Now we started this year off strong, so we might as well dredge this back up. Also, since there were some New Year’s Day shows, I’ll just throw everything together to start off the year, and then we’ll go back to legit weeks.

NOAH, New Japan and IMPACT had some great work. Even WWE had a solid enough show which surprised many.

Quick Top 10:

1. NOAH the New Year: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) vs Go Shiozaki
   Rating: *****
2. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Will Ospreay
   Rating: **** ¾
3. IMPACT Hard to Kill: Jonah vs Josh Alexander
   Rating: **** ½
4. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.4: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi (c)
   Rating: **** ½
5. NOAH the New Year: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: HAYATA (c) vs Yoshinari Ogawa
   Rating: **** ¼
6. IMPACT Hard to Kill: Texas Death Match: Knockouts World Title: Mickie James (c) vs Deonna Purrazzo
   Rating: **** ¼
7. NOAH the New Year: GHC National Championship: Kenoh (c) vs Kaito Kiyomiya
   Rating: **** ¼
8. NOAH the New Year: GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Titles: Keiji Muto & Naomichi Marufuji vs Masato Tanaka & Masaki Mochizuki
   Rating: **** ¼
9. WWE Day 1: SmackDown Tag Team Titles: New Day vs The Usos (c)
   Rating: ****
10. NOAH the New Year: KENTA, Takashi Sugiura & Kazushi Sakuraba vs Yoshiki Inamura, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba
    Rating: ****
11. IMPACT Hard to Kill: ROH Championship: Chris Sabin vs Jonathan Gresham (c)
    Rating: ****

Honorable Mentions:

• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.4: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi vs El Desperado (c)
  Rating: *** ½
• IMPACT Hard to Kill: IMPACT World Heavyweight Championship: Massive Cassidy vs Matt Cardona vs Moose (c)
  Rating: *** ½
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: Stardom Tag: Saya Kamitani & Tam Nakano vs Starlight Kid & Mayu Iwatani
  Rating: *** ½
• IMPACT Hard to Kill: X Division Championship: Steve Maclin vs Trey Miguel (c)
  Rating: *** ½
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.4: IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Dangerous Tekkers (ZSJ & Taichi) w/ Miho Abe (c) vs YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
  Rating: *** ½
• IMPACT!: Mercedes Martinez vs Deonna Purrazzo w/Matthew Rehwoldt
  Rating: *** ¼
• WWE Day 1: WWE Championship: Bobby Lashley vs Big E (c) vs Brock Lesnar vs Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins
  Rating: *** ¼
• NOAH the New Year: Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada, Hajime Ohara & Ultimo Dragon vs Los Perros del Mal de Japon (Kotaro Suzuki, YO-HEY, EITA & Nosawa Rongai)
  Rating: *** ¼
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: Jeff Cobb vs Tetsuya Naito
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.4: SHO vs YOH
  Rating: ***
• IMPACT Hard to Kill: Hardcore War: Eddie Edwards, Heath, Rich Swann, Willie Mack & Rhino vs Eric Young, Joe Doering, Deaner, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: IWGP Junior Tag Titles: Mega Coaches (Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi) vs Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori & ELP) vs Flying Tigers (Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask) (c)
  Rating: ***
• IMPACT Hard to Kill: Ace Austin vs Speedball Mike Bailey vs Laredo Kid vs Chris Bey
  Rating: ***
• NOAH the New Year: STINGER (Seiki Yoshioka & Yuya Susumu) vs KONGOH (HAOH & Aleja)
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, ZSJ & DOUKI) vs LIJ (Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
  Rating: ***
• IMPACT!: Karl Anderson vs Heath
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: NoDQ IWGP US Heavyweight Championship: KENTA (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
  Rating: ***

9t. IMPACT Hard to Kill: ROH Championship: Chris Sabin vs Jonathan Gresham (c)

From My Results:

I’m not gonna lie, this was one of those matches I was generally enjoying and forgot I had to be typing along with it. Gresham did a great job as working on the arm mostly with a little leg focus since Sabin is more strike and high flying than he is. But Sabin found his own mat based offense, and caught Gresham on many accounts with strikes.

Sabin nearly had the win with a surprise Cradle Shock, but the referee noticed after he counted 3 that Gresham’s foot was under the rope and he still had a rope break left. So it was a solid false finish. The cradle variation spam is very Japanese, and done very well by both of them. This was a really solid match, hampered mostly because there was no real story with it, but still generally a delight to watch

Winner: Gresham via Magistral Leg Clutch

9t. NOAH the New Year: KENTA, Takashi Sugiura & Kazushi Sakuraba vs Yoshiki Inamura, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba

From My Coverage:

WOW, Inamura charges in to break a pinfall and KENTA casually steps back and makes the younger look stupid while stepping on Inaba. This is really classic veteran match play and then Inamura blind sides KENTA. KENTA drops to a knee and stares the kid down. Kitamiya gets Suigura in the Prison Lock, KENTA walks in to break it up, but Inamura comes in and stares down KENTA. After some staring and a few words, KENTA slaps him back into 2021, and Inamura powders looks rattled. KENTA does get the hold broken, but then eats some offense by Kitamiya for his troubles.

