NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: G1 Climax 29 FINALE!
Only one can win the 29th G1 Climax!
The 29th G1 Climax finally comes to an end!
Switchblade! Golden Star! Only one can win the G1 Climax and that Wrestle Kingdom 14 contract for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Kenta, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI; Bullet Club wins.
- Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr; Suzuki-Gun wins.
- G1 Climax 29 Finals: Kota Ibushi VS Jay White; Ibushi wins and earns the Wrestle Kingdom 14 title match contract.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scene for this epic G1 Climax Finals!
A new chapter will be written! Five weeks brings 20 down to two! The Golden Star returns to the finals, fueled by his commitment to NJPW! Kota Ibushi would drop to Kenta to a shocking 0-2 start, but would rally back with seven straight wins, including defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi in a G1 Climax 28 rematch and the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, to take the A Block! Meanwhile, Jay White would struggle in his own run, going 0-3. But The Switchblade would still take six straight, becoming Jon Moxley’s first defeat in NJPW and denying Tetsuya Naito his destiny. Ibushi and White meet 1v1 for the first time ever, but White took a cheap shot on Ibushi’s bad ankle. Does Ibushi stand a chance of winning the G1? Can he even stand at all?
Six Man Tag: Guerrillas of Destiny & Bad Luck Fale VS Kenta, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI!
Mr. Takeover joins Chaos’ Stone Pitbull and Headhunter against Bullet Club’s Firing Squad! Will Kenta be a wild card in helping Ishii and Hashi defeat the Rogue General and the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions?
There’s a lot of trash talking as the referee tries to get the teams to sort out. Hashi calms Kenta and Ishii down and volunteers. Bullet Club gives a Low Sweet and Fale steps up. The bell rings and the match begins!
Fale and Hashi circle and tie up. Fale knees low fast, then puts Hashi in an open corner. Fale climbs up but the ref reprimands him. Fale backs off, but tries a sucker punch! Hashi ducks and throws forearms in return! Hashi whips but Fale blocks with pure strength! Fale whips Hashi into the corner but Hashi dodges. Hashi comes back to hit a corner clothesline, then he whips Fale to ropes. Fale reverses but Hashi dropkicks and blockbusters! Fans cheer as Hashi clubs Fale and throws forearms. Hashi runs but Tama Tonga gets cheap shots in. Tama grabs Hashi and Fale runs in, but Hashi dodges to send Fale into Tama! Hashi then runs, only to get run over! Fale sucker punches Ishii before he stomps Hashi.
Fale drags Hashi up and to the Bullet Club corner. Tag to Tonga Loa, and Bullet Club mugs Hashi. The referee reprimands them, he sees Tama holding Hashi down. Loa SLAPS Hashi before he scoop slams him. Tama tags in and slingshot elbows in and is feeling good! Tama taunts Kenta then drags Hashi up. Tama snap suplexes Hashi to a corner, TWO! Tama drags Hashi up to tag Fale back in. Bullet Club mugs Hashi then Fale steps on Hashi. And again! And again, as he runs the ropes for an elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives that super heavyweight elbow, but Loa tags in. Loa and Fale stand on Hashi’s ribs! Bullet Club is having fun hurting Hashi while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns to Hashi being let back up. Loa tags Tama before lifting Hashi high in a waistlock. Tama springboards, flying foraerm German Suplex! Cover, TWO! Ishii rushes in and coaches Hashi up but Tama tells him to get back. Tama turns around into Hashi’s forearms! Tama punches low but Hashi breaks free. Hashi kicks, Tama catches it, and then Tama ducks the spinning heel kick! Tama laughs at Hashi before dragging Hashi up. Tama calls for the brain buster, but Hashi counters with his own suplex, into a neckbreaker! Both men are down and fans rally up. Hashi hot tags to Ishii, Tama gets to Loa. Loa and Ishii collide again and again, but Ishii staggers. Loa runs and rams Ishii but Ishii comes back on the rebound. Loa rebounds to get run over!
