NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: Destruction in Kagoshima!
The 2019 Destruction Tour continues!
The tour continues in Kagoshima!
Kota Ibushi defends his Wrestle Kingdom title match contract against KENTA! Will the NEVER Openweight Champion line up another title for himself?
Coverage for Destruction in Kagoshima 2019 will be as broadcast by AXS TV
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo VS Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles; Ishimori & Phantasmo win and retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
- Wrestle Kingdom 14 IWGP Heavyweight Championship Contract Match: Kota Ibushi VS KENTA; Ibushi wins and retains the WK14 contract.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scene for tonight’s continued Destruction!
The right to challenge for THE IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 is on the line! The Golden Star won the G1 Climax to earn his shot, but that doesn’t stop others from going after him. #FangRevive beat Ibushi in their G1 Climax match up, went on a hot streak until facing Kazuchika Okada himself, but then rebounded by joining the Bullet Club! He also went on to win the NEVER Openweight Championship off of Tomohiro Ishii thanks to his new friends, but one is never enough. Kenta wants to repeat that first round win tonight and take away what Ibushi fought so hard to obtain! Will Ibushi make it through his first defense of this precious prize? Or will the takeover continue for Kenta?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo VS Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles!
Bone Soldier Reborn and The Headbanga represent Bullet Club against Chaos’ “Birds of Prey” in the continued feud between factions. Will Ospreay go up to two belts? Or will Bullet Club stay Too Sweet on this Destruction tour?
NJPW on AXS skips ahead in the action to Ospreay tossing ELP out. Eagles and Ishimori meet, but Ishimori denies Sliced Bread to duck a roundhouse to POISON-RANA! But both men are down from exhaustion. Meanwhile, ELP and Ospreay have wiped out on the outside so everyone is down! Kagoshima rallies up as both men go to their corners, only to find no one there. Ishimori and Eagles brawl with forearms back and forth. Eagles gives two, Ishimori gives three. Ishimori runs but Ospreay runs in to trip Ishimori up! Eagles follows them both to the apron, and Ospreay stretches Ishimori’s leg out for Eagles to flying double stomp it! Ospreay hops up to leap off and clothesline ELP down! Eagles aims at Ishimori in the ring, springboards, and dropkicks the legs out! Eagles has the legs for the “Ron Miller Special,” the trailer hitch! And it is in deep!
Ishimori endures while Eagles pull son those legs and stomps his back. But Ishimori drags himself forward, so Eagles lets up to bring him away. Eagles spins but Ishimori kicks at him, but Ospreay springboard 450 splashes down! And Eagles puts Ishimori back in the Ron Miller Special! Ospreay intercepts ELP but ELP shoves him away. ELP gets up but Ospreay hops on for an Octopus! Dual submissions from Chaos to Bullet Club! That looks familiar… But ELP powers up to get Ospreay up into a fireman’s carry, and he Death Valley slams Ospreay on Eagles! Everyone is down again and fans rally up. Bullet Club regroups and ELP tags in. ELP toys with Eagles, and slaps him around. Eagles grabs ELP by the face and puts him in the corner for a SLAP! Eagles CHOPS and forearms and CHOPS and forearms, then stomps away with fury! Fans are loving it!
Eagles fires up with “Robbie, Robbie, Robbie! OI OI OI!” He whips ELP corner to corner, runs in, but ELP dodges to also dropkick Ospreay back out! ELP keeps moving, springboard crossbody, to a LIONSAULT! Then he DIVES onto Ospreay to wipe him out again! ELP climbs the ropes, and SUPER ASAIS to wipe Ospreay out again! ELP almost wipes himself out in the front row of the crowd, but he comes back to still springboard splash, onto knees! Eagles and ELP slowly rise and fans are fired up. Eagles roundhouses then back kicks, but ELP stays up. ELP glares but Eagles enziguris! ELP flounders to a corner, Eagles comes over, neckbreaker but wait, inverted Sliced Bread DDT!! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and Eagles can’t believe it! Fans fire up for Eagles and he drags ELP to a drop zone. Eagles climbs, ELP rolls further away, but Eagles grins as he 450 splashes anyway! And on ELP’s legs! Because ELP wants the Ron Miller again! But ELP shoves him away, and Ishimori uses a title belt to SMASH Eagles! ELP covers, TWO!! Eagles lives and shocks Bullet Club!
