NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: G1 Climax 29, Part 7!
This is it for B Block!
B Block reaches its conclusion!
The Golden Star represents A Block, but who will represent B Block in the G1 Climax 29 Finals?! Will it be the Death Rider, the Fierce Warrior, the Switchblade, or the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Toru Yano VS Jeff Cobb; Cobb wins.
- Tomohiro Ishii VS Taichi; Taichi wins.
- Jon Moxley VS Juice Robinson; Robinson wins.
- Shingo Takagi VS Hirooki Goto; Takagi wins.
- Jay White VS Tetsuya Naito; White wins and meets Kota Ibushi in the G1 Climax 29 Finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scene for the other penultimate Climax!
There’s a four-way fight to the finish to see who meets Kota Ibushi in THE G1 Climax Finals! Death Rider Jon Moxley was the front runner early, but has lost to the Switchblade as well as Chaos’ Fierce Warrior and Clown Prince! Now Mox, Goto, White and Naito are equals at 10 points! Moxley must determine his own fate in a non-title rematch against the Flamboyant Juice Robinson! Meanwhile, Goto faces a Muscle Dragon while White and Naito could surely determine the entire block on their own! Who survives the B Block traffic jam to meet the Golden Star?
Toru Yano VS Jeff Cobb!
The phrase “mathematically eliminated” means NOTHING to the jokester and the juggernaut! Who comes away with points of pride on the final night of B Block action?
The bell rings and fans cheer Yano. Cobb wants Yano to take his shirt off, though, so there aren’t any shenanigans. Wait what is that in his pants? The referee checks, and sees a lot of tape rolls. Yano admits he was sneaking them, but Cobb suspects something more. Wait there’s a fourth roll in Yano’s booty! Yano admits to that, to, but he wants Cobb double checked. There’s nothing extra to find! Yano says to check the booty and Cobb turns around, for Yano to roll him up! TWO, but Yano is right on Cobb by tucking Cobb’s arms into his own singlet! Cobb’s singlet is a trap! Yano rolls Cobb up again, TWO! Cobb tries to kip-up but with no arms, it doesn’t work. He gets up and pulls his arms back out, and fans applaud Yano’s ingenuity. However, Yano does apologize to Cobb and offers a handshake. Cobb takes it, but Yano’s death grip barely makes him flinch. Cobb’s grip makes Yano fall to the mat!
Cobb grins as he brings Yano up for a whip. Yano holds the ropes, then dodges to bail out of the ring. Yano goes out past the blue rails towards the fans. Fans cheer him on, so Yano returns ringside. The referee keeps Cobb back but Yano is egging him on. And then Yano goes for the buckle pad! Yano frees “Luke” but Cobb throws Yano back in! Cobb wants to help put “Luke” back on but Yano’s after “Tom”, the other pad! “Tom” is free but Yano kicks him aside as Cobb runs in! Cobb whips Yano but Yano stops himself! Yano dodges but Cobb stops himself before hitting bare buckles. Yano runs in but gets those buckles! And then gets thrown overhead! Cobb says no more shenanigans, time for forearms! He throws many forearms, then runs, but Yano grabs hair. Cobb gives more forearms then whips, but Yano reverses to belly2belly Cobb!
Fans fire up for Yano’s legit wrestling skills, but he takes too long with his #YTR taunt. Cobb runs in but somehow Yano ducks the clothesline! Yano smacks Cobb in the head, then runs, only to run into a lariat! Cobb looms over Yano while doing a #Gachimuchi version of the YTR taunt, then the standing moonsault! Cover, TWO! Yano barely survives and Cobb is a little shocked. Cobb blocks Yano’s low blow uppercut, but Yano dodges the clothesline to shove Cobb at the ref! Cobb stops himself in time, but also turns to stop Yano from another low blow attempt. Yano dodges, and has the ref as a shield! The ref reprimands Yano but Cobb runs at them both. Yano dodges and pushes the referee away, to low blow mule kick! But Cobb catches that, too! And uses it to spin Yano around for a SUPERKICK! Cobb takes Yano on a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS! Cover, Cobb wins!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall
The Hawaiian Juggernaut finishes his G1 debut with a win because he took Yano seriously. Will Cobb only get stronger from here?