Ishii runs at Fale with a leaping forearm, but bounces off! Ishii is shocked while Fale is just mad. Fale storms in and throws hands. Ishii ducks, kicks and tries to suplex. But Fale is too big! Fale scoops and slams Ishii down, then bails out. Loa tackles Ishii to a corner! Then runs corner to corner for a big clothesline! Loa keeps moving and hits another clothesline! Loa mocks the Pitbull, but fans rally up. Loa drags Ishii up, scoops, and hits a running slam! Cover, TWO! Ishii survives but Loa just smirks. Tag to Tama and GoD double whip Ishii. Body shot, uppercut, but Gun Stun is denied! Ishii gives Loa a German Suplex! Ishii is down but crawling towards the corner. But Kenta doesn’t want the tag!? Kenta hops off the apron and Ishii is angry. But Tama hits a corner splash! Then feeds Ishii to a double SPEAR from Fale and Loa!
Tama climbs up high and leaps with a splash! Hashi gets in and braeks the cover! Loa attacks Hashi while Kenta just watches. Hashi reverses the whip and lariats Loa down! GUN STUN gets a glancing blow and Tama throws Hashi out. Ishii is up, GUN STUN countered into a slam! Fale runs at Ishii and whips him to a corner. Ishii dodges and kicks, and suplexes Fale! Fale rolls out of the ring and fans are thunderous. Ishii LARIATS Tama! Kenta runs in to attack Ishii!? The Psycho Knee hits the Stone Pitbull square! As does GO TO SLEEP! Kenta betrays Chaos and lets Tama cover. Bullet Club wins!
Winners: Bullet Club, Tama Tonga pinning
Hashi goes after Kenta, but he’s got Fale and the Guerrillas on him right away! Bullet Club even fights off the LA Dojo Young Lions! Kenta grabs a mic to speak, even as fans boo. But wait, Shibata runs in! And DECKS Kenta! Shibata rams and BOOTS Kenta in the corner! Fans are losing their minds as The Wrestler is throwing forearms on Kenta! Shibata forearms Tama away to then hammer away on Kneta. Loa runs in but even he gets a big forearm! BOOT for Fale! Shibata runs corner to corner for the basement dropkick! Then he drags Kenta into the sleeper hold! Fans are at a fever pitch, but Jado SMACKS Shibata! And Kenta gets Shibata with his own sleeper! Jado SMACKS Shibata in the stomach!
Shibata fades out and Kenta runs to Penalty Kick!! Despite everything Shibata was just doing, he’s NOT an active wrestler, nor cleared to compete! But Tama SMACKS away with Jado’s kendo stick and chokes Shibata out! Kenta adds insult to injury as he sits on Shibata with Shibata’s own signature cross-legged pose. Bullet Club has a new member in #FangRevived! Tama’s cryptic Tweet is confirmed! What happens to NJPW now that Bullet Club has added this treacherous snake to the arsenal?
NJPW Media Backstage Interview
Bullet Club is feeling good as they arrive. This is a beautiful day, because it is Bullet Club Day! Actually, every day is Bullet Club Day, but this is an extra special day. They told the world they had recruited a “high caliber athlete.” Who is that? It’s “one of the greatest, if not the best” in this generation, KENTA! When Tama came to Japan, Kenta was dominant. Tama respects Kenta, who was brave enough to “go abroad and try something new.” But now Kenta is back, so thank God he’s back on Bullet Club’s side! They can use his energy, his vengeance, and the determination to prove Kenta wasn’t a fluke. Bullet Club is going to help Kenta reach the very top of his game! They closed out the G1 with a bang, huh? What a feeling. To think the fans were booing that. Shibata must’ve been happy he got cheered like that. He should thank Kenta for that. But today is a new beginning. Keep your eyes on Kenta, he’s just getting started.
As for Shibata, he wants to know what Kenta was saying. The reporters inform him, and Shibata’s response: “Do you know what I went through for that guy?” How much it took to get Kenta into NJPW? Kenta doesn’t understand a thing. But whatever. Shibata will let Kenta find his own path with his new buddies. When and where will Kenta face the consequences of turning on The Wrestler?
Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr!
The all-star duo of the century reunites once more to take on the meanest tag team in the world! Will Rainmaker and Ace make up for their losses in the G1 against the King of Pancrase and the Submission Master? Or will they #JustTapOut?