Kitamiya and Sakuraba exchanging as things break down a little more, Inaba gets tagged in and tries to speed things up. Sakuraba blocks a Brainbuster attempt by sitting out, but Inaba continues his relentless assault. Smartly, Inamura and KENTA come in together and this was a war. KENTA does more selling for the youngster and Inamura gets some great moment in. Kitamiya might still be a little salty that about KENTA walking away from him earlier, but it paid off in a beautiful old school NOAH way. KENTA landed his offense, and punctuated the match with a Go 2 Sleep.

Winner: KENTA wins via Go 2 Sleep

9t. WWE Day 1: SmackDown Tag Team Titles: New Day vs The Usos (c)

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Jimmy drags Kofi away, tags Jey back in and Jey wants to do what they did to Kofi before. Jey drags Kofi up, but Woods drags Jimmy out! Woods throws Jimmy into barriers, then into the steel steps! Kofi rolls Jey up, TWO! Schoolboy with bridge! TWO!! Jey runs in, into SOS!! Cover, TWO!!! Kofi crawls, tags in Woods, Jey runs into DOUBLE GAMANGIRI! Woods goes up, Kofi brings Jey around, BACKBREAKER and DOUBLE STOMP!! Cover, TWO!?!? Jey survives and Atlanta can’t believe it! Woods drags Jey up, shoulders him and tags in Kofi. They wanna shout out Big E but Jey shoves Woods into the corner!

Kofi jumps over, Jimmy tags in! SUPERKICK! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICKS!! Jimmy tags Jey back in, and each Uso gets a corner! DOUBLE UCE!! Cover, Woods breaks it!! The King saves this for his people! All four men are down and Atlanta is thunderous! The teams regroup and stand up. The Usos stare down with the New Day, and it fires off! They brawl, Woods throws Jimmy out to PLANCHA into a SUPERKICK! Jey hauls Kofi up in a fireman’s carry, Kofi slips off but Jimmy tags in! SUPERKICK! THREE D!??! Cover, The Usos win!!

Winner: Usos via Superkick 3D

5t. NOAH the New Year: GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Titles: Keiji Muto & Naomichi Marufuji vs Masato Tanaka & Masaki Mochizuki

From Hisame’s Newsletter:

Naomichi Marufuji and Keiji Mutoh retained the GHC Heavyweight Tag titles against fellow M’s alliance unit members, Masaaki Mochizuki and Masato Tanaka. The match ended when Mochizuki was made to tap out after constant attacks on his knee and a Keiji Mutoh Figure Four. Mutoh said he had been trying particularly hard as he wanted to demonstrate his own judo background to Olympic athlete and Judoka, Aaron Wolf, who was on guest commentary. Masato Tanaka, who had fought Takashi Sugiura earlier in the day for the ZERO1 World Heavyweight, had sadly come away empty handed from Korakuen Hall. Takashi Sugiura has been challenged by Takuya Sugawara.

Keiji Mutoh has also stated that he would like to be GHC National Champion for his sixtieth birthday in December 2022.

Winner: Muto via Figure Four

5t. NOAH the New Year: GHC National Championship: Kenoh (c) vs Kaito Kiyomiya

From My Results:

Kiyomiya locks Kenoh into the Stretch Plum, and it’s nice to see how he started off as channeling Misawa, and now he’s learning to reinvent and adapt other things to slowly become his own person. Kenoh fires as Kiyomiya taps into a bit of the Rainmaker cockiness, since he so desperately wants a match with Kazuchika Okada. We see a Snap Dragon Suplex from Kenoh, Okada-esque Dropkick from Kiyomiya and then Kenoh hits a PK for them to both have a breather spot.

The aggression turns up, Kenoh starts hitting some stiff strikes and looks to go to the ropes. Kenoh’s finisher is a Rolling Double Foot Stomp when he’s not knocking people out. Kaito blocks, Kenoh jumps to the ramp, Kaito tries to follow but Kenoh catches him with a fierce German Suplex. As Kaito is rocked, Kenoh hits a normal Double Foot Stomp, but between how long it takes to roll him in the ring, Kaito kicks out.

