, lift, DEATH RIDER! Cover, Moxley wins!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall; earns 2 points
A debut befitting the Lunatic! Moxley thrives in the chaos, and his G1 debut is a success! He says one down, eight more to go, but how far can the Death Rider go in the Climax?
Testuya Naito VS Toru Yano!
The Uncontrollable Charisma’s goal is within reach now that he has the IWGP Intercontinental Championship back. But the Clown Prince of NJPW loves to play spoiler. Will #YTR be the first to deny Naito his Destino? Or is Naito taking over all but inevitable?
Yano insists Naito hurry with his wardrobe, but Naito goes at his own leisurely pace no matter what. If anything, he takes longer just to annoy Yano. Yano is pacing as Naito finally takes off his button-up shirt only to reveal a T-shirt. Yano sees Naito’s shirt is Los Ingobernables de Japon merch, so he gets his YTR merch shirt back. The bell rings and both men circle with shirts on.
Yano taunts Naito as they go around the ring, but then Naito backs off. Naito seems to not hear Yano’s taunts at all, but he does fake Yano out again. And a third time. Yano says to hell with this, and goes for the buckle pads! Naito stops him with clubbing forearms and a whip. Yano reverses and then goes back to freeing “Steve” the buckle pad! Naito kicks low then whips Yano at the corner, but runs into Yano’s elbow. And Yano decides to free “Tom,” Steve’s twin brother. But Naito attacks Yano again. Naito whips but Yano holds ropes. Yano taunts Naito, but Naito steals Yano’s ideas by going back to Tom! Yano has to stop Naito this time, then whips Naito to ropes. Naito again steals an idea, by holding ropes and hollering!
Yano is not amused, and certainly not after Naito SPITS on him! Yano wipes himself with his shirt, but Naito pulls it over Yano’s head! And rolls him up! TWO!! Yano survives but runs into an atomic drop. Naito hits the kick, sweep and slingshots in. Yano covers up, so Naito waits. Yano lets his guard down, Combinacion Cabron! Fans cheer as Naito walks to the other corner. Naito fetches Steve but Red Shoes grabs the buckle pad. Red Shoes won’t let Naito use Steve as a weapon, but Naito shoves Red Shoes down using Steve! Naito then tests his swing, and like a baseball batter, he chokes up on the grip. But Red Shoes snatches Steve away! And Yano rolls Naito up! TWO!!
Naito kicks low but Yano pulls hair. So Naito pulls hair. Yano swings but Naito ducks, wheelbarrow victory roll but Yano sits on it, TWO! Yano swings, Naito waistlocks but Yano elbows out. And then Yano puts Red Shoes’ shirt over his head?! So that he doesn’t see the low blow uppercut! Yano then yanks Naito’s shirt over his head, runs, and SPEARS Naito down! Red Shoes gets free of his own shirt as Yano rolls Naito, and WINS!?
Winner: Toru Yano, by pinfall; earns 2 points
Was that the spoiler right there?! Has Toru Yano just put the curse of the Clown Prince on Naito!? Needless to say, Naito is not happy about this. Is there any coming back from losing to Yano?
Tomohiro Ishii VS Jeff Cobb!
If their tag team encounter in Dallas wasn’t clear enough, these two big bad behemoths want to battle it out the baddest way possible! The Stone Pitbull will test the G1-debuting Hawaiian Juggernaut, will Cobb pass the test?
The bell rings and the two stare down. Then they tie up and are in a deadlock in the middle of the ring. Ishii shifts to a headlock, but Cobb lifts him with one arm! And brings him to the ropes for the break. Ishii lets go and Cobb dares him to bring it. Ishii shoves so Cobb shoves back. Now they throw forearms! Ishii gets the edge and runs, but he only nudges Cobb with that shoulder. Cobb wants Ishii to try again, so Ishii does. Again, Cobb only takes a step back. Cobb swings on Ishii but Ishii gets under to waistlock. Cobb elbows free and bounces Ishii off the shoulder, but Ishii rebounds to hit back. But Cobb does the same, and the two collide solid in the middle. Fans are loving these two rams, but Ishii goes back to forearms.
Ishii runs and collides but Cobb stays up. Ishii keeps ramming into him again and again, then dodges Cobb, only for Cobb to run him over! Cobb drags Ishii up for a headbutt, then clubbing forearms at the ropes. He CHOPS Ishii against ropes, and again! But Ishii seems to like it!? Ishii stays up to take another CHOP, and eggs Cobb on. Cobb throws a forearm and Ishii goes to a corner. Cobb drags Ishii up to CHOP and forearm over and over. Ishii barely flinches as Cobb keeps throwing the hands. Ishii turns it around to show Cobb how it’s done! Forearm, CHOP, repeat! Ishii rocks Cobb over and over, refusing to let Cobb up or down! Ishii stops when he tires out, and Cobb can finally flop over.
Fans fire up for Ishii as he stalks Cobb. Ishii drags Cobb up for one more CHOP, then dares Cobb to get up. Ishii CHOPS more, but Cobb CHOPS back. Again, Ishii eggs Cobb on. Cobb tries forearms but Ishii CHOPS again. Cobb grits his teeth as he takes another, and another, and another! He staggers back to a knee, Ishii CHOPS him to the corner. Ishii wants Cobb to show him what he’s got and starts slapping him around. Cobb gets those forearms and CHOPS going again, but Ishii headbutts back. Ishii whips but Cobb blocks with strength! Cobb whips Ishii to a corner, catches Ishii, and overhead belly2belly suplexes him! Ishii ends up in a corner and Cobb hits a corner clothesline, and back elbow!
Cobb scoops Ishii but Ishii slides out to whip. Cobb reverses, reels Ishii in, Athletic Plex! Cover, TWO! Cobb toys with Ishii now, then throws more forearms. Ishii gives them back and we have another back and forth. They pick up steam and the fans are loving it! Ishii hits Cobb as soon as Cobb hits him, and Cobb starts to stagger. Ishii piles on the forearms, but Cobb gets a JAB! The Pitbull goes reeling backwards while Cobb catches his breath. Cobb is on Ishii in the corner with more forearms, then whips corner to corner. Ishii comes back to run Cobb over! Fans cheer as Ishii has new life! Ishii goes to suplex Cobb, and gets him up and over! Cover, TWO and Cobb rolls through to deadlift Ishii! For a pop-up to the suplex, but Ishii slips out.
Ishii runs and things speed up as Cobb hurdles. But Ishii fakes out the dropkick! Ishii runs in, but Cobb scoops and pops up for the suplex! Standing moonsault! The Gachimuchi covers, TWO! Cobb can’t believe he didn’t put Ishii away! But he dares Ishii to come back now with toying slaps. Ishii stands and Cobb aims a fist, but Ishii flops down. Fans rally as Cobb eggs Ishii on. Cobb throws down hands, then elbows. Ishii fires himself up by headbutting the mat! Cobb throws more elbows, but Ishii just gets mad. Ishii leans into the elbows! Ishii backs Cobb down in this way, then gives his own forearm! And corner clothesline! Ishii hauls Cobb up to the top rope and climbs up to join him. Ishii brings Cobb up, SUPERPELX!
Fans fire up with Ishii as he aims at Cobb. Ishii runs and clotheslines, but Cobb stays up to LARIAT Ishii! Cobb drags Ishii up top now, and then he climbs up to join him. Roles are reversed as Cobb SUPERPLEXES Ishii! Cobb crawls to a cover, TWO! Ishii still lives but Cobb has more to give. Cobb drags Ishii up from behind in a waistlock, but Ishii fights out with elbows. Cobb blocks and counter elbows, but Ishii blocks the kick to give elbows back. HEADBUTT from Cobb! Cobb drags Ishii up, PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!? Cobb doesn’t lose his cool, he whips but Ishii holds ropes. Ishii boots back, but runs into a scoop. He escapes and suplexes but Cobb resists. Cobb swings but Ishii blocks, then waistlocks to a BIG back suplex!