The teams sort out and Tanahashi starts against ZSJ. Fans are already on Tanahashi’s side with the bell. They circle and feel out the grapple. ZSJ waistlocks but Tanahashi standing switches to a full nelson. ZSJ slips out and spins around but Tanahashi switches with him to get the headlock. ZSJ spins through to a keylock but Tanahashi resists and actually bridges ZSJ. ZSJ spins and reverses to a double wristlock to bring Tanahashi down for headscissors. ZSJ squeezes tight and pushes up to crank the neck. Then he drops back down to keep Tanahashi grounded. Tanahashi works his way up to a headstand, and bridges, only for ZSJ to dig knuckles into ribs. The referee reprimands ZSJ but Tanahashi works around to roll ZSJ over. Tanahashi pops out to get the Bow ‘n’ Arrow! But ZSJ pops out to a cover, ONE!
Tanahashi throws ZSJ with a headlock takeover, but ZSJ works up and around to his feet. ZSJ powers out and runs in, but gets an elbow. Tanahashi hops up for a second rope crossbody! Fans fire up as Tanahashi hits Suzuki for good measure. Okada comes in to help Tanahashi whip ZSJ and elbow him down. Suzuki protests but Okada just punches him off the apron. Tanahashi leaps to drop an elbow, but ZSJ catches it into an armbar! Suzuki has Okada in a hanging armbar, but the ref counts him. Suzuki lets go while Tanahashi gets a ropebreak. ZSJ holds on as Suzuki sends Okada into barriers! ZSJ drags Tanahashi up while Suzuki laces Okada’s arm through the rails! ZSJ drags Tanahashi out to do the same on the other side! Red Shoes has a hard time keeping up with both crafty wrestlers.
ZSJ gives Tanahashi a European Uppercut and gets back in the ring while Okada starts brawling with Suzuki. The ring count begins on Tanahashi, and Suzuki ROCKS Okada. Tanahashi climbs up at 10 of 20 and in at 11. ZSJ is on Tanahashi with a hammerlock stomp! Suzuki returns to the corner to tag in. Suzuki stands on Tanahashi’s head until Tanahashi pushes him away. These familiar foes start throwing forearms, and Suzuki ROCKS Tanahashi. Suzuki kicks Tanahashi over then kicks Okada off the apron! Suzuki sneers before going back to Tanahashi with a snapmare. Suzuki digs his knee into Tanahashi’s back while pulling the arms back. ZSJ tags in and he grabs a leg! Armbar and leglock on Tanahashi, then switch so that they keep the holds! And then switch to opposite sides! Red Shoes counts and Suzuki-Gun finally lets up on Tanahashi. Tanahashi crawls for his corner while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as ZSJ drags Tanahashi up by the arm. ZSJ wrenches deep but Tanahashi forearms free! Tanahashi keeps throwing forearms but ZSJ hits back. ZSJ whips but Tanahashi reverses into a standing abdominal stretch! ZSJ switches and they go around, ZSJ getting the stretch on Tanahashi now. Fans rally as Tanahashi endures. Tanahashi slips around to reverse the hold back on ZSJ! ZSJ pries free and gets a leg, but so does Tanahashi! Tanahashi Dragon Screws ZSJ’s leg! Both men are down and fans rally up. Hot tag to Okada! Okada throws forearms then whips, but ZSJ reverses. Okada dodges the boot to elbow ZSJ down! Budokan fires up with Okada as he elbows Suzuki off the apron. Okada goes to ZSJ in the corner with a whip. He hits a big back elbow, then drops ZSJ with a DDT! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally up as Okada drags ZSJ to his feet. Okada scoops and slams ZSJ to then go up top. Okada leaps, but has to roll through as ZSJ dodges. ZSJ runs in but is caught in the Alabama lift. But ZSJ reverses it into an Octopus! Only for Okada to power through back to Alabama position. But ZSJ fights free to wrench and Pele the arm! Tag to Suzuki, and he runs at Okada in a corner for a helluva boot. Then he snapmares Okada down for a Penalty Kick! Cover, TWO! Suzuki sits Okada up for a basement boot! Suzuki grabs an arm and hammerlocks it to grab the other arm! Suzuki wrenches the arm but Tanahashi runs in to kick at Suzuki. Suzuki just takes the shots as he tortures Okada’s arm. Tanahashi keeps kicking but Suzuki just gets annoyed. Suzuki leans into Tanahashi’s forearms before giving back a knee!