Tomohiro Ishii VS Taichi!
The Stone Pitbull and the World’s Sliest Wrestler meet again in hopes of finishing the G1 strong. Will Taichi not only end with a win but with a win over the current NEVER Openweight Champion? Or will Ishii deny Taichi two birds with one stone?
The bell rings and Taichi goes right at Ishii with an ax bomber! Then a saido suplex! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives this shockingly aggressive opening, but Taichi isn’t letting up. Taichi tries to lift Ishii, and does, but Ishii fights out of the bomb. Taichi boots Ishii down and fans rally. Ishii blocks a new saido and clubs Taichi off. Taichi boots Ishii again and Ishii is down in a corner. Fans rally for Ishii as Taichi kicks at him. The referee backs Taichi off and Ishii slowly sits up. Taichi comes back to stomp Ishii and grind a foot into him. The referee again reprimands Taichi but Taichi drags Ishii up. Ishii flops down but drags himself up. Taichi has Ishii but Ishii headbutts, so Taichi kicks him down! Taichi whips Ishii to a corner but Ishii comes back with a shoulder! Taichi staggers back but returns with a shoulder of his own, and runs Ishii over!
Fans rally and duel now as Taichi looms over Ishii. Taichi kicks at Ishii, toying with him. Ishii sits up but Taichi stomps him back down. Taichi continues to toy with Ishii before he snapmares and swiftly kicks Ishii in the back! And again! Ishii sits up and those kicks just start to anger him. Ishii grits his teeth as he stands, only to get kicks to his leg! Taichi runs, but into a powerslam! Both men are down but fans rally up. Taichi and Ishii crawl to opposite ends, and Ishii runs in corner to corner. Ishii misses and gets an enziguri! Ishii drops down but Taichi won’t let up. The buzzsaw is blocked, Ishii ROCKS Taichi with a forearm then throws him with a German Suplex! Taichi crashes down and both men are again crawling to opposite ends.
Ishii fires up and runs in, but Taichi boots. Taichi kicks but Ishii eggs him on. Ishii chops, Taichi kicks, repeat! Neither man backs down, they only pick up speed! Taichi gets an edge and has Ishii hobbling. He whips Ishii but Ishii reverses to hit a BIG corner clothesline! Ishii drags Taichi up and hoists him to the top rope. Ishii climbs up to join Taichi, and fans fire up as Taichi resists. But Ishii still gets Taichi up for a stalling SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives but Ishii is just fired up more. Ishii waits for Taichi to stand, and Taichi slowly rises. Ishii runs, but the lariat is blocked. Ishii dodges ax bomber to hit a back suplex of his own! But Taichi stands right up! Only to get an ax bomber from Ishii! Ishii drags Taichi back up and runs, Sliding Lariat! Cover, TWO!!
Ishii won’t stop, he drags Taichi back up. Suplex, but Taichi slips out to boot. Taichi throws Ishii into buckles then enziguris him in the back! Both men are down again but fans still rally and duel. Taichi sits up first while Ishii writhes. Taichi stands up first, but Ishii follows. Ishii blocks a clothesline with a clothesline, but Taichi dodges the enziguri! Taichi hits the buzzsaw! Taichi catches his breath before preparing his arm. Ishii stands and gets another ax bomber! Cover, TWO!! Ishii still lives but Taichi wants to end this. Taichi powerbomb lifts but Ishii back drops out! Ishii runs into a roundhouse, ax bomber to the back! Another enziguri! And now Taichi has Ishii, LAST RIDE! Cover, TWO!? Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous!