Both bulky men are down as fans are rallying up. Cobb is in the corner and Ishii runs in, only for Cobb to catch him and slam him down! Ishii rises, to powerslam Cobb! But now Cobb rises, only to run into Ishii’s German Suplex! Cobb rises again, grabs Ishii for an EXPLODER! But Ishii’s right up again, only for Cobb to dropkick him! Ishii rebounds to LARIAT! Ishii sits Cobb up, runs, sliding D caught!? Cobb lifts but Ishii standing switches, to hit a Dragon Suplex! Ishii runs again, LARIAT flips Cobb over! Cover, ONE!? And with power! SUPERKICK! German Suplex! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Fans rally as Cobb pulls down the straps! Cobb drags Ishii up again, whips him, but has to duck the lariat. Cobb throws a forearm and a boot, then scoops, only for the back to give out. Enziguri from Ishii! Ishii sits Cobb up, he runs, SLIDING D! Cover, TWO!! These men are proving to be titans as Ishii just gets up again. Ishii drags Cobb up, but it’s COBB who suplexes! Ishii escapes, and tanks the lariat to headbutt. Cobb forearms, Ishii headbutts harder! Cobb swings, but into Ishii’s facelock, and BRAIN BUSTER! Ishii crawls to the cover, Ishii wins!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall; earns 2 points
And the Stone Pitbull truly earned those points! He took a bite out of Cobb, but will either man have anything left to make it to the finals?
Hirooki Goto VS Jay White w/ Gedo!
“What a difference a year makes,” as Kevin Kelly puts it on commentary. From betraying Bullet Club’s Elite to joining Chaos to betraying Chaos to join the new #Cutthroat Bullet Club, the Switchblade has had a meteoric rise, but also an equally surprising fall. White was IWGP Heavyweight Champion but then lost it in Madison Square Garden. Will White be able to reclaim everything he lost? Or will the Fierce Warrior of Chaos refuse to Breathe with the Switchblade?
The bell rings and fans are on Goto’s side. White doesn’t care, but he does bail out to take his time with Goto. White already brings out a chair, goes to the other side of eh railing, and he lets Gedo have a seat. Gedo accepts and cheers White as a fan. This is White’s way of saying he won’t need Gedo’s tricks to beat Goto. But White says it’s up to him when he gets in. Goto rushes out to get at White, but White slips inside the ring. White taunts Goto into getting back in, then ducks the clothesline to headlock. Goto powers out and the two collide with shoulders. Goto fires off forearms and then whips White. White reverses but Goto comes back with more forearms!
Goto whips again but White bails out. But Goto gives chase to kick and whip White into railing! White is down and Goto stomps him. Goto puts White in and runs to run White over. White gets up but Goto clotheslines White right out! Fans fire up with Goto as he goes out to club White down. Goto stomps and clubs White around the corner, then he chases Gedo off. White goes back to the ring and Goto heads back. Goto gets in but Gedo grabs a foot! White uppercuts Goto down! So much for not having Gedo help. White drags Goto to the apron to elbow and club away on. White rams Goto’s chest into the edge, and Gedo is all smiles. But White isn’t done, he suplexes to gourd buster Goto on the apron!
Goto is down and White rolls into the ring. Red Shoes waits before starting the count. Goto stirs and slowly gets up at 10. But the climb reaches 15 before he stands, and is in at 17. White stomps Goto out of the ring and then rams him into railing! And the apron! And the railing again! Then the apron again, before whipping Goto into railing on the far side! Fans boo but White soaks up the heat. White refreshes the count and fetches Goto again. He puts White in and covers, but Red Shoes refuses. White is annoyed, but he toys with Goto. Goto CHOPS White back! And again and again and again! But he runs into White’s elbow! White drops Goto with a neckbreaker then covers, TWO! Fans rally up for Goto while White catches his breath.
White drags Goto up to CHOP him now. And again, and again! White eggs Goto on so Goto hits back. White rakes Goto’s eyes and wrenches the neck in a cravat. Goto endures as fans rally up. Goto fights up and out but White clubs him back down. White cravats again but Goto fights back. White elbows Goto down to a knee, then suplexes. Goto resists, then suplexes back! But White lands on his feet to throw Goto down by his hair! White kicks and slaps Goto around but Goto only gets mad. Goto CHOPS but White forearms. Goto chops more and more and more! White kicks a leg out and then looms over Goto. White stomps Goto but Goto catches the foot. Now they throw forearms, and then Goto spins through to lariat!
Both men are down but fans fire up. Goto and White crawl to opposite ends of the ring and Gedo is worried. White is in a corner and Goto runs in to clothesline. White resists the saido but Goto shoves to fireman’s carry! But White flails and gets free, only to get a kick! Goto runs in again, windmill kick in the corner! Saido suplex! Cover, TWO! Goto doesn’t stop, he brings White up again. White resists the lift and clubs away. Goto clubs White away but misses in the corner. Goto dodges a chop but runs into a boot, only to clothesline through it! White sits down and Goto rains down rights. Goto whips corner to corner but White slides, spins Goto around and DDT’s! Both men are down again but fans still rally.
White sits up first and drags Goto up. Half hatch suplex but White holds on to rotate, for a second. White drags Goto up again, but Goto denies the third. Goto powers White to a corner and rams his shoulder in, but White uses the third half hatch to throw Goto into buckles! White drags Goto up again, twisting suplex! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives the #BladeBuster and Gedo argues with Red Shoes. White still grins as he chinlocks Goto and hauls him up. Goto resists the half nelson suplex, but White CHOPS him. White whips but Goto reverses, only for White to reverse. But then Goto reverses again, for the neckbreaker across his knee! Both men are down again but stirring as fans continue to rally.
White forearms Goto but Goto gives it back. Goto eggs White on and White returns to forearm Goto. Goto forearms White again and White goes staggering. White comes back for more forearms, knees and elbows. White uppercuts Goto then again. He whips but Goto reverses to follow, and then denies the complete shot. Goto shoves but White dodges. They each follow the other, dodge for dodge, and Goto runs into the SAIDO! Gedo wants White to finish this, and White looks to do just that. White fires off strikes and then a point-blank LARIAT! White grins and applauds himself as he catches his breath. Fans rally for Goto as White drags Goto up by his hair. Goto breaks free but White SLAPS him back down!
White keeps slapping Goto but Goto just gets angry. Goto feeds off those slaps, but runs into the URENAGE! White uses the cocky standing pin, but Red Shoes refuses to count that. White mockingly shakes Goto’s hand before dragging Goto back up. But Goto is dead weight, so White has to work extra hard to get him up. Red Shoes wants to check on Goto but White shoves him down! Goto revives and LARIATS White! Goto and White are both slowly stirring, but White signals to Gedo. Gedo fetches something as White hauls Goto up. But Goto gets White with the USHIGOROSHI! Goto has new life and the fans are fired up with him! Goto waits for White to stand, but White stays down. So Goto drags White up, but White is also limp. Goto stomps White but it’s all White’s plan.
White grins as he crawls, and even as Goto stomps him. Goto has White at the ropes but Red Shoes reprimands Goto. Gedo protests while Goto eggs White on. White revives, but Blade Runner denied! So White suplexes, only for Goto to spin through. White forearms but Goto headbutts! Goto drags White up, Inverted GTR! Cover, TWO!! Goto drags White back up and turns him around, but White fights out! White snapmares Goto and catches him but Goto slips out. White slips out again, but then Goto snapmares him off the full nelson. Goto dragon sleepers but White slips out, and the two pull hair to deny the other. Goto has White, and headbutts him over and over! Final Cut!
The fans are thunderous, but here comes Gedo! Goto scares Gedo off, but White escapes the fireman’s carry. Goto again denies Blade Runner, SHOTEN KAI!! Cover, TWO!! But Goto doesn’t let that deter him! He drags White back up, fireman’s carry again, USHIGOROSHI TO FINAL CUT! Cover, TWO!? But Goto won’t stop until he’s one! BUZZSAW! TRUE G, T, R!! Cover, Goto wins!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall; earns 2 points
The Fierce Warrior is finally victorious! NJPW goes to break while both men recover.