Kenoh tries to hit a PK and go back for another Professional Foot Stomp, but Kaito blocks him and starts putting some offense together. Big strikes, Falcon Arrow variations, but Kenoh kicks out. They trade counters on big moves until Kenoh pulls a little Minoru Suzuki, changes levels and tries to slow the Supernova with a Sleeper. Kaito is mostly out, Professional Foot Stomp, but only two. Tiger Suplex, Dragon Suplex, strike exchange. The aggression and frustration is palpable. Kenoh hits a thunderous Roundhouse as Kaito folds over and the referee stops Kenoh from covering Kaito and calls for the bell. Kaito got knocked out, Kenoh retains!

Winner: Kenoh via Knockout

5t. IMPACT Hard to Kill: Texas Death Match: Knockouts World Title: Mickie James (c) vs Deonna Purrazzo

From My Results:

Deonna introduces thumbtacks, as is IMPACT tradition. Mickie moves off the table, tries to hit the Mick-DT on the Deonna but Deonna slips out and then a big Pump Kick sends Mickie back first into the tacks. You can see the tacks embedded in Mickie’s shoulder blades. Deonna chokes Mickie with her own chaps, Mickie taps as fast as she can and stands right before the 10 count.

Deonna attacks her from the apron, Mickie tries fight back, goes under the ring for her Hardcore Country guitar, but Deonna stays on the attack. Deonna beats Mickie with a chair while she’s in the tacks, goes to the top rope after lacing Mickie’s ankle in the chair. She wants to break Mickie’s ankle, but Mickie Sabu’s Deonna and then sells back down to the mat but into the tacks.

Thesz Press off the apron to the outside, 3 count and now the Standing 10 starts. Rehwoldt shows up to help Deonna stand, which gets around the loophole. Mickie with the Diving Crossbody and then puts Deonna back in the ring, and Deonna is busted open now. Deonna drives Mickie through the table with Queen’s Gambit, gets the pinfall but Mickie gets up. Mickie fights through, Deonna tries to stop Mickie with a …umm…Mandible Claw between the thighs. Mickie licks her fingers and just enjoys it, Rehwoldt tries to get involved, gets hit with the guitar, and Mickie is rolling. Deonna swings the chair, misses, bounces the chairs off the ropes hits herself and Mick-DT has Mickie James retain because Deonna doesn’t get up for the 10 count!

Winner: Mickie via Mick-DT

5t. NOAH the New Year: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: HAYATA (c) vs Yoshinari Ogawa

From Hisame’s Newsletter:

HAYATA retained the GHC Junior Heavyweight against his teacher Yoshinari Ogawa at the Nippon Budokan. HAYATA pinned Ogawa via a reversal of The Headache after 20 minutes and 54 seconds. Ogawa could not forgive the knowledge that HAYATA had beaten him and proved that he was not the final challenger, and neither could he bear the growing realization that he had created a monster and one that knew him so well. HAYATA attempted a handshake (rare for him) but Ogawa threw the GHC Junior Heavyweight tag belt at him, and shaking his head he left the ring. HAYATA stood for a few moments awkwardly, and left after gathering up all the belts. Kotaro Suzuki echoed fan feelings when he said he didn’t know how they were going to work together when the title match comes up on the fourth, and YO-HEY asked on social media if the “strained” tag team were okay. However, how can anyone be sure that this isn’t just an Ogawa mind game?

Winner: HAYATA via Counter Cradle

3t. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.4: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi (c)

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Takagi tops things off and he DECKS Okada! Takagi drags Okada back up, pump handles, torture racks, but Okada slips off, MONEY CLIP! But Takagi arm-drags free, and BLINDSIDE ELBOWS! Takagi goes to the corner, fireman’s carries Okada and climbs up! Okada fights free and then moves around. Takagi throws body shots back, fans fire up, but Okada again resists! Okada and Takagi are brawling up top, Takagi fights up but Okada hits a SUPER DDT!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down again! Okada roars as he stands back up! Ripcord but Takagi elbows free! So Okada GERMAN SUPLEXES! Okada holds on, ripcords, but Takagi dodges!

Okada catches Takagi, spins, but into the JAB! And a HEADBUTT! Both men wobble, POINT-BLANK PUMPING!! Takagi fires up, he drags Okada up and pump handles for the torture rack! Okada fights again, dragon sleeper to a gut wrench! Takagi fights free of that, DRAGON SUPLEX! Takagi runs, into a DROPKCIK! Takagi flounders up to his feet, but runs into a MICHINOKU DRIVER! Okada gets Takagi back up, ripcord and RAINMAKER!!! Cover, Okada wins!!