Both men hear the fans dueling again as they stir. Taichi is up and rips off the pants! He powers up and aims at Ishii. Ishii dodges but runs into an Alabama lift, only to fight out of Black Mephisto! Ishii lifts Taichi but Taichi slips out. Taichi’s kick is blocked by a clothesline! Ishii backs up to run in, but into a boot! He comes around from the left, but Taichi tanks the lariat! To ROCK Ishii with that right! Taichi tries another ax bomber, Ishii doesn’t budge! Ishii headbutts Taichi down! Ishii fires up as fans are thunderous again! Taichi slowly stands, Ishii runs, HUGE LARIAT! Cover, TWO!?! Taichi shocks Ishii now! But Ishii roars again as fans hit a fever pitch. Ishii suplexes, but Taichi fights out. Ishii spins Taichi around for another try but Taichi slips out to hook kick, then mule kick! ROUNDHOUSE! SAIDO!
Ishii staggers to his feet, ENZIGURI from Taichi! But he’s up again?! Taichi gives Ishii another saido! Cover, TWO!?! Is Ishii made of stone or steel?! Taichi still has one thing left to try. He aims from a corner, but Ishii blocks the superkick to give an enziguri! Taichi shakes it off, SUPERKICK! Alabama, BLACK MEPHISTO!! Cover, Taichi wins!!
Winner: Taichi, by pinfall
Miho Abe is so proud of him! Taichi not only gets one last win in the G1, but he just pinned the NEVER Openweight Champion, without cheating once! Can this Taichi be the one that shines brightest of all?
Jon Moxley VS Juice Robinson!
The first time these two met, it was for the IWGP United States Championship, and the Flamboyant One would lose the gold to the Death Rider. This is a non-title rematch, but perhaps Juice can be just like Taichi and secure a future title match with one more win in the G1. Or will Mox cross Juice off the list while keeping his G1 hopes alive?
The bell rings and fans are dueling already. Moxley and Juice circle and feel it out. Moxley wants Juice’s bad leg and Juice knows it. Juice stays out of Moxley’s grip but Moxley offers him a free shot. Juice takes it with a left forearm, but Moxley comes back with his right. They go back and forth already, but Moxley headbutts first. Moxley whips but Juice reverses to then hit a corner clothesline. But Moxely gets forehead to forehead with him! The brawling of forearms continues and picks up speed. Juice headbutts now, and whips, but Moxley reverses to hit his own clothesline. And Juice also gets forehead to forehead! Juice knees lows then suplexes, but Moxley fights that off. Moxley suplexes but Juice slips out, only for his leg to jam!
Moxley has Juice in the corner and grinds his forearms in, to then kick the bad leg! Moxley puts the leg on the ropes to attack more, running corner to corner to dropkick the knee! Juice hobbles away but Moxley stalks him to a new corner. Moxley puts the leg on the ropes to drop a knee on the knee! Juice rolls and writhes while fans cheer Moxley’s aggression. Moxley drops an elbow on Juice’s knee and wrenches on the leg. Juice endures the toehold as Moxley cranks and grinds. Juice headbutts but Moxley rams a knee into the leg. Moxley stalks Juice to kick the leg out! Moxley hooks the leg for a snapping deathlock! And another! Juice endures but Moxley gets up, winds it up, and flips the dirty birds before hitting a third! Juice gets the ropes and Moxley finally lets him go.
Moxley waits for Juice to stand, and Juice CHOPS back! Moxley CHOPS Juice, then kicks him down. Fans rally as Moxley grabs the leg to stomp Juice’s stomach. Moxley drops an elbow then covers, ONE! But Moxley has the legs for a Figure Four! Juice endures as fans rally up. Moxley and Juice sit up in the hold and start throwing SLAPS! Juice works to turn the hold over, and gets it! Moxley endures the hold now, but gets a ropebreak. The referee helps them come apart, and the two men stand. Juice elbows then fireman’s carries, but Moxley dodges Juice Box into a Cloverleaf! Juice is enduring all over again, but just misses the ropebreak by a fingertip! Moxley leans on the hold but Juice powers up! Juice turns it over and BITES Moxley’s ear! Moxely staggers off, and Juice reveals he took the earring! And he throws it to the crowd!