NJPW returns once again…
And the victorious Goto finally stands to have his hand raised. His training with Shibata has truly paid off. Fans cheer as the Fierce Warrior takes to the mic.
“It’s been awhile. To be able to perform for all of you, and even better, to get the victory, it makes me so happy!” Fans are also glad as they continue to cheer. The G1 Climax has only just begun, and Goto knows even tougher challenges lie ahead. But Goto will say this: “The G in G1 stands for GOTO!” Goto says his piece and fans cheer again. Will Goto make good on this critical first victory to rise back towards the top?
NJPW Media Backstage Interview
Hirooki Goto thanks Shibata for help in his training. He also thanks all the young guys at the LA Dojo. This wouldn’t be possible without any of them. “However, I can’t really say that I’ve made a complete comeback.” Goto knows this is just one step up the ladder. All his training partners, Shibata, and everyone at LA Dojo may not be in the G1, but he will carry their emotions with him into the ring. He will use them as motivation to win. The G1 begins and a single lose could cost him. That is how he sees it, that is how he will fight. Can Goto again rise to the finals and take the entire tournament?
My Thoughts:
Another great block of wrestling from NJPW! Obviously this is just the portion of night 2 that had to do with the G1 Climax, but that’s because these were the five matches that mattered. And what great surprises in some of these, like Yano and Naito! That was definitely an entertaining match, and if anything, this only makes it more likely Naito will fight his way to the finals. He wants to make history, and he’ll rip whoever he has to apart. Moxley VS Taichi was great, and of course Moxley wins because he’s Moxley, and Taichi can definitely be sacrificed to him and Naito for their respective builds. Shingo VS Juice was a great opener for tonight, and it is great for Shingo to have a competitive match like this. He and Ospreay aren’t exactly in the running as I see it, but strong showings are more than enough for them.
Cobb and Ishii was so great, both these guys just love to hit hard and move fast. If they aren’t getting a NEVER Openweight Championship match at a later event, that will be a real letdown. Then Goto VS White was a real good main event, and as commentary was putting over, probably Goto’s best in a long time. Goto’s win serves to spark his own story of the veteran comeback like Hiroshi Tanahashi in the A Block. Plus, White got plenty of great accomplishments over this last year, from being the top champion and being the NJPW main event of G1 Supercard, so he can give up these hard fought matches for the sake of the others. He’ll give everyone else in the B Block great matches, and maybe a new story for him can spark from this tournament.
My Score: 8.8/10
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NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: Power Struggle 2019 Part 2!
Even more gold is on the line!
The struggle for power and glory continues!
As the Super Junior Tag League wraps up, Will Ospreay defends his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship! Will Black Mask Bushi strike gold?
Coverage of Power Struggle 2019 will be as broadcast by AXS TV
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI VS Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi; Ibushi & Tanahashi win.
- Super Junior Tag League Finals: Roppongi 3K VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado; Roppongi 3K wins the 2019 Super Jr. Tag League.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA VS Tomohiro Ishii; KENTA wins and retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS BUSHI; Ospreay wins and retains the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for Power Struggle’s second act!
Titles and tournaments are all on the line! After ruining the run in the tournament for the Birds of Prey, the Jet Black Death Mask wants his shot at Will Ospreay’s title! The Aerial Assassin will let Bushi be his third defense, but hopes to fly high to close out 2019! At the same time, the Openweight Division brings the Stone Pitbull back within reach of the Fang Revived. Tomohiro Ishii wants to take a bite out of Kenta for both payback in that Bullet Club betrayal and in taking back the NEVER Openweight title for a sixth time! But first, the Super Jr. Tag League finals see an epic rematch of Suzuki-Gun’s Kanemaru and Desperado and Chaos’ Roppongi 3K! Who will prove themselves the best in their division as we continue on the homestretch to Wrestle Kingdom?
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI VS Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi!
Hold on! The Rainmaker and Golden Star aren’t going to just sit back and wait for Wrestle Kingdom 14’s epic IWGP Heavyweight Championship match! They each find a strong ally to join them in a tag team tune-up match! Will Okada and the Headhunter be trumped by Ibushi and The Ace?
NJPW on AXS jumps right in as Tanahashi has Hashi in the Cloverleaf! Tanahashi sits deep but Okada runs in to fight him off. Ibushi chases but runs into a gut wrench! Ibushi turns it around but Okada fights out. Tanahashi grabs Okada and helps Ibushi lift, but Okada slips out to double dropkick the down! Okada tells Yoshi-Hashi to finish this off! Hashi runs to AX BOMBER Tanahashi! Then he brings him up, fisherman scoop, KUMAGOROSHI! Cover, Okada anchors Ibushi, TWO!?! The Ace survives the Bear Cutter?! Hashi won’t stop now, he brings Tanahashi up, pump handle and half nelson, but gets TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The spinning neckbreaker takes Hashi down and Tana fires up, to run into a CHOP! Hashi SUPERKICKS, whips, but Tanahashi reverses to a SLINGBLADE!
Okada and Ibushi are still fighting outside as Tanahashi goes up top. Tanahashi aims, HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Tanahashi and Ibushi win!
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi, Tanahashi pinning
The champion and challenger were too busy with each other in the background, but the Once in a Century Talent gets it done! But with neither Ibushi or Okada in on the ending, who really has momentum going into their monumental main event?
But wait, the lights go down. And on the titantron, it’s someone beating up Tanahashi cosplayers. Who is this mysterious mugger? It’s CHRIS JERICHO!! The Painmaker gives Tanahashi a warning. “Wait and see what I do to you, January 5th in the Tokyo Dome!” Jericho VS Tanahashi, “It’s going to be a classic match.” And Tanahashi’s last! “Sayonara.” Y2J VS The Ace?! What an amazing match! Tanahashi grabs a mic to respond. “JERICHO! Good news! Next year, January 5th in the Tokyo Dome… I’m available.” And it’s official! Tanahashi is ready for that match, but will he be feeling the Judas Effect in the New Year?
Super Junior Tag League Finals: Roppongi 3K VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado!
Former Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions meet once again, and are once again ready to prove which duo is better. But even before getting in the ring, the Suzuki-Gun goons go right after Sho and Yoh from behind! Kanemaru and Desperado beat RPG3K down, and while Desperado beats Sho down, Kanemaru brings Yoh to ringside. Desperado gives Sho a back suplex on the ramp! Yoh is whipped into barriers, and both men writhe in pain. Kanemaru stomps Yoh down but the referee reprimands him and Desperado. Team Suzuki-Gun put Yoh in the ring while leaving Sho for dead. The bell rings and this match finally begins.
Kanemaru stomps Yoh then drags him into an open corner. He whips Yoh corner to corner but Yoh dodges! Yoh dropkicks Desperado but Kanemaru kicks low. Kanemaru whips but Yoh dodges and hits back with flying forearms! Fans fire up behind Yoh, and he blocks a kick from each man! Double dragon screws send Team Suzuki-Gun down! Desperado bails out so Yoh goes after Kanemaru. Sho is in view, crawling his way down the ramp, but Yoh throws hands on Kanemaru. Kanemaru boots back but Yoh dumps him out! Yoh PESCADO! Fans fire up with Yoh again as he stomps Kanemaru down more. Sho is getting closer as Yoh puts Kanemaru in the ring. Yoh drags Kanemaru up to throw forearms. Sho wills himself towards the ring as Yoh stomps away on Kanemaru. Yoh wrenches and whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Kanemaru puts Yoh on the apron.