Suzuki returns to Okada while Tanahashi slumps away. Okada fires off forearms and uppercuts, but Suzuki knees him, too. Suzuki has a front guillotine, then spins Okada around into piledriver position. But Okada counters into Alabama position, Air Raid Crash neckbreaker! Fans rally up as both men are down. Both men crawl for their corners, hot tags to Tanahashi and ZSJ! Tanahashi blocks another kick but ZSJ fights off the dragon screw. They start throwing hands but Tanahashi has the edge. ZSJ dodges to EuroUpper, but Tanahashi throws a big palm strike! Tanahashi runs, but into the Iron Octopus! Tanahashi endures as ZSJ pulls on the arms. Tanahashi powers out and has the leg, but ZSJ gets the arm again! Tanahashi still fights, and turns it into Twist ‘n’ Shout! Tanahashi runs and hits a big Slingblade! Cover, but Suzuki breaks it!
Okada goes after Suzuki and tosses him out. Tanahashi heads up top while Okada keeps Suzuki against barriers. Tanahashi is up top, High Fly Flow gets knees! And ZSJ has a Triangle Hold! Tanahashi flails and reaches, and bridges to a cover! TWO as ZSJ lets go! ZSJ hits a stiff Penalty kick! Fans are fired up as both men are down. Okada and Suzuki return to their corners, hot tags to Okada and Suzuki! Okada shotgun dropkicks Suzuki into the corner! Then he brings Suzuki out for a scoop slam! Okada heads up top, keeping to his formula. Macho Elbow hits! Fans fire up with the RAINMAKER POSE~! Okada drags Suzuki up, wristlocks but Suzuki elbows free. Okada just stares Suzuki down and they start brawling with big forearms! Neither backs down. In fact, Okada dares Suzuki to give him another.
Suzuki obliges and then dares Okada to do the same. Okada hits back but Suzuki hits harder! Okada returns the forearm but Suzuki keeps egging him on. Suzuki has a wild grin as Okada’s forearms do nothing to him. Suzuki’s one forearm ROCKS Okada again. Okada falls to his knees but fans rally up for him. Okada stands, Suzuki whips but Okada reverses. Suzuki holds ropes to deny Okada his dropkick! Okada sits up to get the Penalty Kick! Suzuki drags Okada up in a sleeper hold! Then spins him around, Gotch, but Tanahshi hits a Slingblade! Then a Slingblade for ZSJ! Tanahashi slingshots out to take down ZSJ! Okada has Suzuki with a dropkick to the back! Okada drags Suzuki back up, whips but Suzuki reverses. Suzuki follows, slides around, sleeper hold! But Okada spins out to ripcord, but Suzuki dodges to get the sleeper back!
Suzuki has the Gotch hold, but Okada manages a back drop! But Suzuki is right up to boot Okada! Okada rebounds but his boot is countered. Tilt-o-whirl from Suzuki?! Into the sleeper hold! ZSJ intercepts Tanahashi with a flying guillotine! Suzuki has Okada fading out! Then spins him for the Gotch, PILEDRIVER! Cover, Suzuki-Gun wins!!
Winners: Suzuki-Gun, Minoru Suzuki pinning
The Meanest Man in the World pins the IWGP Heavyweight Champion! And ZSJ chokes Tanahashi out just because! Is the G1 snub not going to matter now? Suzuki grabs a mic to tell Okada, “They wouldn’t even let me into the G1, and you lost to me? How embarrassing.” Suzuki stomps Okada until he’s out of the ring, and ZSJ shoves Tanahashi out, too. “I’ll put it simply for all of you.” If you put Suzuki in a match with “that group of playmates,” this is what happens. Okada, listen to this next part before you run home. To Okada and ALL of NJPW! “The IWGP Heavyweight Belt… GIVE IT TO ME!” Don’t try to wriggle out of it this time, either! Suzuki will never run away. He is the KING of pro-wrestling. Suzuki tells Budokan, “Suzuki-Gun, Ichiban!” Will the King of Pancrase be number one in NJPW?