Bullet Club regroups as ELP brings Eagles up in a torture rack. Ishimori leaps up for a big kick to Eagles’ head, and ELP spins and spins for a BIG Cyclone Crash! Cover, but Ospreay breaks it! Fans are thunderous as the Birds of Prey still live. Ospreay dodges ELP to springboard, but the Oscutter is caught! And ELP inverted suplexes Ospreay for Ishimori to have in the gut wrench! ELP adds on some force for the Bloody Cross! Then Bullet Club takes aim at Eagles as he flounders over. DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Then ELP feeds Eagles to another Bloody Cross, and then underhooks, for the CR2!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!
Winners: Bullet Club, El Phantasmo pinning; still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
The Rev-Pro British Cruiserweight Champion keeps his other belt alongside Ishimori, and Bullet Club keeps these two belts, too. Will Bullet Club continue to climb back up to golden glory? ELP even tells Ospreay a “dumb little mark” via commentary, and wants him to soak in this picture. ELP vows that in Ryogoku, at King of Pro-Wrestling 2019, he completes the trifecta! He wants that IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but will ELP really be the best Junior Heavyweight in the world?
Wrestle Kingdom 14 IWGP Heavyweight Championship Contract Match: Kota Ibushi VS KENTA!
The Golden Star repeated in the G1 Climax Finals, and won G1 Climax 29 to earn the contract for a shot at the top title in NJPW. But it won’t mean anything in the long run if Ibushi doesn’t make it all the way to Wrestle Kingdom 14 with this contract. #FangRevive was the first to take a bite out of Ibushi during G1 this year, and he even got the NEVER Openweight Championship on the side. Will Ibushi make it through “the true Kenta” to stay close to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship?
The introductions are made, but Red Shoes doesn’t get to raise the briefcase because Kenta strikes! He boots Ibushi down then holds the briefcase up, to SMASH Ibushi in the head with it! Kenta fetches the briefcase after it goes flying, and he opens it up to look at the contract itself. He puts that aside so he can stomp the briefcase with his foot! Kenta then demands a mic, and he is given one. Kenta speaks to “all you Kagoshima a**holes” in the crowd, saying “This Right to Challenge belongs to me now.” And as such, he doesn’t want this lame looking briefcase, he wants a custom Bullet Club case. Kenta throws the case down on the ground but Red Shoes wants him to wait. The match still has to happen for Kenta to actually own those rights. Kenta covers but the bell hasn’t even rung, so it won’t count. Red Shoes calls for medics while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Red Shoes keeps Kenta in a corner. Ibushi is coming to, but Kenta wants the bell to ring. Red Shoes checks on Ibushi, and Ibushi is still pretty woozy. Kagoshima cheers their hometown hero on as medics check him. Kenta grows further impatient but Red Shoes keeps him back. Ibushi sits up and goes through the check, but he also wants to have this match. Fans cheer as Ibushi stands, and the match begins! But Kenta hits the Psycho Knee right away! Cover, TWO!! Kenta is shocked and furious that he didn’t win right there! But he drags Ibushi up to throw him out of the ring. Ibushi flounders right into railing, and Kenta goes out to fetch him. Kenta drags Ibushi up to whip him into more railing! Then he whips him into even more railing! Kenta won’t stop there, he whips Ibushi into a third corner of railing!
Ibushi flops to the floor and fans boo Kenta right to his face. Kenta eggs it on as he goes back to Ibushi. Kenta just whips Ibushi into the fourth corner of railing! Kenta goes back into the ring while fans rally to help their hero. Red Shoes begins the 20 count and it climbs to 10 before Ibushi rises. Kenta sits on the top rope to mockingly applaud, but Ibushi is up and in at 17. Kenta goes right at him to throw him right back out! Then Kenta drags Ibushi up to whip Ibushi into railing for a fifth time! And then he BOOTS Ibushi over! Kenta goes out to drag Ibushi up, right in front of those die hard fans. And he drops Ibushi to the floor with a DDT! Kenta just lets the boos and jeers rain down, pretending not to understand it. Red Shoes goes out to check on Ibushi while Kenta mockingly cheers. Kenta goes back to the ring while Ibushi somehow rises up.
