It’s a Top 10 this week, so you know things got interesting! NJPW, NOAH, Impact and NXT had big shows. What took home some top spots?

First things first, it’s time to declare the first match into the MOTY pool. Barely edging out Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay – Shingo Takagi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi is the January winner!

Even though the top two matches were New Japan, I was happy to see every match got a some support. So that’s always nice to see some love for the entire pool. Oh yeah, last week’s winner has to be announced too; NXT: Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs The Undisputed Era, but just like I said last week; there are honorable mentions as good if not better than this one. So a weak first week should make for an interesting pool considering how stacked this week is!

Now let’s get to this week shall we?

Quick Top 10:

1. DDT Kawasaki Strong: KO-D Openweight Championship: Tetsuya Endo (c) vs Jun Akiyama
   Rating: **** 1/2
2. NXT: Vengeance Day: North American Title: Johnny Gargano (c) vs Kushida
   Rating: **** 1/2
3. NOAH: Return to Destination: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Daisuke Harada (c) vs Seiki Yoshioka
   Rating: **** 1/4
4. NXT: Vengeance Day: NXT Championship: Finn Balor (c) vs Pete Dunne
   Rating: **** 1/4
5. Impact Wrestling: No Surrender: X-Division Championship: TJP (c) vs Rohit Raju w/Shera
   Rating: ****
6. NXT: Vengeance Day: MSK vs Grizzled Young Veterans
   Rating: ****
7. NOAH: Return to Destination: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Go Shiozaki (c) vs Keiji Mutoh
   Rating: ****
8. NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima: IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) vs SANADA
   Rating: ****
9. AEW Dynamite: Falls Count Anywhere: Lance Archer & Jon Moxley vs Kenny Omega & KENTA
   Rating: ****
10. NOAH: Return to Destination: Jun Akiyama & Naomichi Marufuji vs Kaito Kiyomiya & Yoshiki Inamura
    Rating: ****

Honorable Mentions:

• Impact No Surrender: Triple Threat Revolver Match: Trey Miguel vs Ace Austin vs Willie Mack vs Blake Christian vs Suicide vs Chris Bey vs Josh Alexander vs Daivari
  Rating: *** 3/4
• NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima 2.10: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs SHO
  Rating: *** 3/4
• NOAH Return to Destination: GHC Junior Tag Team Championship: Kotaro Suzuki & Hidaka Ikuto vs Stinger (HAYATA & Yoshinari Ogawa) (c)
  Rating: *** 3/4
• NXT Vengeance Day: Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai vs Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart
  Rating: *** 1/2
• NOAH Return to Destination: GHC National Championship: Kenoh (c) vs Masakatsu Funaki
  Rating: *** 1/2
• Impact No Surrender: Impact World Tag Team Championship: Private Party w/ Matt Hardy vs Beer Guns vs The Good Brothers (c)
  Rating: *** 1/2
• NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima 2.11: NEVER Openweight 6 Man Titles: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii) (c) vs Bullet Club (Jay White, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa) w/Gedo & Jado
  Rating: *** 1/2
• NOAH Return to Destination: Sugiura-Gun ( Takashi Sugiura, Kazushi Sakuraba, Kazuyuki Fujita, Kendo Kashin, NOSAWA Rongai & Kazunari Murakami) vs KONGO (Masa Kitamiya, Haoh, Nioh, Tadasuke, Manabu Soya & Katsuhiko Nakajima)
  Rating: *** 1/4
• IMPACT!: Willie Mack, Trey Miguel, Josh Alexander & Suicide vs Ace Austin, Daivari, Blake Christian & Chris Bey
  Rating: *** 1/4
• NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima 2.10: Master Wato vs BUSHI
  Rating: *** 1/4
• Impact No Surrender: Impact World Heavyweight Championship: Rich Swann (c) vs Tommy Dreamer
  Rating: *** 1/4
• NXT Vengeance Day: NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs Toni Storm vs Mercedes Martinez
  Rating: ***
• NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima 2.10: Bullet Club (ELP, Taiji Ishimori, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Jay White) vs CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii)
  Rating: ***
• Impact No Surrender: Eddie Edwards & Matt Cardona vs Brian Myers & Hernandez
  Rating: ***
• NOAH Return to Destination: Shuhei Tanijuchi & Muhammad Yone vs Masato Tanaka & Masaaki Mochizuki
  Rating: ***
• NJPW New Beginning Hiroshima 2.11: Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori) vs LIJ (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
  Rating: ***
• AEW Dynamite: Leyla Hirsch vs Thunder Rosa
  Rating: ***
• Impact No Surrender: Susan, Deonna Purrazzo & Kimber Lee vs ODB, Jordynne Grace & Jazz
  Rating: ***
• NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima 2.10: Yuya Uemura, Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji vs Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  Rating: ***