G1 Climax 29 Finals: Kota Ibushi VS Jay White!
Both men struggled, but both men found a way to overcome and become the best in their respective blocks. A Block and B Block finally collide! Ibushi has already beaten Okada in their G1 encounter, but White has already proven he can be IWGP Heavyweight Champion once. Whose determination will carry them through to the very end?
Despite White promising he wouldn’t bring Gedo out, it was all a sham. That, and he now has all of Bullet Club ringside! But Ibushi has the fans solidly on his side. Red Shoes says that even before the match, Bullet Club is EJECTED!! White and Gedo try to reason with him, but Red Shoes has had enough of Bullet Club’s antics as of late. Gedo negotiates, and he is allowed to stay, so long as he stays strictly by the blue corner. But the rest of Bullet Club is gone from ringside. White’s plan is foiled, the bell finally rings, and the G1 Climax Finals truly begins!
White dares Ibushi to do something, knowing full well what he did to Ibushi’s ankle. But then White bails out to talk with Gedo, specifically staying by the blue corner as promised. White dares Ibushi to come out and get him but Ibushi stays inside, daring White to fight. White returns and the two circle. Fans are of course still on Ibushi’s side and it annoys White. White and Ibushi stare down then tie up. Ibushi manages to push White to ropes, but he honors the ropebreak with pats on the shoulder. But then he avoids White’s sucker punch kick! Only for Gedo to swipe at him! White gets Ibushi’s bad leg but Ibushi has the ropes, so Red Shoes backs White right off. Red Shoes confronts Gedo, and finally EJECTS Gedo! White and Gedo try to reason with Red Shoes again but Red Shoes has drawn the line. Ibushi grabs White and puts him back in the ring!
Ibushi dodges, kicks and whips White. White reverses but Ibushi comes back with a flying enziguri! White bails out but Ibushi gets him right back in, for a dropkick! Fans fire up with Ibushi while White bails out again. Ibushi takes aim, runs to the corner, but White stops the Golden Triangle with a chop block! Ibushi is caught in the corner, and White pulls the bad leg against the crossbars! Red Shoes reprimands White and White lets up. White drags Ibushi up to whip him into railing! White stomps Ibushi and puts his leg through railing to pull on the bad ankle! Fans boo and Red Shoes again reprimands White. White lets up, then drags Ibushi to the ring. White puts Ibushi in, only to swing Ibushi’s leg into the post! Fans boo again as White slams Ibushi’s leg on the apron. White gets in the ring and flexes but fans still boo.
White drags Ibushi up and snap suplexes him down. Ibushi clutches the bad leg but White is on it with a grounded dragon screw. Cover, ONE! Fans rally but White is on Ibushi. Ibushi fires forearms first, but White CHOPS him down. White drags Ibushi up for another snap suplex. Ibushi’s bad leg continues to take the worse landing, but then White Half Hatch suplexes Ibushi into buckles! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Ibushi guts it out. White toys with Ibushi, wanting him to stand up. Ibushi slowly stands, and throws forearms on White. White knees low then runs, Ibushi leaps up, but White counters the huricanrana into a takedown and grounded dragon screw! White says, “No, no, no,” he’s too smart for Ibushi. White watches as Ibushi rolls and crawls to the corner. White runs in, but blocks the good leg’s boot. He grabs the bad leg, but Ibushi enziguris with the good leg!
Ibushi hobbles after White but White kicks the bad leg. Ibushi still jumps for a Snap-Rana! Fans rally up as White goes to a corner now. Ibushi grits his teeth and runs back in, only to get a boot. White runs, but into a powerslam! Ibushi hops on one leg for a moonsault! Cover, TWO! Fans continue to rally and Ibushi continues to fight through the pain. White slowly gets up but Ibushi drags him up. Ibushi fires off a strike fest, and manages a roundhouse to standing moonsault! Now Ibushi says, “No, no, no,” he’s too tough for White. Ibushi flips again, but White gets clear of the moonsault knee drop! Ibushi’s knees smash ring mat! White catches his breath while Ibushi clutches his legs. White stands and grins before he drags Ibushi up for a fast DDT!