Juice glares at Moxley, as if to say they’re even now. Moxley runs and the two collide with clotheslines! And again! Juice dodges the third time to flapjack Moxley, then lariat him back down! Moxley gets to a corner but Juice is on him with hammering hands! Red Shoes gets Juice to let off, but he comes back with a BIG corner clothesline! Fans cheer as Juice goes corner to corner, CANNONBALL! But Juice doesn’t cover, he heads up top! Moxley stands as Juice reaches the top rope. Juice leaps for a big crossbody, but Moxley rolls through! Moxley wants the Figure Four again but Juice shoves him off. Moxley ends up outside, and Juice goes to follow, but he gets a chop block on the apron! Moxley tells cameramen to move as he goes around the corner. Moxley finds a TABLE under the ring! Juice slingshots to take Moxley down first!
Juice clutches his knee, but he eyes the table Moxley brought out. Juice brings Moxley up and whips him to the railing! Then he goes back to that table. Red Shoes reprimands Juice not to do anything with it, so Juice puts it back under the ring. Big thumbs up and cheers, but Moxley yanks Juice into the railing! Moxley gets in the ring to refresh the count, and then puts Juice in, to sling that bad leg into the post! And again! Moxley looks to Figure Four on the post, but thinks better of it. He swings the leg into the post a third time for good measure, though. Moxley goes back under the ring to bring out a chair! He brings that around, but Juice moves in time! Moxley SMACKS post and loses the chair. He grabs Juice’s legs, but Juice uses that to yank Mox into the post!
Juice stands up on the apron, for another CANNONBALL! Juice grabs the chair Moxley found, and sets it by commentary. Juice keeps clean as he puts Moxley in. Fans rally up as Juice climbs up. Juice leaps, BIG crossbody hits! But he bounces off and has to crawl back for a cover, TWO! Juice grits his teeth and clutches his knee, but he pumps up. Moxley throws a forearm, but Juice jabs. Moxley throws haymakers of his own, and fans start chanting “MOX!” It’s “JUICE!” against “MOX!” with every punch thrown! Juice gets the edge and staggers Mox, but Mox kicks the bad leg. Juice still comes back with a left lariat, but Moxley just tanks it! Moxley spins for a forearm, but Juice just powers up! Only to swing into another lariat! Moxley has the fans fired up as he drags Juice back up. Underhook, lift, but Juice fights it off.
Juice full nelsons, but Moxley breaks free. Juice has the chicken wings and spins Moxley around, but Moxley slips out to trip Juice to a heel hook! Moxley twists the leg as hard as he can but Juice refuses to quit! Fans rally and Juice drags himself over, but Moxley lets up to drag him away. Moxley hooks the leg in another deathlock, but he just hammers away on Juice’s head first! Then the crossface, for the STF!! Juice is turning red but fans are rallying as hard as ever! Juice is fading and Red Shoes checks on him. Red Shoes raises the hand, it drops once. Twice. But Juice comes to life on the third time! Moxley thinks he’s won, but Juice’s hand is gripping Red Shoes’ leg! Moxley argues with Red Shoes, but Red Shoes saw Juice survive. Moxley vows to end this, running Regal Knee! And then, suplex, X-PLEX!
Moxley wants Red Shoes to call Juice out now, but Red Shoes refuses. So Moxley flips Red Shoes off, too. Moxley goes looking for things, and brings in more chairs! Red Shoes hurries to get them out, but Moxley is throwing more things, like buckets and a camera and of course a table! Moxley gets in but Red Shoes warns him. Juice comes to life and rolls Moxley up! TWO!! Moxley ducks a Left Hand of God but not the RIGHT hand! Juice wants to finish it, but Moxley BITES him again!! Juice hits a right AND a left! And then another left! Chicken wings, PULP FRICTION! Cover, Juice wins!!
Winner: Juice Robinson, by pinfall
Revenge is sweet for Juice in the G1! He ruins Moxley’s run and has a way back to the IWGP United States Championship! What will the third time around for these two be like?!
Shingo Takagi VS Hirooki Goto!