Yoh forearms back but Desperado anchors a foot! Kanemaru boots Yoh down! Desperado brings Yoh up to whip into railing! Kanemaru keeps on Yoh while Desperado sees Sho. Kanemaru whips Yoh into railing, and with Yoh hanging over the edge, Kanemaru hops up to drop a guillotine leg drop! Yoh flops over and Desperado whips Sho hard into railing on the other end! Sho is writhing and screaming as the referee starts a ring count. Desperado mocks the RPG3K fans while hearing the ring count. Yoh hurries, he’s at ringside at 18, but in at 19.5! Kanemaru stomps and grinds Yoh down with his boot, but lets up at 3. He drags Yoh up to feed to Desperado’s boots. Desperado tags in now and “wonders” where Sho is right now. He drags Yoh up for a big scoop slam, but Sho finally makes it to the RPG3K corner. Desperado taunts Sho while grinding Yoh down.
Desperado sucker punches Sho! But Yoh fires back with haymakers! Desperado knees low and whips him into the Suzuki-Gun corner. Kanemaru tags in, scoop slams Yoh fast, then drags him up for a suplex! Cover, TWO! Yoh is barely hanging in as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Desperado tags back in. He drags Yoh up, but Yoh suplexes Desperado! Both men are down and fans are rallying up. Kanemaru runs in to boot Sho down! And then whip him into railings again! Yoh can’t do anything to save his friend, and then Kanemaru drags him down. Desperado stands on Yoh as Kanemaru dropkicks him! Desperado covers, TWO!! Fans cheer as RPG3K lives. Desperado drags Yoh up and tags Kanemaru. Team Suzuki-Gun mug Yoh then double whip. Yoh ducks, sends Desperado at Kanemaru, catches Kanemaru and kicks Desperado, DDT Complete Shot combo! Fans fire up and Sho is back on the apron! Sho and fans rally, Yoh crawls over, hot tag to Sho!
Sho fires off forearms on Kanemaru then whips. Kanemaru reverses but Sho reverses back to kick, kick and SUPERKICK! Sho hits Desperado down for good measure before going back to Kanemaru. Sho dead lifts Kanemaru in a waistlock! But Kanemaru elbows free! Kanemaru kicks and runs, but Sho runs him over! Sho grits his teeth to get through the back pain. He brings Kanemaru up to throw big forearms then whips, but Kanemaru reverses. Kanemaru grabs the ref to distract as Desperado gets a CHAIR SHOT in! Sho goes down hard and Kanemaru laughs as he tags Desperado back in. SPEAR takes Sho down! Desperado drags Sho up, Kanemaru dropkick-starts the side slam! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives but Desperado is right on the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER! Kanemaru whips Yoh into railing again as Sho suffers! Desperado keeps him from the ropes and just goes after that leg with ferocity!
But something is happening in the background! Someone goes crashing into more equipment, and as Sho goes for ropes, Kanemaru SPITS WHISKEY! The ref missed it! Yoh gets back in, but Kanemaru intercepts! Sho endures as Desperado also has an arm! Yoh powers up to barrel Kanemaru into them! Sho is freed but the damage is done. Desperado vows to end it as Yoh gets sent into more barriers. Desperado underhooks but Sho breaks out to use that super strength to back drop Desperado! Desperado comes back with stomps and a CHOP. He runs, but Yoh is back, RPG3K KNEES! Yoh drags Desperado up, suplex to Sho for the Canadian rack. Kanemaru trips Yoh and Desperado knocks Sho down! Desperado suplexes, Sho slips out and waistlocks! Desperado flails desperately, but Sho is just too strong!! German Suplex hits!!
Sho fires up and the fans do, too! Sho drags Desperado up again, powerbomb lift, pop-up BACKBREAKER! Sho crawls to the cover, but Kanemaru breaks it! Kanemaru stomps away on Sho then clubs him down. Kanemaru whips and corner clotheslines to then throw Sho down. Kanemaru hops up, Sho stands, but he gets clear! Yoh returns, Kanemaru turns around into 3K!! Fans are thunderous as Yoh fires back up. Desperado is alone as Yoh stomps it out. Fans rally and Desperado flounders over. But Desperado denies a 3K for him, kicking and throwing hands! He throws Sho into Yoh! But Sho blocks the clothesline, only for his clothesline to feed into an inverted half-nelson gutwrench! Spin-out Powerbomb!! Cover, TWO!?! Sho survives!? Desperado is furious! He drags Sho up again, underhooks, but Sho resists! Sho fights against Pinche Loco so Desperado knees low.
Sho fires back with forearm from all sides! But Desperado rakes eyes and ROCKS Sho with that right! Desperado runs, into Sho’s LARIAT! Sho powers up and Yoh returns. Sho drags Desperado up, tucks the arms under for double pump handles, but Desperado lands on his feet to headbutt back! But Yoh is back, 3K OUTTA NOWHERE! Cover, ROPPONGI 3K WINS!!
Winners: Roppongi 3K, Sho pinning; 2019 Super Jr Tag League Champions
That’s a THREE-PEAT! And they’re clearly emotional over this amazing and historic victory. They take the trophies, and with a win over the current Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions, they surely have a chance at the titles again! Will the New Year be golden for RPG3K? But speaking of the champions, El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori strike! Bullet Club won’t let Chaos celebrate! Fans boo as Bone Soldier drags Yoh up for ELP to SMASH with the belt! And then they do the same to Sho, with a punch to the balls! Ishimori Electric Chairs Sho and ELP says BANG, a FULL METAL DOOMSDAY! Wrestle Kingdom has their Junior Heavyweight Tag title match, but will Bullet Club put a stamp on their title reign?
NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA VS Tomohiro Ishii!
This all started when it was revealed in treacherous fashion that Mr. Takeover was the newest part of Bullet Club’s arsenal. Bullet Club also helped Kenta take that title off the Stone Pitbull, which only soured the taste in the Pitbull’s mouth. Will Ishii bare his fangs against #FangRevived and get payback for it all?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and tensions already run high on this golden grudge match. Said match will begin after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns with the bell and fans are on Ishii’s side as he and Kenta tie up. They are in a deadlock but Ishii manages to get Kenta to ropes. Kenta turns it around, and SLAPS out of the break! But Ishii slaps back! And they start slapping back and forth! It’s a slap fight! Kenta steps it up to forearms but Ishii responds in kind. They talk trash and throw more forearms. Kenta turns, boots but Ishii rebounds to forearm. Kenta rebounds and boots, Ishii rebounds to forearm again. Ishii runs but Kenta follows to boot. Kenta runs but Ishii runs him over! Fans cheer as Kenta is sent rolling. Ishii toys with Kenta and drags him up to CHOP. And CHOP! Ishii whips but Kenta grabs ropes to bail out, but Ishii is right on him! Ishii puts Kenta in and rains down rights, which the fans like to see!
Kenta slips out to a corner and uses the ropes as a defense. Red Shoes tells Ishii to stay back, but Kenta pokes the eyes! Kenta kicks low and DDT’s Ishii down! Kenta rains down rights of his own then walks it off. Fans rally for Ishii but Kenta stomps him down. Kenta swiftly kicks Ishii in the chest and then the leg and back tot he chest. He boots Ishii to a corner and starts slapping. Ishii just eggs him on! Kenta slaps but Ishii wants more! So Kenta gives more. Ishii slaps back and the slap fight is on again. Kenta SLAPS Ishii down! And then more! Kenta goes corner to corner while Ishii flounders and falls. Kenta drags Ishii up and turns him for a neckbreaker, cover, TWO! Kenta drops knees over and over, then pulls down the knee pad, to hop over and scuff Ishii’s face. Fans boo the Low Sweet as Kenta stomps Ishii more.
Kenta toys with Ishii now, but Ishii just gets annoyed. Kenta kicks him around, but Ishii powers up to throw hands. Kenta knees low then runs, but Ishii stays up after the boot! Ishii dodges another boot and ducks the clothesline, but Kenta fights off the waistlock. Ishii forearms then ducks the clothesline to get Kenta into a suplex! Both men are down and Kenta goes to a corner. Ishii is up and after Kenta with CHOPS! He won’t let Kenta sit down, he stands him up for more CHOPS! And again he makes Kenta stand to take the CHOPS and forearms! Forearm, CHOPS, repeat! Then a whip corner to corner, and Kenta bounces off buckles into a spinning powerslam! Cover, TWO! Ishii keeps his cool as he keeps on Kenta. Ishii waistlocks but Kenta gets to ropes. Red Shoes calls for a ropebreak but Kenta has to elbow Ishii off.