Ibushi goes to a corner and White runs in, big EuroUpper! Knee-jammer! White shoves Ibushi out for a Blade Buster twisting suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Ibushi but White is on him first. White wants the inverted figure four but Ibushi pushes him away. Ibushi kicks from the mat and gets away from White. Ibushi jumps over the chop block to double stomp White’s back! Fans continue to give Ibushi life as he goes back to White. Ibushi scoops but White resists. White fights back, stomping the bad foot! Ibushi still kicks with the good foot! Only to walk into the Complete Shot and deadlift German! But White can’t bridge, so Ibushi is spared for the moment. White hobbles over to Ibushi and drags him up to the top rope. White goes after the bad leg again then he CHOPS Ibushi back.
White climbs up, but Ibushi fights White off! White hammers away on Ibushi’s leg and even rakes the eyes! White tries again, from the very top rope, for SUPERPLEX! The Switchblade drags Ibushi up and wants the fisherman, but Ibushi manages to counter to a PACKAGE TOMBSTONE! Both men are down but the fans are loving this! Ibushi rises first, and throws a forearm from his knees. White sits up to return the favor. Ibushi forearms again, but White again returns it. They continue to go back and forth, even as they stand up. Ibushi rocks White, but gives him more forearms. White falls to the mat, and fans fire up as Ibushi sits White up. White hits big body shots and a strike fest! BIG lariat! But Ibushi sits up!? Only to run into a massive urenage! White drags Ibushi up, fisherman lift, KIWI KRUSHER! Cover, TWO!!
Ibushi survives but White grabs his arm. White slashes the throat and drags Ibushi up, but Ibushi slips around to a roll-up. White rolls out and blocks the knee! Half nelson but Ibushi standing switches to use the Half ‘n’ Half first! Both men are down but Ibushi is rising. Fans fire up as Ibushi drags White up. Ibushi scoops White again but White fights free, only to get a mule kick. But White throws Ibushi into Red Shoes! And a low blow uppercut! Typical Jay White. And with no referee to keep order, Gedo comes out with a big smile on his face. Gedo throws a chair to white! White chop blocks Ibushi back down before he gets the chair. Gedo holds Ibushi’s leg for White to SMACK it! And SMACK it! Ibushi is clutching his ankle while Gedo gets away with the chair. White grabs the leg for another grounded dragon screw! And then, the inverted figure four, #TTO!
Ibushi endures as Gedo puts Red Shoes in the ring! Red Shoes slowly revives as White has Ibushi trapped! But fans rally up and Ibushi crawls towards ropes! White wrenches and bridges as hard as he can but Ibushi holds onto Red Shoes to avoid tapping out. Ibushi powers his way forward, even with White’s weight on his legs, for the ROPEBREAK! White holds on until Red Shoes counts, and fans boo again. Ibushi clutches his leg while Gedo is hiding from Red Shoes. White drags Ibushi up but Ibushi keeps hold of the rope. Red Shoes checks on Ibushi, but Ibushi refuses to quit over this. Ibushi drags himself up and White is right on him! Ibushi resists the sleeper suplex and hits a PELE on one good leg! Both men are down again, but Ibushi sits up first. Ibushi roars and fans fire up with him. Ibushi scoops White, and heads for a corner, to LONG DART! White crashes down and is dazed while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns, and Ibushi drags White up from the apron. Fans know what Ibushi wants here, but so does White. White resists the waistlock but Ibushi still lifts him up! DEADLIFT SUPER GERMAN! Cover, TWO!! White survives but Ibushi won’t give up here. Ibushi stands and drags White back up. White resists the powerbomb lift, even as Ibushi tries again and again. White clubs away at the bad ankle, then throws a SLAPPING palm strike! That just flipped Ibushi’s switch! White starts to laugh but Ibushi SLAPS him back! And SLAPS and SLAPS and SLAPS! Ibushi kicks White to a corner then throws more slapping strikes! White can only cover up as Ibushi kicks him. Red Shoes backs Ibushi off, but Ibushi dares White to man up!