5t. NOAH: Return to Destination: Jun Akiyama & Naomichi Marufuji vs Kaito Kiyomiya & Yoshiki Inamura

From My Results:

Akiyama started off for a while, since he wanted to size up both of these new generation members. NOAH was built around Akiyama, as a protégé of the Four Pillars and the unofficial fifth Heavenly King he is the remaining measuring stick to test the new generation out in the Giant Baba AJPW dojo style. And did he ever put them through their paces. Akiyama’s Sternness gimmick was back in full force as he challenged Inamura’s power and Kiyomiya’s spirit.

Inamura got the first feather in his cap when he was able to win the power struggle with Akiyama, but Kiyomiya wasn’t so lucky. Akiyama dismantled his arms and put him through the paces. Akiyama hinted towards the Exploder a few times, even hitting the normal version, never his signature Wristclutch variation. Marufuji on the other hand felt like he was the guiding hand to see what Akiyama felt. Marufuji’s moves were crisp, and he punished the younger wrestlers at time, but the tension and crowd got audibly excited when Akiyama mixed it up with any of them.

Kiyomiya managed to eat a True Tiger King, Hook Kick and even get out of the Perfect Key Lock before finding his second wind. Coming off the ropes, he connects with a Headbutt to Marufuji and NOAH’s Genius stayed rocked. A German Suplex set the stage and a Tiger Suplex Hold won the match.

Winner: Kiyomiya via Tiger Suplex Hold

5t. AEW Dynamite: Falls Count Anywhere: Lance Archer & Jon Moxley vs Kenny Omega & KENTA

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Archer drags Omega up, knuckle locks and goes up the corner to walk it Old School! For the MOONSAULT!! Cover, TWO!! Omega survives but Archer is just getting angrier! Archer puts Omega in a corner, hoists him up, inverted crucifix, but Omega slips off! The Good Brothers rush out to help Omega but Archer just DECKS them both! Kenta gets back in, spins Archer around, BACK HAND! Archer doesn’t even flinch! Kenta BACK HANDS again, then runs, into a BOOT! Anderson gets in, but Archer choke grips and CHOKE- GUN STUNS!! Anderson hits Archer, but Jake reels him in to SHORT ARM CLOTHESLINE! Gallows gets in, to HELL STAB Jake!

Jake gasps for air against ropes and Omega grins as he takes aim! Omega says BANG, but he runs into Moxley’s BARBED WIRE BAT! Moxley starts swinging for the fences on the Good Brothers!! The refs get Jake away but Kenta fireman’s carries Moxley for GO TO SLEEP! Archer CLOBBERS Kenta! Archer grabs Omega, and then grabs Kenta! But the DOUBLE LOW BLOW! Legal in this match, and then Good Brothers give Archer MAGIC KILLER!! Omega adds on the V-TRIGGER! Omega drags Archer up, Electric Chairs, but Archer is too big! The Good Brothers help him get Archer up, to hit the ONE WINGED ANGEL!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!!

Winner: Omega via One Winged Angel

5t. NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima: IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) vs SANADA

From My Results:

They start off with some slow mat based wrestling, which feeds into Ibushi’s usual style of wanting to wrestle his opponent’s strength. The problem is; that SANADA is a very balanced wrestler. So even if he’s proficient on the mat, he’s still not one dimensional.

After SANADA has a little advantage, then we get into a strike exchange which favors Ibushi. So both men are trading shots. Ibushi tries to end things early after Last Ride and the first Kamigoye attempt, but SANADA counters with his own Knee Strike and then we get a few Skull End attempts. A missed Moonsault gives Ibushi an opening again, so we see the return of the Lawn Dart! Ibushi then goes for the outside in rope assist German Suplex, but SANADA thankfully fights back, gets him on his shoulders and TKOs him onto the floor outside.

There’s a good bit of back and forth, SANADA attempts a few Japanese Leg Clutch variations, shakes off two padded Kamigoyes and looks to be making a surge until Ibushi just catches him, then rocks him with an exposed V-Trigger, followed by the exposed Kamigoye.

Winner: Ibushi via Kamigoye

5t. NOAH: Return to Destination: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Go Shiozaki (c) vs Keiji Mutoh

From My Results:

There were great callbacks from both men in this match. Ironic callbacks when Shiozaki charges Mutoh on the ramp to land a move is cute. Mutoh went after Go’s legs to build off his victory from earlier this month. Shining Wizard stunned Shiizaki in the ropes, and then a Dragon Screw while he was hung up was clever. Mutoh lands an Emerald Flowsion for only two. The previous victories of a Figure Four from Mutoh and Moonsault from Shiozaki weren’t enough to win this match but build well.