Kenta gives Ishii forearms then eggs him on. Ishii forearms back and we have another back and forth. Ishii says he doesn’t feel Kenta’s shots! Ishii rocks Kenta then runs but into the kitchen sink knee! Kenta made him feel that one. Kenta kicks Ishii while he’s down then stomps him on the apron. Red Shoes reprimands Kenta so he lets up. Kenta brings Ishii up and through the ropes, for kicks to the chest. Then he has him draped, for the DDT! Ishii writhes but Kenta covers, TWO! Kenta is ice cold as he brings Ishii up. Ishii fires forearms again, but Kenta kicks away on the legs! Kenta back kicks then runs corner to corner, a soaring boot! And then corner to corner again, flying basement dropkick! Classic Kenta as he continues up top, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives the coup de grace and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Kenta gives Ishii more swift kicks to the chest. But Ishii powers up again! Ishii just takes the kicks to feed off them! Kenta keeps trying but Ishii bluntly CHOPS Kenta down! Red Shoes reprimands, Ishii needs to watch how high he aims. Ishii goes after Kenta with CHOPS again but those are still up high! Ishii wants these to hurt! Red Shoes has to back Ishii off, but Ishii doesn’t care. Ishii drags Kenta up to hoist him to the top rope. Ishii climbs to join Kenta, and lifts him way up! He even holds him there before the SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Kenta survives but he’s spitting up a little bit of blood. Ishii keeps going, powerbomb lift but Kenta slips out. Ishii ducks Kenta’s back hand and gets a German Suplex! Kenta is up but gets another German! Ishii runs, Sliding D into an armbar! Kenta turns it over for Game Over!
Ishii endures the modified LeBelle Lock as Kenta cranks back! Fans rally but Kenta loses grip. Kenta goes after him again but Ishii refuses to quit. Ishii wriggles around, rolls Kenta over but now he’s in a triangle hold. Kenta then cranks back to get the Game Over again! Ishii endures, unable to see with Kenta’s hands over his eyes. But Ishii feels around with his legs and gets the ropebreak! Kenta lets go in frustration. Kenta backs off as Ishii crawls his way up the ropes. Kenta comes back to knee him into ropes! Then runs again, building up speed, but he sees Ishii’s counter attack coming and boots it away. Kenta also ducks the southpaw lariat to GERMAN SUPLEX! Kenta runs to Penalty Kick, but Ishii catches it! Only for Kenta to BOOT him with the free leg!
Both men are down again and fans build to a rally. Kenta aims from a corner, runs at Ishii, PSYCHO KNEE! But Ishii rises!? Kenta ROUNDHOUSES him down! But Ishii sits up again! Fans are firing up as Kenta runs and builds speed, another Psycho Knee! Cover, TWO!?! Ishii still lives and Kenta can’t believe it! Kenta drags Ishii up into the fireman’s carry, but Ishii pops out to a dragon sleeper! Kenta slips around and suplexes but Ishii fights that off. Kenta dodges the clothesline and fires forearms but Ishii spins to LARIAT! The southpaw hits but Ishii rests in the red corner. Kenta gets up to kick and forearm Ishii, then slap away on his head! Ishii stands right up to stare him down. Kenta forearms but Ishii just steps into them! Ishii backs Kenta down with every strike to then DECK Kenta!! That was as loud as it was hard!
Ishii wants Kenta to stand and Kenta slowly rises. Ishii runs in, corner clothesline to a whip to another clothesline. Kenta manages to reverse the whip but still gets a clothesline! Ishii drags Kenta up, lift and powerbomb! High stack, TWO! Ishii sits Kenta up, SLIDING D! Cover, TWO!! Kenta still lives but Ishii is firing up! Ishii drags Kenta back up, suplexes, but Kenta slips out to a sleeper! Ishii powers out, Kenta clotheslines back but Ishii doesn’t budge! Ishii clotheslines back but Kenta stays up. Both men run, Ishii’s clothesline takes out Kenta! Then the suplex, but it’s Kenta’s Falcon Arrow! Kenta is down and too tired to make a cover, but fans are rallying up again. Kenta rises first but Ishii follows. Ishii fires off elbows from all sides, but Kenta LARIATS back! Kenta drags Ishii up, Penalty Kick!
Kenta slashes the throat and fireman’s carries Ishii, for GO- NO! Ishii lands on his feet, suplexes, but Kenta slips out. Both men fight for suplex control, Kenta cradle counters, TWO! They both stand fast and Kenta back hands, but Ishii PELES! Kenta rebounds, Psycho Knee! Both men are down again but fans are still rallying. Both men stand and Kenta boots but Ishii blocks. Kenta gives the right hook then palm strike after palm strike. Ishii gives one back! Ishii runs into the fireman’s carry! GO TO SLEEP!! But Kenta doesn’t want to end it here?! He pulls the knee pads off and drags Ishii back up. Another fireman’s carry, GO TO SLEEP AGAIN!! Cover, Kenta wins!!
Winner: KENTA, by pinfall; still NEVER Openweight Champion
It wasn’t even about needing another, it was about wanting to do damage. The Bullet Club kept their hands clean of this match, and Kenta sends the Stone Pitbull to the back of the line by himself. Will #FangRevived continue to sink his fangs into NJPW?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS BUSHI!
The Aerial Assassin and fellow Bird of Prey, Robbie Eagles, were on a great run in the Super Jr Tag League, but the masked wrestler of Los Ingobernables de Japon didn’t care about any of that. He spat the green mist that screwed Ospreay over and then staked his claim to this match. Will Bushi pay for the mist spray? Or will Ospreay define his reign with another win over another rival?
The introductions are made, but the belt isn’t raised before Ospreay shotgun dropkick blasts Bushi down! Red Shoes hurries to ring the bell as Bushi bails out, and the match officially begins with Ospreay’s PESCADO! Down goes Bushi and Ospreay fires up! Ospreay drags Bushi up, whips him into railing, and Bushi hits hard. Ospreay gets the fans fired up as he drags Bushi up again for big haymakers. Ospreay puts Bushi back in the ring and he drags Bushi up for forearms and CHOPS! Ospreay whips, Bushi holds ropes and boots back, then huricanranas Ospreay out. Bushi slingshots to huricanrana again! Bushi evens things up and catches his breath as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay has made his way to the gap. Red Shoes checks on him but he’s okay to continue. Bushi goes and fetches Ospreay to then whip into railing hard! Ospreay writhes but Bushi is ice cold as he stomps Ospreay down. Bushi puts Ospreay in the ring and finally takes off his shirt, to use it to choke Ospreay! Red Shoes reprimands but Bushi lets up with just one hand at 3. Ospreay gets to ropes so now Red Shoes counts the ropebreak, Bushi lets go at 3. Bushi drags Ospreay up to knock him down! Bushi hooks a leg for the STF! Ospreay endures as Bushi cranks back on the crossface portion of the match. Ospreay powers up but Bushi hooks his face! Ospreay still gets the ropebreak and Bushi lets go reluctantly.
Bushi stomps Ospreay then drags him up, but Ospreay fires forearms back. They brawl with forearms now, and Bushi clubs Ospreay down. Bushi runs into a BIG Pop-Up Flapjack! Ospreay can breathe and recover as Bushi crashes down. Fans rally and duel as Ospreay drags himself up by ropes. Ospreay drags Bushi up for forearms then whips but Bushi reverses. Ospreay dodges, handspring, flying enziguri! Cover, TWO! Ospreay doesn’t stop, he wants the fans to get loud. The fans respond and Ospreay heads to a corner. Ospreay springboards, Pip Pip Cheerio flying forearm! Cover, TWO! Ospreay keeps his cool as he drags Bushi up again. Ospreay reels Bushi in, underhooks and lifts but Bushi resists. So Ospreay kicks away, only for Bushi to catch a leg. Bushi rakes eyes, runs, but into the dropkick-flip and enziguri!