White gets up and hobbles up to Ibushi. They go forehead to forehead, and White slaps, only for Ibushi to immediately SLAP him down! Fans are thunderous for Ibushi as he drags White back up. But White dragon screws outta nowhere! White drags Ibushi back up, but Ibushi point-blank LARIATS! Ibushi has White up in the powerbomb, sit-out LAST RIDE! Cover, TWO!! White still lives but Ibushi has more to give. Ibushi goes to the corner, “YAO~!” But White drops down to avoid Ibushi’s shout out to the King of Strong Style. Ibushi tries but White is dead weight on purpose. Red Shoes reprimands White but White laughs and eggs Ibushi on. White uses Red Shoes as a shield, so that Red Shoes doesn’t see Gedo run in! But Ibushi ducks Gedo’s attack to ROUNDHOUSE Gedo back out! But then White hits the SLEEPER SUPLEX! Only for Ibushi to stand right up! BOMAYE to the back!
White and Ibushi are both down, and Red Shoes realizes Gedo is here. Red Shoes tells Rocky Romero to help get Gedo out. Rocky does as asked and Ibushi sits up! Ibushi aims at White, “YAO~” for another BOMAYE!! Cover, TWO!?! White survives but barely! Ibushi still has one more move up his proverbial sleeve. He stands White up with the wristlocks but White kicks the ankle. Ibushi kicks back but White knocks Ibushi over. Ibushi throws forearms from the floor, then roars. White just kicks the leg more, but he gets a ROUNDHOUSE from the good leg! Ibushi has wild eyes as he ROUNDHOUSES White again! Ibushi drags White up, wristlocks, but White counters to BLADE RUNNER!! But he can’t cover, he’s too exhausted! White crawls over, but he doesn’t cover?! White has Ibushi’s arm, drags him up, reels Ibush in cross-armed, but Ibushi resists! Ibushi headbutts White!
Ibushi still has the wrists, straitjacket German Suplex! But he holds on and turns White over, KAMIG- SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! White has Ibushi again, for another Sleeper Suplex! And then another cross-arm lift, BRAINBUSTER! But White won’t end it there, he drags Ibushi right back up, but Ibushi spins out of Blade Runner for a V-Trigger! Then he tries again, but White slips out! White wants Blade Runner but Ibushi standing switches and hits another V-Trigger! And another! And finally, with both wrists, KAMIGOYE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Just what helped White do that?! But Ibushi shows no mercy, KAMIGOYE AGAIN!! Cover, Ibushi wins!!!
Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall; wins the G1 Climax 29
The Golden Star makes a dream come true! It took so much out of him, but Ibushi has completed a historic Triple Crown. Ibushi has won Best of the Super Juniors, the New Japan Cup, and now the G1 Climax! He is presented with the G1 trophy and banner, and then the microphone to speak to Budokan.
“The G1 tournament has made this the most important month of my life.” Last year, he lost in the finals. But a year later, he would still make it to the finals. And this time, he won, so he is very happy. Ibushi says it is thanks to the efforts of all 20 wrestlers in the G1. He may be repeating himself, but avenging his loss is awesome! Fans cheer and chant his name once again. Ibushi wants to continue building NJPW to be bigger and bigger, together with everyone. It may not be his place, but he earned this closing speech, so he wants to say this now. NJPW and all of pro-wrestling will be huge! This is a new era for NJPW! Please come along with them, and thank you for everything! See you again at the next G1!
With that, Ibushi walks around the ring to reach a hand out to all the fans cheering. He shakes hands with commentary, the timekeepers, then returns to the ring to once again hold up the trophy and banner as streamers fly! Is the Golden Star Era going to truly take over NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom? Will Ibushi still meet The Rainmaker for the title? Or will someone else take Okada’s place in Tokyo?
NJPW Media Backstage Interview
As tired as Ibushi is, he is able to celebrate. “How brutal the G1 would be…” Ibushi was waiting for it for a whole year. “And somehow, I managed to seize it.” Ibushi worked so hard to take the cup. Now he understands. Ibushi thought he knew, but he was just pretending. He is incredibly happy. Can they tell? “It is the absolute best.” Ibushi repeats “the best” as he hands out beers for a toast. He makes sure everyone has one. “Okay, let’s do this!” All together, CHEERS! Ibushi chugs down the Miller and again says he’s incredibly happy. He thanks the fans for their support. Will Ibushi take this win all the way to the top of NJPW?