Ibushi crawls up the aisle as the 20 count begins again. The count again passes 10, and Ibushi still has quite a long way to go. Ibushi makes it to ringside at 15, and in at 17. Kenta kicks him to the apron then drags him up. Kenta brings him through the ropes, draping DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer Ibushi’s toughness, and Kenta mocks their cheers. Kenta stomps away on Ibushi but Ibushi slowly grows angry. Kenta kicks Ibushi hard in the chest, then grinds his boot into Ibushi’s chest. Kenta lets up at Red Shoes’ count but he toys with Ibushi. Ibushi eggs Kenta on! Ibushi feeds off those kicks! Fans cheer as Ibushi stands to fire off forearms! Kenta mule kicks then kicks Ibushi in the chest. Kenta whips Ibushi and then runs him over with an elbow. Cover, TWO! Kenta drags Ibushi up and wraps on a chinlock. Ibushi endures as Kagoshima rallies for him. Ibushi fights up and out, but Kenta throws him down by his hair. Kenta brushes off his hands while he walks around.
Kenta drops knees on Ibushi’s head, then hops over, to scrape Ibushi’s face. Kenta soaks up the boos before going back to Ibushi. Ibushi sits up but Kenta toys with him more. Ibushi just gets angry as he stands up! Kenta keeps kicking, but Ibushi fires back! Kenta knees low, runs, but into Ibushi’s dropkick! Both men are down but Kagoshima is fired up for their hometown hero. Kenta goes to a corner, but Ibushi stands up. Ibushi runs in but into a boot! Kenta runs out, but into the spinning powerslam! Ibushi hops up, second rope moonsault! Cover, TWO! Ibushi won’t let that deter him while NJPW goes to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Kenta bails out of the ring. Ibushi doesn’t let him get away as he slingshots out onto Kenta! Both men are down but Ibushi gets up first. Ibushi drags Kenta up and into the ring. Ibushi waistlocks but Kenta standing switches. Ibushi elbows free but runs into the kitchen sink knee! Kenta kicks Ibushi swift on the back, but Ibushi just powers up! Ibushi kicks, snapmares and KICKS Kenta in his back! Kenta gets up and throws a forearm, but Ibushi gives it back. They go back and forth with forearms, with Kagoshima firmly on Ibushi’s side. Ibushi kicks first, but Kenta kicks back. Ibushi mule kicks but so does Kenta! Ibushi swings a right but Kenta ducks, only for both men to come back with left palm strikes, and roundhouses! Both men fall at the same time, and Kagoshima is fired up!
Ibushi and Kenta roll to opposite corners. Ibushi and Kenta stand, but Kenta runs in. Ibushi goes up and over to huricanrana Kenta out! Fans are fired up and Ibushi runs, to go up, only for Kenta to trip him up! No Golden Triangle this time! The legs also get caught up in the crossbars. Kenta goes after those legs, swinging one into the post! And again! Ibushi flops out of the ring, clutching his bad leg. Kenta drags Ibushi up and laces the leg through railing! To then kick the knee! Ibushi falls back again as he clutches the knee. Kenta goes looking under the ring, and brings out a chair! Red Shoes stops him, that would be a disqualification. Kenta drags Ibushi up to lace the leg again, and has the chair. Red Shoes again reprimands Kenta, but Kenta shoves Red Shoes away. Kenta raises the chair, to SMACK railing! This won’t disqualify him, but the vibrations will aggravate Ibushi’s leg. Kenta walks the line while he stomps Ibushi’s head more.
Kenta drags Ibushi up and over to commentary. He has the leg, for a SHIN BREAKER to the desk! Kenta throws up the Too Sweet while Red Shoes checks on Ibushi. Kenta returns to drag Ibushi off commentary to then put him back in the ring. Kenta keeps on that bad leg as he grinds his foot in, then smashes the knee into the mat! Kagoshima still cheers Ibushi on but Kenta mocks them again. The fans boo and Kenta pretends not to understand why. IBushi sits up to throw body shots but they don’t do much to Kenta. Kenta dares Ibushi to hit him, so Ibushi does. Ibushi gives slapping palm strikes but Kenta just takes them. Kenta then takes the bad leg and Dragon Screws it! And then Kenta sits down for a heel hook and knee wrench! Ibushi endures and Kagoshima gives him energy to reach for ropes. Ibushi drags himself and Kenta over to get the ropebreak! Kenta lets go after a few counts, then drags Ibushi back up.