Bushi bails out and fans fire up as Ospreay builds speed! But Bushi gets in to block the Sasuke Special. Bushi drags Ospreay out through the ropes and jumps, BOOSTED draping DDT to the apron! Ospreay hits so hard but both men are down on the outside. Bushi gets up and leaves Ospreay behind in the 20 count. The count passes 10 as Bushi stomps Ospreay, but Bushi does put Ospreay back in at 13. Fans applaud Bushi doing this the right way, and Bushi stomps Ospreay before putting him in a corner. Bushi whips corner to corner then runs in for double knees! He pushes Ospreay down and hops up, missile dropkick sends Ospready down! Bushirooni! Bushi keeps going, fisherman swinging neckbreaker! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay lives and this match continues after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Bushi heads up top. Ospreay rises and Bushi leaps, but Ospreay gets under. Ospreay dodges Bushi in the corner but is hung up on the ropes! Bushi CHOPS then hops up again, to SUPER STEINER! But Ospreay lands on his feet?! Bushi swings into the Half ‘n’ Half! Ospreay fires himself up and the fans follow. Bushi is outside, Ospreay SASUKE SPECIALS! He just manages to hit his target! Ospreay grits his teeth to ignore the pain in his neck as he goes back to Bushi. He puts Bushi in and takes aim from the red corner. Bushi sits up, ROBINSON SPECIAL! The spin kick hits but Ospreay moves through his formula. Ospreay springboards, but Bushi blocks the cutter to shove Ospreay into Red Shoes! Ospreay checks on the ref but he has to continue the match.
Ospreay drags Bushi up, but Bushi wants to spit! Ospreay covers Bushi’s mouth! Then he kisses Bushi!? Because he steals the mist to spray at Bushi!! Bushi flails and Ospreay grins and winks. ROUNDHOUSE rocks Bushi! Red Shoes is reviving and Ospreay shouts for him to hurry. Ospreay springboards, but Bushi uses Red Shoes as a shield to take the OSCUTTER! Ospreay just assassinated the referee! And no one knows what to say! Ospreay looks around but where did Bushi go? He finds him by commentary, and drags him up. Bushi goes to low blow but Ospreay blocks and whips. Bushi reverses it but Ospreay stops himself. Ospreay and Bushi go to the ring, Ospreay gets Bushi with a springboard dropkick! Ospreay heads up top, aims at Bushi, SHOOTING STAR onto knees! And the BLACK MIST RETURNS! Bushi still had some left to use on Ospreay!
Fans rally as Red Shoes is still down. Another ref hurries in to take Red Shoes’ place, just as Bushi hits a DESTROYER! Cover, TWO!?! Ospreay lives and Bushi can’t believe it! But Bushi just heads up top again. He waits for Ospreay to stand, and leaps into a roundhouse! Both men are down again but a Young Lion gets Ospreay water. Ospreay splashes his eyes clean and then aims from a corner. HOOK KICK! Then the armband comes off, HIDDEN- NO! Bushi ducks the back hand, runs at Ospreay but his monkey flip is blocked! So Bushi springs up to SPIKE-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay escapes and blocks a kick, ducks the enziguri but not the rewind mule kick! Bushi runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Now Bushi survives but Ospreay is not done yet! Ospreay slashes the throat, drags Bushi up and underhooks, but Bushi slips out to backslide! And bridge! TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Ospreay pops Bushi up, but gets a CODE BREAKER! Bushi vows to end it and he goes up top again. Ospreay rises, Bushi leaps, MX!! Cover, TWO?!? Ospreay survives Bushi’s modified Code Breaker!? We pass 15 minutes as Bushi heads back to the corner. He’s up again, but leaps into a CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but Ospreay takes aim from the corner. HIDDEN BLADE! Ospreay isn’t done with Bushi yet, he hops up the buckles, SUPER OSCUTTER! But he holds on?! And rolls Bushi around, underhooks, STORM BREAKER! Cover, Ospreay wins!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall; still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
A third defense on this run but Ospreay has run the table in 2019! Best of the Super Juniors, Super J Cup, Super Jr Tag League, what more is there for Ospreay to do? Perhaps we’ll hear from Ospreay after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay has the mic.
He wants to know, “Are you having fun?” Ospreay wonders if there’s anyone else who wants a shot at Ospreay. He beat Shingo Takagi, El Phantasmo, Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero, Sho and Yoh, Amazing Red, Bushi, and even his pal, Robbie Eagles. “God damn, I’ve beaten everyone.” Who is left in NJPW to challenge him!? Anyone from anywhere! This is your chance!! Ospreay hears fans wanting Hiromu but “he ain’t here.” So then, until someone steps up, “get a look, Osaka. Forever, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Thank you very much.” The Aerial Assassin heads out but the lights go down! “TIME BOMB will blow up soon.” The Time Bomb is coming back?! The countdown says 62 days, but then the screen changes. That’s not Daryl but a very similar cat on screen. And he lights the fuse. A new countdown begins!
3, 2, 1! BOOM! Hiromu Takahashi IS BACK!! He and his cats head to the ring! But before he gets in, he makes sure the cats are under careful watch at commentary. Hiromu then has a ball running himself into the railing! And then up the ramp to take a tumble! “This is it!” This is what Hiromu has been missing. This is what Hiromu has been wanting! Ospreay puts the belt on the mat to welcome Hiromu back! Fans cannot believe what they’re seeing as Ospreay dares Hiromu to get in the ring. Hiromu hops up onto the apron, and walks into the ring, to get up on the ropes and soak up the adulation! But then he does turn his attention to Ospreay as he gets himself the mic. “I am Hiromu Takahashi!” And he thanks them all so much for waiting. “Now that I’m back, we’re gonna have even more, more, MORE fun in NJPW! You can rest assured of that.”
But surely they’re a bit worried, right? “Can he really do it?” “He just came back, isn’t he being a little cocky?” “He’s just gonna change his style anyway.” Heh. Hiromu grins as he says “Who besides me would challenge a beast like him!?” Fans agree, “Nobody, that’s who!” So just watch and see. Hiromu jumps and hits the mat with his back! Then runs into buckles and throws himself around, showing that he can still be as reckless as ever! He may be physically alright, but he still might not be mentally all there… But fans still support him as he bridges up. “Mic please.” Ospreay gets Hiromu the mic. “Congratulations, Will Ospreay. Now, you are the most strongest Junior Heavyweight wrestler.”
But then Hiromu sits up to say, “But Hiromu is back!” And he challenges Ospreay, for Wrestle Kingdom! If you didn’t do the math on that countdown, that’s where it was all headed. And then he licks the title…? Ospreay grins, one of his favorite rivals has returned. And even gives him a hug. And as Hiromu makes his way out, he has one more thing to say to Ospreay: “Thank you meow.” Will Ospreay remain the most dominant Junior Heavyweight when he finally gets a rematch against the most chaotic?
My Thoughts:
I did not realize this was going to be TWO HOURS when I started putting this together. But what a great two hours it was! We got the bonus tag match of Okada & Yoshi-Hashi VS Ibushi & Tanahashi. Looking at that match, it was obvious Hashi was taking the pin. And it was very smart to give the pinfall to Tanahashi. This way, Okada and Ibushi stay even because neither is gaining momentum off a finish. Then Jericho calling Tanahashi out, that is an instant classic right there. With two months to go, I really wonder if Jericho is still AEW World Champion by then. Much like how ROH didn’t let Jeff Cobb be world champion during the G1 to lose and make them look bad, I’m not sure AEW wants their top champion to look bad losing a non-title match. Even with Tanahashi being a great staple of NJWP, pretty sure Y2J won’t be Le Champeon by then.