My Thoughts:
It may be a couple weeks late, but what a great end to the G1 Climax on AXS! We got the major plot points from the finale event, too. Kenta joining Bullet Club was a big surprise, even though it was clear something was up from him not starting and then ditching the tag. While Guerrillas of Destiny and Jay White have had a good run coming out of the lackluster non-end to the feud with The Elite, the rest of the Bullet Club hasn’t done much. With Kenta in there, and Fale looking legit again, they could make another run for having a lot of gold in their ranks. Meanwhile, Okada’s dance card before Wrestle Kingdom grows even longer. Sanada has a shot because he finally beat The Rainmaker, Ibushi would’ve had a claim whether or not he won tonight, and now Minoru Suzuki is after him!
Okada-Tanahashi VS Suzuki-Gun was a great match! Suzuki winning while ZSJ went after Tanahashi sets up some great title feuds with ZSJ perhaps putting his Rev-Pro title on the line out of arrogance. Suzuki’s story comes full circle, having not been in the G1 but earning a shot the old fashioned way, and it works as a replacement since Ibushi is going to have his shot because of the G1 Climax win. Sanada also has history with Suzuki, so the insane chance of Cold Skull taking the title off Okada to then defend it against Suzuki would make for an interesting lead into Wrestle Kingdom. Ibushi VS White was also a great match, and Ibushi winning was just the right call on so many levels. White has such Heel Heat, the fans would not want him to win. Ibushi is so over the fans would not want him to lose. And Ibushi dedicated himself to NJPW and that’s legit, so NJPW is giving him the push for that reason. It all came together for the Golden Star tonight.
At the same time, Ibushi will have to defend his contract like a title in itself, and you can imagine Bullet Club will want that. Kenta beat Ibushi in the very first round, so there is grounds for Kenta to want a shot. That would make for a great match, and another great test for Ibushi’s character to make it through his own string of challengers to parallel Okada. As for White, he beat both Moxley and Naito, who are both champions right now. Sadly we heard Moxley has an elbow infection, but hopefully it isn’t so serious as to keep him out of action in NJPW. Naito can still defend his title against White to keep his story of his dual championship destiny going. And of course, Naito VS Ibushi for the third time in 2019 can still happen somehow, perhaps even contract for title so that somehow someone potentially could become dual Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion.
My Score: 9.5/10
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)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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
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)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
4 Corners Podcast: Did The Red Sox Panic?
Dave & Patrick discuss a seismic shift in Boston as the Red Sox clean house. Plus, NFL Draft thoughts and...
4 Corners Podcast: NHL & NBA Playoff Preview
Dave & PC Tunney preview the NHL & NBA Playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: The Masters, NBA & MLB
Join Patrick and Dave weekly as they explore the 4 Corners of the American sports scene.
4 Corners Podcast: College Madness
The guys recap the Final Four, discuss March Madness expanding, and discuss an Executive Order that the guys actually agree...
4 Corners Podcast: Return to the Dance
Illinois & Arizona return to the Big Dance. Plus, lots of other March Madness talk, the latest Tiger Woods debacle,...
Bandwagon Nerds #338: Impossible Choices
Your favorite Nerds review the season finale of Invincible, as well as continuing their review of Daredevil: Born Again and...
Bandwagon Nerds #337: Parallels & Purpose
The NERDS continue to review Invincible, Daredevil, and The Boys. Plus, we take a look at the new trailer for...
Bandwagon Nerds #336: Invincible, Daredevil, The Boys… Oh My!
Don't miss the Bandwagon, NERDS!
Bandwagon Nerds #335: Glenn Gets His Revenge!
The Nerds check out trailers for Master of the Universe and Supergirl, and break down tremendous episodes of Invincible and...
Bandwagon Nerds #334: To Hell and Back Again!
The Nerds go to hell and back again as we cover diabolically good episodes of Invincible and Daredevil: Born Again!
-
Podcasts7 days agoGreg DeMarco Show: WrestleMania 42 – Know What You’re Watching
-
AEW Results6 days agoMitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (4/22/26)
-
Results4 days agoMitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/24/26)
-
Results5 days agoAndrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.23.2026