Toward the end of the match things did get dicey, but it’s hard to call them botches. Mutoh failed on the first attempt to Emerald Flowsion, but he failed on the initial scoop, so he dropped him and sold exhausted. Shiozaki had a scary Avalanche Brainbuster, but aside from looking dangerous was completely fine. Also we can look at the moment Mutoh half his the backbreaker and looked like he was going to Moonsault, but didn’t pull the trigger. Again, hard to tell if that was him not feeling like he could pull it off, so he audibled, or if it was supposed to get the crowd excited to see a Mutoh Moonsault post knee surgery.

As Shiozaki looked to end things, connecting with a Lariat and then winding up for a Gowan Lariat, Mutoh jumped, Hurricanrana and flash pinfall! Shiozaki’s reign ends to a flash pin from a legend and Shiozaki is beside himself.

Winner: Mutoh via Hurricanrana

5t. NXT: Vengeance Day: MSK vs Grizzled Young Veterans

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Tag to Carter, he goes up top, and Lee tags back in. SWANTON BOMB and TORNILLO SENTON! Cover, TWO?!?! Drake survives and MSK is in shock! Lee tags Carter, Carter brings Drake back up, and Lee runs, only for Gibson to dump him out! Drake clubs Carter, Gibson Electric Chair lifts Lee on the outside, Drake builds speed! TOPE DOOMSDAY SUICIDA!!! The fans are electric for “NXT! NXT!” again! GYV regroup to go after Carter but Carter ROCKS Drake! Carter DECKS Gibson but Drake CLOBBERS Carter! Tag to Gibson, and he drags Carter up. Carter still fires off fists and CHOPS on GYV!

Gibson ROCKS Carter, hoists him up for Drake, POWERBOMB BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!!?!? How is Carter doing this?! Drake has to exit but he wants to finish this. Gibson sits Carter up and shouts, “You are in over your head!” Gibson SLAPS Carter, tags Drake, and then feeds Carter to the gut wrench. But Lee pushes Gibson away to save Carter! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Carter tags Lee in, brings Drake up, slingshot for the BLOCKBUSTER HART ATTACK!! Cover, MSK WINS!?!?

Winner: MSK via Blockbuster Hart Attack

5t. Impact Wrestling: No Surrender: X-Division Championship: TJP (c) vs Rohit Raju w/Shera

From My Results:

Rohit took it to TJP early, honestly a little too early. He dove out before TJP came into the ring, and they brawled for a while, and Brian Hebner kept imploring them to get into the ring. After some solid outside the ring work, Rohit did a damn good job.

Rohit had a wonderful counter wrestling strategy. TJP went for a Tornado DDT, Rohit countered it into a Northern Lights. TJP tried his 3 Amgos homage, and Rohit turned them into his own homage with a Perfect Plex for a two count.

Almost everything TJP threw, Rohit had an answer for. The story was gorgeous with how much Rohit knew TJP’s playbook and how well he could counter it. The rub was, when Shera tried to restrain TJP behind the referee’s back, TJP got away and malfunction at the junction. That gave TJP the chance to drop Rohit with a Detonation Kick and then Mamba Splash.

Winner: TJP via Mamba Splash

3t. NXT: Vengeance Day: NXT Championship: Finn Balor (c) vs Pete Dunne

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Balor knees low and reels Dunne into the cobra twist! Dunne falls and Balor makes it part crossface! Dunne sees fingers and grabs at them! Dunne SNAPS the fingers!!! Balor clutches his digits but Dunne drags him up. Balor throws forearms with the good arm and he knocks Dunne down! Balor gives those Danielson Stomps back but Dunne won’t let go! Dunne pump handles but Balor elbows Dunne away! Dunne yanks the arm harder for an unofficial low blow! And he hits BITTER END!! Cover, TWO!??! Balor survives Dunne’s best shot?! Fans are thunderous for this match again as Dunne stalks Balor.

Balor sits up, Dunne DOUBLE STOMPS the hands! And then DOUBLE STOMPS again!! BUZZSAW! Powerbomb- DDT COUNTER!! Balor fires up, runs, but into an ENZIGURI! He PELES through! Dunne PENALTY KICKS from behind! Pump handle, BITTER- NO! BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives, AND has Balor’s fingers! Balor tries to get away but Dunne rises! Balor stomps the bad foot! Dunne still SNAPS the fingers! Balor DOUBLE STOMPS Dunne on the back! Balor sits Dunne up, and takes his mouth guard away! Balor takes aim, to basement dropkick Dunne in the face! Dunne is down, Balor goes up top, COUP DE GRACE!!!! Balor shows no mercy, he gives Dunne the 1916!!!! Cover, Balor wins!!!