With the Death Rider out of the running, the door might be open for the Fierce Warrior to get back to the G1 Finals! But can he do it against LIJ’s impressive Muscle Dragon?
The bell rings and fans are already fired up for this showdown. Shingo and Goto tie up and Goto pushes Shingo back. Red Shoes calls for the break and Goto honors it. Shingo comes back fast and now he has Goto on the ropes. Shingo also honors the break, only to CHOP Goto back! Goto headlocks Shingo but Shingo powers out. These two collide with shoulders but neither falls! Goto dares Shingo to go, so Shingo does. They collide again and still neither falls. Now they start throwing forearms, but neither man backs down. They are fast and furious already, and Goto gets an edge. Goto runs but Shingo dodges only for Goto to dodge. Goto bumps Shingo with a shoulder but Shingo rebounds to run Goto over! Fans cheer the younger Dragon finally having the veteran down.
Shingo drops elbows on Goto over and over, and a back senton! Cover, ONE, but Shingo has Goto in a rear bearhug. Fans rally and duel as Goto gets up. Goto gets to the ropes but Shingo throws in knees. Shingo whips and follows to knee Goto, then suplexes him high and hard! Goto winces but Shingo covers, ONE. Shingo keeps his cool and goes after Goto for a seated stretch. Shingo rams in elbows to bring Goto down. Goto gets up but Shingo starts toying with him. Shingo eggs Goto on and Goto blocks a kick only to get a forearm. But Goto deflects a boot to lariat Shingo down! Shingo bails out of the ring, and Goto catches his breath. Shingo takes his time returning despite Goto’s goading. Goto backs off and Shingo get sin, only for Goto to be right on him with stomps!
Goto hammers Shingo in the corner, then whips corner to corner. Shingo reverses and runs in, but Goto catches him to put him up top right away! Goto drags Shingo out, draping neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Goto stomps Shingo while fans rally and duel again. Shingo holds the ropes but Goto just stomps him more. Goto clubs Shingo then snapmares for a swift kick! Cover, ONE, but Goto goes at Shingo with a chinlock. Shingo endures as Goto digs his knee into the back and drives an elbow into his face. Goto headscissor holds Shingo down but Shingo endures, even as Goto pushes up to squeeze tighter. Goto hammers Shingo’s chest, but Shingo uses long legs for a ropebreak. Goto lets up only to club and whip Shingo corner to corner. Goto hits a corner clothesline, but Shingo eggs him on, so Goto quickly clotheslines him again!
Fans rally as Goto brings Shingo up. Shingo breaks free but his bad shoulders slow him down. They start throwing forearms and CHOPS nonetheless, and Shingo puts some stank on the chops. Goto comes back with forearms, only to get a two hand CHOP! Shingo runs, Goto follows but Shingo intercepts the clothesline, to then SAIDO! Both men are down but fans rally up again. Shingo gets up first and drags Goto up again. Goto resists the bomb lift and back drops Shingo instead! Goto runs, but into a back elbow. JAB, LEFT LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Shingo keeps his focus as fans are dueling again. The chants for Shingo are pretty louder as he goes to lift Goto in the Gory underhooks. Goto resists, so Shingo spins him around, only for Goto to suplex Shingo! Both men are down again but head for opposite ends.
Goto runs in at Shingo for the wheel kick! Then gives Shingo his own saido! Cover, TWO! Goto drags Shingo back up and fireman’s carries but Shingo slips out. Goto fights off Shingo’s waistlock, but gets a rabbit lariat. Shingo runs but into a sleeper hold! Goto squeezes Shingo but Shingo backs him into buckles. Goto holds on but Shingo manages to arm-drag Goto off. Only to run back into the hold! Shingo starts fading but pumps himself back up. He backpack sentons Goto! Shingo gasps for air while Goto writhes. Shingo drags Goto up for the Sliding Lariat! Then the underhooks, NOSHIGAMI! Cover, TWO!! Goto still lives but Shingo has the fans on his side. Shingo drags Goto up and pump handles, but Goto resists. Goto elbows out, but gets a lariat! And another!