Winner: Okada via Rainmaker

3t. IMPACT Hard to Kill: Jonah vs Josh Alexander

From My Results:

Jonah imposes his size and power early, but Josh sees the opening once Jonah goes for the Senton, and Josh rolls away. From that point, Josh gets a chance to knock Jonah around, gets him to the outside, lands a suplex from the apron into the ring and Jonah’s leg gets caught in the ropes. Josh takes advantage, but Jonah eventually stems the tide and starts throwing Josh around again.

This really turns into a slobberknocker with Josh trying to pick his spots and use his emotion to his advantage. He absorbs Jonah’s attacks to kick his foot out from under him and starts working on the leg. They spill out into the front row, the fans get evacuated, Jonah gets seated and Josh flies from the ring onto Jonah. Action goes back into the ring and they keep throwing strikes at one another.

Jonah goes for broke, attempts the Moonsault and misses. Josh lands the Rolling Elbow, Release German into a Jacknife Powerbomb. Ankle Lock, reapplication of the Ankle Lock and Jonah is forced to tap after Josh worked him over well and barely survived that while getting busted open.

Winner: Alexander via Ankle Lock

2. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 1.5: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Will Ospreay

From My Results:

The story of this match was that Ospreay really did his homework. We saw Ospreay hark back to many different championship matches Okada has had. Naomichi Marufuji, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada himself, Kenny Omega, Katsuyori Shibata; just a lot of little moments that made you stop and go “OH THAT”.

Ospreay also showed a level of maturation when he avoided going for the Sasuke Special on the initial outside the ring spot, but went to it when he got cocky, and Okada countered it. Okada’s thread here was that he knew Ospreay’s playbook fairly well. So he dodged the Hidden Blade once or twice, countered the Sasuke Special and when Ospreay got cocky and went for the Rainmaker, Okada hit him with a Stormbreaker. Ospreay did manage to hit every move in his arsenal, except Stormbreaker.

Hell, Ospreay even did what no one has done in the last year or so that Okada has broken it back out; and that’s kick out of the first full contact Rainmaker. Okada had to utilize the Rolling Rainmaker, the Nakamura inspired Landslide and then one more Rainmaker to keep Ospreay down. It was a really fun much if not a little too over indulgent sometimes. Definitely ends the show on a high note, because this day needed something.

Winner: Okada via Rainmaker

1. NOAH the New Year: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) vs Go Shiozaki

From My Results:

The smartass tendencies of Nakajima continue, and Shiozaki lands a Gowan Lariat because Nakajima is leaving himself open. Machine Gun chops in the corner, and Shiozaki is really playing the hits to prove his shoulder is in good shape. Those chops hurt my chest watching on Wrestle Universe. Nakajima catches Go with a classic Enzuigiri, and that gives him the momentum. Nakajima throws Go out, Apron PK and then just a lot of use of the outside to assist his attacks. They go to the ramp, fight back and forth and then Nakajima gets an idea.

2003 Kobashi and Misawa went through his mind, but Shiozaki blocked numerous times. Shiozaki counters, and then executes a release German Suplex sending Nakajima to the floor from the elevated ramp. Shiozaki manages to get Nakajima back into the ring before 20, goes for a larger move but Nakajima buys himself time by rolling away from it and landing a swift kick to help recollect himself. Fighting Spirit Kicks/Chops trade begins when they get up. This fighting spirit spot is a little reminiscent of the Kensuke Sasaki v Kenta Kobashi chop fest. Granted it’s both of their mentors, but it’s their version of it since Nakajima is known for his kicks.

Shiozaki removes the elbow pad, close range Gowan Lariat, also for just 2. Shiozaki goes for his big match move homage to Kenta Kobashi, as he goes for the Moonsault, but Nakajima moves. Punt from Nakajima gets a very weak kick out from Go. Vertical Spike number 2, with a long delay, is – AGAIN Shiozaki kicks out! Nakajima calls Shiozaki to his feet and hits him with a Northern Lights Bomb. Nakajima retains!

Winner: Nakajima via Northern Lights Bomb

Final Thoughts:

So we kick off 2022 with all 2022 and only 2022 content. As you can tell from the overwhelming repeat names, NOAH the New Year and Hard to Kill were tremendous shows. Wrestle Kingdom was lacking but the main events paid off, and WWE was middle of the road, but wasn’t even close to bad. All that being said, NOAH is the Japanese company to follow since the pandemic and some things don’t change. Maybe for NJPW’s hope, they can work with NOAH more through the year and figure themselves out.

The GHC Heavyweight match is obviously my choice, but we NOAH just needs more attention. Am I going to start watching AEW? No, might I watch something hyped, sure. But those are some of the worst written cringe stories outside of a high school drama class. I’ll tolerate NJPW struggle bussing before I actively decide to watch trash from Jacksonville.