The Super Jr Tag League finals were great! RPG3K and the Kanemaru-Desperado combo make for great rivals, and what a great achievement for RPG3K to be triple tag league winners. That is an amazing thing for those two. I still remember their excursion to ROH as the Tempura Boys, and those boys have grown so much since then. I would be really surprised and perhaps disappointed if they didn’t beat Bullet Club for those tag titles at Wrestle Kingdom. That would be big, and I think the Junior Tag Division could use something like that. The NEVER Openweight Championship was another great and stiff match for Ishii and Kenta, and that’s great. It was also telling that Kenta didn’t need to cheat. He is being allowed to be as strong as he deserves to be, so that’s a plus.
And then we get a double dose of greatness out of the main event. The match itself was incredible, so much story went into Ospreay VS Bushi. I love that black mist spot, I have never seen someone steal the mist like that! Ospreay winning makes a lot of sense, he has just been on a tear. Plus, it was the perfect set up for him to count his wins in 2019 and that cues the shocking and totally amazing return of Hiromu Freakin’ Takahashi! It is so great to see him again, to know he’s back in wrestling shape, and to get one more Ospreay VS Hiromu match at Wrestle Kingdom. As it stands, there is no predicting who wins. Ospreay has amazing momentum, but Hiromu never truly lost the title since he went out with injury. Either way, their match will be “even more, more, MORE fun,” as Hiromu put it, than everything up to this point.
My Score: 9.1/10
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NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: Power Struggle 2019 Part 1!
Does Hirooki Goto Breath with The Switchblade?
Is the Cutthroat Era rising again?
With everyone chasing the same goal of becoming a dual champion, Jay White has a head start as THE IWGP Intercontinental Champion! But does Hirooki Goto end that tonight?
Coverage of Power Struggle 2019 will be as broadcast on AXS TV.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Jay White VS Hirooki Goto; White wins and retains the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for Power Struggle’s beginning!
The freshly minted IWGP Intercontinental Champion looks to hijack Tetsuya Naito’s destiny by becoming the first dual champion in NJPW first. However, for The Switchblade to usher in the new era, he must get through the Fierce Warrior of Chaos! The 2019 record between them is tied, so this tiebreaker is golden! Who leaves Osaka leading the race towards history?
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Jay White VS Hirooki Goto!
There’s no point in delaying the inevitable! Does White’s journey to history begin now? Or does Goto deny it outright?
Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this tiebreaker on the road to destiny begins after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns and fans rally up for Goto already. White and Goto circle, but then White slips out of the ring. The classic strategy is in effect already, and Goto demands White gets in. White takes his time returning, and circles with Goto to actually tie up. Goto puts White on the ropes but lets up, only for White to pie face and slip away again. White wants Goto to stay back and the ref keeps Goto in the ring. White gets up and in again, dodges a clothesline and headlocks. Goto powers out, but White grabs ropes and slips out a third time. White laughs until Goto gives chase. They go into the ring, White runs but Goto is ready and they bump shoulders. Neither budges so White tries again. Still nothing, so he tries a third time. White bumps Goto, Goto staggers back, but White gets out of the ring before Goto can return.
Goto gives chase again but White slips back in the ring. White stomps Goto as he slides back in then fires off clubbing forearms. White runs but Goto runs him over! Fans cheer this bit of karma on White. But White puts Goto in a corner to CHOP! Goto turns it around to fire off furious forearms! The ref backs Goto off but Goto throws White into buckles! Goto drags White up and snapmares him to a swift kick to the back! White scrambles but Goto drags him back for another kick! White writhes and Goto brings him up for ropes. Goto whips, White holds ropes again but he boots this time. Goto clotheslines White out anyway! Goto goes out but Gedo gets a cheap shot in! The ref reprimands Gedo but Goto glares at the traitor. White attacks from behind but the forearms barely do a thing. Goto DECKS White with a right!
Goto tells the ref to keep Gedo back, which he does. But this all distracts Goto from seeing White pick up a chair! White JAMS the chair into Goto’s back! White tucks the chair back under the ring and then plays innocent. The ref wants them to get this back in the ring, but White brings Goto up to RAM into railing! And again! The ref reprimands White but he just takes Goto around the way. White says hi to Katsuyori Shibata on Japanese commentary, before snap suplexing Goto into the railing! Shibata stands and the ref has to keep him at bay now. White hurries off into the ring to rest, and the ring count begins. The count climbs to 5, then 10 of 20. Goto stirs at 11 and crawls at 14. Goto rises at 17 and hops in at 18! But White is on that battered back with knee drop after knee drop!
White grabs a leg and turns Goto over for a Half Crab! Goto endures as White sits down deep. Fans rally up while Gedo taunts Goto. Goto powers up and crawls, reaches, and gets the ropebreak! But White holds on until the count of 4! Goto winces but White keeps the ref’s attention. Gedo yanks the blue corner’s buckle pad in the distraction! White whips Goto that way, and Goto hits bare buckles hard! Goto goes down, White covers, TWO! The Fierce Warrior won’t fall so easily, and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS is back and White is back on Goto with a chinlock. White digs his knee into Goto’s back, but Goto endures. Goto works his way up to his feet and fights back with body shots. White clubs Goto’s back to then throw him down by his hair! White drags Goto up but Goto blocks the suplex. Goto hits back with body shots again, but now White blocks the suplex. White clubs Goto’s back over and over, and over and over! But Goto fires up! Only for White to rake his eyes, and throw him down by his hair again! White soaks up the heat but Osaka rallies for Goto. White drags Goto up, dodges Goto’s retaliation and rocks him with a right. Goto stays on his feet, and dares White to hit him harder! White throws a BIG right forearm, but Goto still wants more! White throws another, and starts growing annoyed with Goto’s fighting spirit.
White throws forearm after forearm after forearm after forearm after forearm, but none of them slow Goto down! So White just keeps throwing more, and then adds European Uppercuts! Goto comes back with ONE BIG forearm and floors White! Goto whips White but White reverses, but Goto blocks the hip toss to give a hip toss! Osaka comes alive for Goto ash e runs at White. But White catches and EXPLODER SUPLEXES Goto out of the ring! The ref checks on Goto after he crashes and burns, but White adds on by whipping Goto. Goto reverses to send White into railing! Goto clotheslines White over! White is down in the gap but Goto goes after him. Goto drags White back to ringside, to whip into railing on the far side! White writhes but Goto won’t stop, he whips White back the other way! White falls to his knees but Goto drags him up to put into the ring.
Fans rally up as Goto catches his breath. Goto runs in, windmill kick in the corner! SAIDO SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! White survives but Goto is not deterred. Goto drags White up again but White clamps onto a leg. Goto clubs White then drags him up into a fireman’s carry. But White rakes eyes! White gets to the apron and holds onto the ref as he “apologizes.” Goto staggers over, White shoves the ref at Goto! Goto pushes the ref out of the way but White hotshots Goto! White slides in, DDT drops Goto! White watches Goto crawl while also getting himself to a corner. White runs corner to corner, BIG EuroUpper! Fireman’s carry, Death Valley DDT! Cover, TWO! White is frustrated but Osaka rallies up again.
White gives toying kicks and slaps to Goto, and then brings Goto up. Goto blocks the suplex and suplexes back, but his back holds him back. Goto still resists White’s suplex, spins out, but White forearms away! White whips but Goto reverses to reel White in, but White dodges to CHOP! White runs but Goto follows, White dodges to run again but Goto still follows. White dodges again, but Goto keeps going, only for White to follow now. Goto dodges now, only to run into a Complete Shot! DEAD LIFT GERMAN! White grits his teeth, but Goto is up to German Suplex him back! Goto keeps moving, LARIAT! Both men are down as we go to break!