Shingo runs, but Goto follows to clothesline back! Shingo stays on his feet! Goto runs, but into a point-blank Pumping Bomber against the ropes! Shingo runs but Goto comes back and they both clothesline! Goto hits another clothesline outta nowhere! Then drags Shingo up, fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!! Shingo survives but Goto grits his teeth! Goto drags Shingo up and kicks away on the chest. Then he brings Shingo up for an even bigger kick! Cover, TWO! Goto keeps going, dragon sleeper, but Shingo fights back. Shingo forearms then headbutts! It staggers both men, but Shingo runs into another fireman’s carry! Shigno slips out, pump handles, MADE! IN! JAPAN! Cover, TWO!?! Goto survives and the fans are back at that fever pitch!
Shingo runs in corner to corner for a BIG clothesline, then runs for PUMPING BOMBER! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives again and Shingo is starting to wonder what he has to do. But Shingo fires up, pump handles and torture racks, but Goto slips out! Goto has the dragon sleeper, but Shingo slips around to suplex! Goto resists and suplexes but Shingo fights out. Goto breaks free only to get a JAB! Shingo throws elbows from both sides over and over! Then Shingo swings, into Goto’s headbutt! Goto grits his teeth, brings Shingo around, Inverse GTR! Goto brings Shingo up and powers up, only to get another PUMPING BOMBER! Both men are down and fans reach that level beyond fever pitch! Shingo rises first and runs, only for Goto to dodge. Both men come back, only for PUMPING BOMBER to win out!! Cover, TWO!?!
Shingo is at a loss for words! He drags Goto up and pump handles again. Torture rack, LAST OF THE DRAGONS! Cover, Shingo wins!!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall
The Last of the Dragons falls, and so does another contender! Goto won’t return to the G1 Climax Finals now, and Shingo has one of the biggest wins in his NJPW career! But now, the main event MUST have a winner!!
Jay White VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Switchblade wants to revive the Cutthroat Era. The IWGP Intercontinental Champion wants to realize his dual reign destiny. What movement takes that next step forward?
As always, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. White himself knows how to play mind games so he isn’t annoyed by Naito’s. Naito finishes preparing and the bell rings. Fans are on Naito’s side not just because they hate the Switchblade. White plays his usual games and bails out of the ring. But just as White wasn’t bothered by Naito’s games, Naito isn’t bothered by White’s. White returns slowly and Naito gives him space. But then White just bails out again, and fans boo. Naito runs over, but he fakes White out to Tranquilo~! White runs back in but now Naito bails out to give White a taste of his own trolling. White applauds that, and lets Naito have his space. Naito rolls in but just rolls right back out. Now White gets annoyed and gives chase. Gedo comes by but Naito dodges and shoves him into White! Naito hits White then whips White into railing!
Naito comes by and mocks White’s pain before stomping him. Naito throws White into the apron then elbows him back. White staggers to railing but Naito bumps him off the apron again. Naito elbows White again and White staggers back into railing. Naito just keeps clubbing White before putting him back in the ring. Fans cheer that the action is finally in the ring. Naito stomps White then grinds him into the ropes. He whips but White holds ropes to bail out. Naito kicks him between the ropes, then rakes eyes. Red Shoes reprimands Naito but Naito kicks and forearms White into the corner. White wants a timeout but Naito whips him corner to corner. Naito runs in, but misses the kick to get a CHOP! And another! White grinds his forearms into Naito’s face before a third CHOP!
White throws knees and runs, but into Naito’s atomic drop! Then Naito gets White with the jump kick, but White throws Naito down on the apron by his hair! No combinacio cabron there as Naito slumps to the floor. White whips Naito into railing HARD! White drags Naito up to whip him the other way! White leaves Naito behind to mock the LIJ poses. Fans boo but White smirks as he fetches Naito into the ring. White watches Naito crawl while mocking Tranquilo. White hits a back elbow in the corner, then a DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Naito while White grows frustrated. White drags Naito back out to ram him into railing! Then the apron edge! Then the railing again! And then the apron! White continues to mock LIJ while Naito writhes.