Winner: Balor via 1916

3t. NOAH: Return to Destination: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Daisuke Harada (c) vs Seiki Yoshioka

From My Results:

Lightning fast start, counters, attack ducks, rope runs, absorbing a few strikes and just coming back at others. Harada leads Yoshioka into the ropes, hits a Release German Suplex, hits the Release Belly to Belly into the corner, Henkei Knee Upper and even the Turn Over Knee, but only for a 2 count. After the legs started to slow on both, the haymakers flew. A match that went from jumping over leg sweeps and counter wrestling, turned into a war of attrition.

Yoshioka rocks Harada with a Thrust Kick and lands a Pumphandle Side Driver, but only for 2. Styles Clash set up, but instead of the Clash, he jumps and drives the opponent down onto their shoulders, CRASH DRIVER! We have a new Junior champion!

Winner: Seiki via Crash Driver

1t.NXT: Vengeance Day: North American Title: Johnny Gargano (c) vs Kushida

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Kushida turns him again, but they’re closer to ropes! Gargano can’t reach, Kushida pulls harder, but Gargano gets the ropebreak by a foot! The ref counts, Kushida won’t let go but Gargano drags him out of the ring! Gargano grabs for fencing but Kushida holds on. Gargano RAMS Kushida into the apron, but Kushida still holds on! Gargano RAMS Kushida into the barriers and is free! Gargano scrambles back to the elevated ramp, and decides to retreat, but Kushida runs from the stage to PENALTY KICK the arm!! Maybe NOW it’s broken! Gargano staggers up, Kushida hops on, HOVERBOARD!!! Gargano stays on his feet to put Kushida in the rope and HOTSHOT him!

Kushida flops to the ramp, fans say “Johnny Wrestling” is back as he slingshots to ONE FINAL BEAT to the RAMP!!! Gargano puts Kushida back in, then crawls after with one good arm. The ref checks on Kushida, he is still okay, and he slowly rises. Gargano aims, slingshots, ONE FINAL BEAT AGAIN!! Cover, Gargano wins!!

Winner: Gargano via One Final Beat

1t. DDT Kawasaki Strong: KO-D Openweight Championship: Tetsuya Endo (c) vs Jun Akiyama

After Akiyama won the D-Oh Grand Prix, he declared his challenge for the KO-D championship. KO-D is DDT’s top championship, effectively standing for King of DDT. Endo is the younger bad boy style of wrestler in his second reign after beating Masato Tanaka last year.

Unlike his match in NOAH where he acted more like the invulnerable veteran, much like Kobashi or Misawa would do to younger wrestlers, he sold much more in this match. Early on he out wrestled the younger champion, but once a few of the Damnation seconds got involved, it opened Akiyama up for some punishment. Part of the beauty was that even though Damnation got involved once, it was never again, and made logical sense to help out their stablemate.

I didn’t get a chance to watch the D-Oh Grand Prix, but I found it interesting that Akiyama was focusing on Endo’s neck. Chops, elbows, Knee Strikes, a Front Neck Lock, and even a Butterfly Lock. In AJPW Akiyama tended to finish matches with the Wristclutch Exploder, so I was curious where we were going. Endo focused Akiyama’s knees since that’s a big part of his offense, and even working over the neck, Endo still hit a few Torture Rack Powerbombs.

The fight raged on, we had great near falls, Endo kicked out of the Wristclutch Exploder and missed his Shooting Star Press. So I was curious where we were going, but Akiyama busts out a modified version of the Sternness Driver for the pinfall! This was just a great battle, Akiyama is definitely legit, and as of today, he officially became a full time DDT roster member.

Between Tanaka’s reign, Endo’s second reign, Akiyama winning and the CyberFight money, this does a lot to legitimize DDT beyond the comedy wrestling people associate it with.

Winner: Akiyama via Modified Sternness Driver

Thoughts:

Do I really have to decide this week? This is crazy. Jun Akiyama helps to continue the narrative of 2021 that older athletes are still more than enough of a challenge by appearing twice in the Top 10. Mutoh winning the GHC to cement his place in history helps the narrative as well, but everyone should’ve heard about that by now.

I’m torn between Johnny Gargano vs Kushida and Akiyama vs Endo. Both were great, told different stories and definitely left a mark that could last on some Top MOTY lists. Since I have to decide…I’ll just flip a coin or something. Hold please – OH LOOK, Johnny Gargano vs Kushida gets my vote!

There we go, I decided, now you should as well!