NJPW on AXS returns as White drags Goto up. Goto elbows out of the sleeper, but White forearms him in the lower back. White grabs Goto again but Goto standing switches to throw White down by his hair, across Goto’s knee! Turnabout’s fair play! White and Goto crawl to opposite ends. Gedo is on White’s side but Osaka is on Goto’s. Goto runs in but misses in the corner, snap saido from White! White staggers and drags Goto over at the 20 minute mark. White hoists Goto up top and throws a forearm. White climbs to join Goto, but Goto resists the superplex with body shots. Goto headbutts White a few times, then drags White in. Goto stands up but White claws at his face! White clubs away on Goto, positions himself on the very top, SUPERPLEX! White rises fast and drags Goto up, but Goto gets him into the fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI!
Both men are down, but Osaka is rallying up again. Goto drags White up and into the dragon sleeper, but White drops to snapmare free. White clubs away on Goto, Goto fireman’s carries to the dragon sleeper! But White fights out with wild hands, only for Goto to suplex him up! White fights free, but swings into the dragon sleeper! White slips out, but Goto denies Blade Runner by pulling hair! Goto powers White down into position, headbutts away, but Gedo distracts the ref! LOW BLOW UPPERCUT! White sneaks it in and Osaka boos! Gedo backs off and White drags Goto up into the sleeper hold, SLEEPER SUPLEX! But White isn’t done there, he drags Goto up, only for Goto to HEADBUTT! And now, Goto drags White up, reels him in, fireman’s carry, but White elbows free. So Goto headbutts again! Goto has White up, for Reverse GTR!
But Goto is not done! He drags White up, suplexes, SHOTENKAI! Cover, TWO!? White survives and shocks Goto, but does not discourage him. Goto drags himself up as Osaka rallies again. Gedo distracts but gets DECKED! Goto has to catch his breath, but he fires up as he focuses his power. White ducks the kick, but walks into a fireman’s carry. White slips out again, has Goto in a dragon sleeper but flips him around, in position, but still no Blade Runner as Goto slips out! Goto has dragon sleeper, but White slips out, spins Goto around, SLEEPER SUPLEX! But Goto is up!? BUZZSAW! Fireman’s carry, G T W!! The fusion of Ushigoroshi and GTR! Cover, TWO!?! White survives?! But that only fires Goto up more! Dragon sleeper, TRUE GTR!! Cover, but Gedo YANKS the referee out!! Goto had this won and Gedo knew it!
Gedo laughs as he gets in the ring. He stalks Goto, but here comes SHIBATA! Shibata may not be an active competitor, but he can be an enforcer! Shibata gets rid of Gedo and tells Goto to finish this! Then he puts Gedo in a sleeper! Goto drags White up, but KENTA attacks!! The Bullet Club’s Fang Revived strikes while there’s no authority! He drags Goto up, fireman’s carry, GO TO SLEEP! Then he BOOTS Shibata on the way out! Fans boo but Bullet Club gets away with more shenanigans! The referee returns, and Kenta whips Shibata into railing! And then fires off vicious kicks! White drags Goto up despite being dead weight, for BLADE RUNNER! Cover, White wins!!
Winner: Jay White, by pinfall; still IWGP Intercontinental Champion
Or rather, Bullet Club won this match. Shibata risked a lot getting involved and paid for it at the hands of Kenta. White benefits the most by keeping his half of history going. Will White fight his way from here to another chance at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship? We will hear from The Switchblade after the break.
NJPW returns as Jay White speaks.
“Osaka~…!” The fans boo as White says he’ll keep this short. “I did what I said I was going to do, and Goto is done. Finished! Career over!” White promised this would happen. Goto lived up to be the embarrassment he always was. But White is the one who “single-handedly” sold out Madison Square Garden! White is the Last Rock ‘n’ Rolla, “and that’s rrrreeal!” White is still your IWGP Intercontinental Champion! “But wait, there’s more!” White again vows to be the first-ever dual Intercontinental AND Heavyweight Champion! And not the first night of Wrestle Kingdom, no, no. He vows to be on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 to go right up against the winner of Kota Ibushi VS Kazuchika Okada! Which means Ibushi and Okada should “come on down!”
White waits, and wonders where the top two guys have gone. But wait, it isn’t Ibushi or Okada that comes out, it’s NAITO! Fans cheer as Tetsuya Naito walks to the ring. White thinks Naito is here to congratulate White on winning tonight and soon becoming the first-ever- Naito stops White right there by snatching the mic. Naito says, “Holding the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight titles at the same time. The first man to accomplish this tremendous feat… Will be me.” So sorry about this, but Naito will need the Intercontinental Championship back. White understands what Naito’s up to and wants the mic back. But Naito isn’t giving it over. And now Ibushi heads out! The G1 Climax 29 winner, the Right to Challenge holder, and yet another man who declared himself the future historic dual champion, enters the ring!
Ibushi takes the mic to tell Naito and Jay that it’s been a while since he’s been in the ring with them. And Ibushi agrees about the double champion. Last January, Ibushi choose NJPW, “looking to change my life.” But there is someone out there who doesn’t agree with them. That is OKADA! Ibushi and Naito wait, but White “begs” Okada as an “old friend from Chaos” to appear. Well maybe Gedo should ask, he’s an older friend than White. Gedo doesn’t want to. But even so, Okada does appear! The Rainmaker makes his way to the ring, joining the three men who want his title as part of their mission. Okada gets on the mic to ask, “What did you say?” Ibushi wants to be a double champion, Naito wants to be a double champion and White wants to be a double champion. “What the hell are you thinking!?”
Okada holds up his belt, because he is proud to fight for THE IWGP title! THE title in NJPW! An IWGP Heavyweight Championship match, or a double title match? Okada repeats this question. Fans like the former, and aren’t so sure about the latter. So Okada asks again! IWGP Heayvweight Championship match? YAY~! Double Title Match? Boo~! Well, that’s still more than Okada expected. “So, on the subject of the Tokyo Dome… Naito, there was an election recently, wasn’t there?” Should they let the people vote for what they want to see? Naito considers it, and there’s a bit of a stand off. White takes up the mic and says, “That’s enough. All of you **** off, I want my confetti, this is my night!” Okada takes his leave, as does Ibushi. White refuses to accept Naito’s challenge. Naito reluctantly leaves and White says he wants to be announced as both the Intercontinental and soon to be FIRST-EVER DOUBLE CHAMPION! And then get the confetti!
But Naito stops on stage as Gedo explains to the ring announcer. The announcer does as White says, and White gets his confetti. Naito watches on, still aiming for his part of history. However, will that poll Okada mentioned go a way White doesn’t want? Is there going to be an even more historic match on the horizon?
My Thoughts:
A pretty good episode to start NJPW Power Struggle on AXS, though perhaps not the most exciting. Osaka wasn’t as loud as I would’ve expected, but as the usual order of AXS encores, the last part is usually first just to get the vies and ratings. Osaka might’ve been tired from action earlier in the night, but at the same time, the usual pace of a Goto and/or White match isn’t usually what excites. The story was all there, though. White is good at trolling and playing the long game, but things did liven up for the fans as the match reached the end. However, White beating Goto because of Bullet Club should’ve been obvious. It’s good ol’ fashioned Heel tactics, but perhaps too typical. Shibata getting involved was surprising, too. Is this them testing the waters to see if he’s getting better? It would be quite the amazing moment in wrestling if he came back from the head injury that took him out.
What was really intriguing was White being confronted by Naito but also getting the two men he wanted in Ibushi and Okada. Wrestle Kingdom 14 being two nights this year, there’s a chance we get both Naito VS White for the Intercontinental and Ibushi VS Okada for the Heavyweight title, and then each winner moves on to night two for THE historic match. Okada trying to get Osaka to respond to his question clearly took a couple times to get fans to respond, but I was really surprised NJPW fans weren’t as enthusiastic about a double championship match. I almost thought there’d be a Fatal 4 Way Winner Takes All, but NJPW doesn’t like matches that are more than 1v1 like that. The two separate title matches leading to the dual champion match is more likely, and would make for a good reason as to why WK14 is a two day event.
My Score: 8.3/10
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
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