Red Shoes reprimands White and there is no ring count. White puts Naito in to cover, but Red Shoes won’t until there’s been sufficient time after those questionable tactics. White puts Naito in a chinlock and drives his knee in. Naito endures and fans rally up. Naito reaches with his legs as White pulls back on the neck. Naito gets to his feet and fights free, only for White to throw him down again. White toys with Naito now, but Naito throws body shots! White CHOPS Naito again, then runs, but Naito kicks. Naito turns but into a forearm! White runs but into the shotgun boot! Both men are down but fans rally up. White and Naito stand and Naito fires off strikes. Naito whips but White reverses. Naito holds the ropes and boots White back, to then huricanrana him down! White ends up on ropes but Naito elbows him down to dropkick him in the back!
Fans rally again as Naito drags White up. Naito whips White corner to corner, COMBINACION CABRON! Naito does the LIJ pose proper now. He shakes out the cobwebs, too, and goes back to White. Naito stands White up, spins him around, backbreaker to neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Naito keeps his cool as he stomps White. Naito cranks White’s neck in a mounted cravat. White fights his way up but Naito snapmares him down for a modified leg-based full nelson. Naito starts slapping White around but that only angers White. White tries to push to a cover but Naito slaps him around more. White reaches and kicks his way over for a ropebreak. Naito holds on until Red Shoes counts, which irritates White more. The two are separated but Naito waistlocks. White fights him off, only for Naito to club him down.
Naito waistlocks but White standing switches only to get an elbow. Naito spins White but White spins out to hit a complete shot! Then deadlift German Suplex! White drags Naito up again, but Naito resists the neckbreaker. White CHOPS Naito again, but Naito resists the urenage. Naito elbows away on White, but White fires off a strike fest, only to get an enziguri! Naito whips, White reverses, Naito leaps, but INTO the urenage! White fires himself up and drags Naito up for a fisherman. But Naito wriggles out of the Kiwi Krusher to hit a DDT! Both men are down and fans rally up again. Naito sits up first but White follows. Naito shakes out more cobwebs before dragging White up. Hammerlock, but White clubs Naito. Naito clubs back, then tries again. White pulls hair to resist Gloria, and then yanks Red Shoes into Naito!
Fans boo because Gedo has brass knuckles! Naito blocks the sucker punch to LOW BLOW Gedo! Naito blocks White’s low blow, spits on White then whips! But White reverses only to get the flying forearms! Naito keeps on White, GLORIA! Cover, TWO!! White lives but Naito says Tranquilo! Naito drags White up and wrenches, only for White to elbow Destino away. Naito hits a rolling heel kick, then tornado DDT with the ropes! Naito drags White up again, wrenches, but White shoves Naito at Red Shoes. Red Shoes gets clear, but White plays dead. White’s new tactic only gets him stomped by Naito. Naito drags White up by his hair, but White hits the SAIDO! White grins as he drags Naito back up. White throws Naito with another saido suplex! But now he fisherman’s, KIWI KRUSHER! Cover, TWO!!
Fans cheer but White is furious. He drags Naito up and slashes the throat. He has Naito in position, but Naito slips out to REVERSE RANA! Naito didn’t get all of it, but he tilt-o-whirls to DESTINO! Cover, TWO!? Naito is shocked that White survives! But fans are rallying, so Naito tires again, but White slips out of Destino for a Sleeper Hold Suplex! White drags Naito around and brings him up, BLADE- NO! DEST- No, no Destino! But Naito escapes Blade Runner again for a full nelson! White fights out, reels Naito in but Naito slips out again to suplex. White slips out, sleeper hold but Naito pops out, tilt-o-whirl, into another SLEEPER SUPLEX! White brings Naito up once again, BRAIN BUSTER! And then BLADE RUNNER!! Cover, White wins!!
Winner: Jay White, by pinfall; advances to the G1 Climax 29 Finals
Gedo brags right in Rocky Romero’s face, because he knew all along The Switchblade would pull it off! White mocks LIJ as he stands over Naito. Will White and Gedo be smiling after facing the Golden Star?