Ibushi fires forearms! But Kenta dropkicks the leg! Ibushi staggers but Kenta just kicks away on the leg! Then he gives it another Dragon Screw! And back to the heel hook! Ibushi drags himself over again and glares at Kenta as Kenta pulls on the leg. Ibushi endures, reaches, and has another ropebreak! Kenta reluctantly lets go a second time, but brings Ibushi up again. Ibushi fires off more forearms but Kenta just kicks the leg again. Ibushi ends up in a corner, Kenta runs corner to corner, and gives Ibushi a helluva boot! Kenta runs again, but Ibushi follows! And now Ibushi gives Kenta that helluva kick! Ibushi fires forearms off on Kenta until he sits down, and then keeps going! Ibushi backs off to go across the ring, and Kagoshima fires up. Ibushi runs back in, soaring Shibata dropkick! But Kenta catches it for a heel hook!! Ibushi is writhing, but he gets a ropebreak for a third time!
Kenta is growing annoyed with Ibushi as he has him in the corner. Kenta throws forearms on Ibushi’s face over and over until Ibushi sits down. Kenta goes to the opposite corner, and shows Ibushi how the basement dropkick is done! Kenta puts Ibushi in the drop zone then climbs up top, for flying double stomps! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi survives the coup de grace and Kenta grows frustrated. Kenta slashes the throat to say this is over. He fireman’s carries but Ibushi resists. Ibushi elbows away, but Kenta Dragon Screws the bad leg yet again! Kenta steps through for a Figure Four leg lock now! Ibushi endures this legendary lock but Kagoshima refuses to give up on him. Ibushi refuses to give up, too, but Kenta puts a lot of pressure on the bad leg. Even so, Ibushi crawls for ropes. Kenta drags Ibushi away and Ibushi falls back from the pain! Red Shoes checks on Ibushi but Ibushi refuses to give in!
Ibushi turns the hold slightly, putting some pressure on Kenta, and then gets a fourth ropebreak! Fans cheer as Red Shoes helps separate Ibushi and Kenta. Kenta gets back up and stalks Ibushi at the ropes. Kenta runs in to knee Ibushi in the back! Ibushi flounders, Kenta runs, but into a boot! Kenta stays standing to clothesline, but Ibushi stays up to power up. Kenta kicks the bad leg, then spins, but into Ibushi’s LARIAT! Both men are down and Kagoshima is thunderous yet again! Ibushi sits up as the fans rally. He stands, drags Kenta around, and wants a bomb. He gets Kenta up, sit-out powerbomb! Cover, TWO!! Kenta survives and shocks Ibushi. But Ibushi goes to a corner, and calls upon the King of Strong Style. But Kenta tackles Red Shoes, because here come the Guerrillas of Destiny! They helped Kenta win the NEVER Openweight title, now they’ll help him here!
But Ibushi is ready, DOUBLE PELE for GoD! Kenta returns, to get a ROUNDHOUSE! Red Shoes revives, Ibushi hits a running knee! Cover, but GoD drag Red Shoes out!! And they attack Ibushi! They get Ibushi up, Guerrilla Warfare!! Kagoshima boos but there’s nothing the fans can do about GoD beating down Ibushi. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa coordinate at the corner. Suplex lifts Ibushi, but here comes Chaos’ Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi! They just went through this with GoD at Beppu, they’re not going to let it happen here! Ishii grabs Loa to anchor him on the top rope while Hashi brawls with Tama! Ishii climbs to SUPERPLEX Loa! Hashi reverses Tama’s whip to AX BOMBER! Hashi drags Tama out while Ishii has Loa! Chaos keeps GoD away, and that leaves Kenta and Ibushi alone in the ring.
Kagoshima hits a fever pitch as Kenta and Ibushi brawl on their knees with more forearms. They go back and forth, then slowly rise as Red Shoes returns. Ibushi hits, Kenta hits, repeat. Kenta gets Ibushi with a counter right hook! Then a Penalty Kick! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi still lives!! Kenta is growing tired of this, and looks to end it with Ibushi’s own move! KAMIGOYE!! Cover, TWO!?! Ibushi survives his most powerful move?! Kenta drags Ibushi up to use his move now. Fireman’s carry, GO TO- NO!! Ibushi blocks the GTS to hit a V-Trigger!! Then, KAMIGOYE!!! Cover, TWO!?! Now KENTA survives!? But Ibushi just roars with rage now, as he drags Kenta up again, KAMIGOYE AGAIN! Ibushi wins!!
Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall; still owner of the Right to Challenge contract
Though Kenta attacked before the bell, though Kenta had help from the Bullet Club, and though Kenta both stole and survived the Kamigoye, Kagoshima’s Golden Star is victorious! The briefcase is busted, but the contract is in tact, and Ibushi is indestructible! Will Ibushi hold on to his golden dream for Wrestle Kingdom as 2019 still has more to give?
NJPW on AXS returns to Ibushi celebrating.
But before he can get the mic, someone is on the stage! It’s EVIL! The King of Darkness was the other man to defeat Ibushi during the G1 Climax, and is clearly lined up for his own match for the Wrestle Kingdom contract. Evil joins Ibushi in the ring and takes up the mic. “Oi, Ibushi. I’m gonna take that Right to Challenge, and cover the Tokyo Dome main event in darkness. Mark my words!” Ibushi just goes forehead to forehead with Evil before showing him the contract to his face. Evil takes his leave and now Ibushi can have his turn with the mic.
“Thank you very much,” Kagoshima. First, he wants to say something to the fans. “I’m home.” He vowed to bring a G1 winner to Kagoshima, and fans cheer because he has kept that promise. Ibushi has made it through his first defense, so this is the first time he’s said this: “I’m making you all another promise.” They surely know what it is: to have both the IWGP Heavyweight AND Intercontinental Championships when he returns home again! Kagoshima loves that! Ibushi makes this promise, and hopes they help him stay true to his word.
NJPW Media Backstage Interview
Ibushi sits with his Right to Challenge contract, and after resting, says, “Things got really bad out there for a moment.” But somehow, he kept his Right to Challenge. Ibushi worked hard to hold onto it, with the help of the fans. But this isn’t over yet. He has much more work to do. He’ll do what he has to, he’ll defend the contract as many times has he has to, but he does need to put it in a new case. He wants a white, blue, silver and gold case, to match his attire. “That’s all I need.” Kenta destroying the old case is unbelievable, and it is unbelievable the Bullet Club would do something like that to Ibushi in his hometown. But he at least survived to tell the tale. Ibushi can feel the long road ahead of him, can he make it to the finish line that is the Wrestle Kingdom 14 main event?
My Thoughts:
A great hour for AXS here for Kagoshima! And considering this aired the same night as AXS’s Beppu coverage, a much more exciting second hour. We still only got part of a tag title match, but The Birds of Prey and the team of Ishimori & Phantasmo are genuinely better than Yoshi-Hashi, so it flowed much better for all of those near finishes to happen as they did. But in the end, Bullet Club wins with shenanigans and retain the titles. That works as Phantasmo, winner of the Super J Cup, gets his shot at Ospreay’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. However, I doubt ELP becomes a triple belt champion at Ospreay’s expense. Ospreay surely retains at King of Pro-Wrestling, and he might even get a chance at the Rev-Pro British Cruiserweight title if he wants it.
Ibushi VS Kenta was definitely a great match, the Bullet Club shenanigans and Chaos making the save included. Just on Kenta attacking before the bell, there was great story in this match. But adding GoD and Ishii-Hashi was pretty fun. Hashi still needs work before he comes off a believable match for Tama. Kenta got to look really strong here, surviving a Kamigoye once, but in the end, it made a lot of sense for Ibushi to win. NJPW wouldn’t just take away Ibushi’s G1 Climax win like that, for one. And Kenta has the NEVER Openweight Championship, he will certainly find a contender come King of Pro-Wrestling. But to follow ZSJ’s example from Beppu, Ibushi is ready to become the next NJPW Triple Crown Champion by checking off the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but he still wants to be Intercontinental Champion at the same time to essentially make Tetsuya Naito’s destiny his own. Ibushi can at least achieve Triple Crown in a year’s time, but it’d mean a lot if NJPW let him accomplish his dream for Kagoshima.
My Score: 9/10
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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
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