NJPW returns as Jay White takes the mic.
“Hey, Naito! Tranquilo!” Fans boo White as he laughs and says to “get that piece of sh*t out of here!” White notices fans already getting up out of their seats and mockingly asks where they’re going. “Did your hero fail you again?” White said he told us all that this was HIS G1! It still is! White told them all to believe what he says, and to Breath with The Switchblade. And now White is in the FINALS! White talks with Gedo and Gedo lets White have the ring alone. White calls out Ibushi! Fans want to see Ibushi, too, and so Ibushi appears! White wants Ibushi to be in the ring with him. Ibushi obliges, and White promises this is just a chat. The G1 Finals, Golden Star VS Switchblade, 1v1, NO GEDO. That surprises everyone, but White wants to prove he is worthy.
White offers a handshake, and Ibushi takes it. But Ibushi sees the cheap shot coming and almost gets White back! White laughs but Ibushi knows what to expect. But then Gedo gets Ibushi at the apron and White chop blocks the bad ankle! White rains down fists and stomps and dragon screws the leg! Gedo keeps Young Lions from getting in to help, and even throws in a chair! White takes the chairs, and puts one around the ankle! White takes the other chair to SMACK away on the trapped ankle!! Fans boo as hard as ever, but it doesn’t matter because the damage is done! “Ibushi, tomorrow at G1 Finals, you will breathe with the Switchblade!” Has White just ensured his victory?
NJPW Media backstage interview
Jay White grins as he says, “I’ll show you! I’m not just the best. I’m the best because I’m the smartest. Naito, tranquilo, buddy.” Everyone thought they could stop White, but White stopped destiny. As for White’s destiny, that is Ibushi! White has been counting down the days, and he’ll defeat someone even more popular than Naito. IT will be that much more enjoyable! What he did to Ibushi’s leg is just a sample. White doesn’t expect this to last even 10 minutes. He’ll make Ibushi infamous for the biggest embarrassment in G1 history! Is the Cutthroat Era’s return inevitable?
My Thoughts:
A really good two hours from NJPW and AXS again, but a lot harder to avoid spoilers since AXS waited all week for this one. But that aside, it was all still great stuff to set up THE G1 Climax Finals, which AXS will also have next Saturday. Yano VS Cobb was fast and fun, and of course Cobb wins to finish strong. We got some interesting parallels as Taichi and Robinson, and even White in the grand scheme of things, pin a current champion. This sets up a lot of stuff for following events, such as another Ishii VS Taichi for the NEVER Openweight and another Moxley VS Robinson for the United States Championship. Those will be a lot of fun since they’ll surely escalate from the incredible matches we got tonight. Takagi really does get one of the biggest wins of his NJPW career beating Goto, who himself is a multi-time Openweight Champion. This is a great preview of NJPW’s new generation that’s ready to step up in the next few years.
White VS Naito was really good given they each tried mind games, but also knew each other’s moves so well as to escape and counter and escape again like that. I suppose the expectation of Ibushi VS Naito III for the G1 Finals was reason enough to surprise us with White winning. At the same time, I’m reminded of hearing all of White’s booking is a substitute for Kenny Omega’s booking if he was still in NJPW right now and not part of AEW. I could definitely see this story told differently with Omega in there, beating Naito to then get his match with Ibushi while also possibly getting back to Okada. But now that it’s White, it really works to give someone just to hate as Ibushi goes back to back in the finals.
White saying “No Gedo” should’ve been a bad sign right away, and he gets great Heel points, but is this perhaps too much for Ibushi to believably overcome? Granted, WWE did just have Seth Rollins beat Brock Lesnar with wrecked ribs, but usually NJPW isn’t the kind to need a suspension of disbelief. Since this is all delayed by days, I of course know the results by internet spoilers, but I suppose there is still a way to make this match incredible partially because of the bad ankle being a spot of focus.
My Score: 9.3/10
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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!
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