Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW WrestleKingdom 17 Results & Report! (1/4/23)
New year, new champions?

NJPW is back in the Tokyo Dome!
As a new year begins, NJPW settles scores from last year with WrestleKingdom 17! Will Switchblade Jay White still be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion? Or will Kazuchika Okada once again make it rain?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ryohei Oiwa VS Boltin Oleg; Time Limit Draw.
- KOPW 2023 Right to Challenge New Japan Rambo: Shingo Takagi, Great-O-Khan, SHO & Toru Yano advance to the KOPW 2023 match at New Year’s Dash.
- Antonio Inoki Memorial Six Man Tag: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe VS Tiger Mask, Minoru Suzuki & Tatsumi Fujinami; Nagata, Kojima & Makabe win.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Catch 2/2 VS YOH & Lio Rush; Catch 2/2 wins and retains the titles.
- IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI VS Tam Nakano; Kairi wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: FTR VS Bishamon; Bishamon wins and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- NJPW World Television Championship Tournament Finals: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita; ZSJ wins and is the inaugural NJPW World Television Champion.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson VS Tama Tonga; Tama wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
- Six Man Tag, Keiji Muto’s Last NJPW Match: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; Muto, Tanahashi & Umino win.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4 Way: Taiji Ishimori VS El Desperado VS Hiromu Takahashi VS Master Wato; Hiromu wins and becomes the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
- IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Kenny Omega; Omega wins and becomes the new IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White VS Kazuchika Okada; Okada wins and becomes the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
KOPW 2023 Right to Challenge New Japan Rambo!
Another year in the books for KOPW, but now we start all over again! With the trophy being traded in for a title, who will be the four at the end of this going for gold at New Year’s Dash?
The first two are the Murder Machine, Sho, and The Lion of Hontai, Hikuleo! Sho wants Hiku to take it easy, but the bell rings and the two circle. They approach, Sho pulls the “what’s that?” trick, and then fires off forearms! Hiku doesn’t budge! Sho dodges Hiku’s haymaker and runs the ropes, but into a scoop! Hiku aims for ropes but Sho flails, slips free, and then slides out under the bottom rope! Fans boo, but Hiku goes up and over the top rope! Well, wait, he can’t eliminate himself, can he? Sho still laughs as he leads Hiku on a cat ‘n’ mouse chase, but then Hiku goes the other way and BOOTS Sho down!
Hiku drags Sho up and puts him back in the ring. The countdown is here, and next out is… The King of Darkness, Evil! Sho has reinforcements as Evil, and Dick Togo, rush to the ring! Hiku has Sho up in a choke grip, but Evil slides in to save Sho! The House of Torture works together against Hiku, they double whip him, but Hiku BOOTS Evil! And scoops Sho to give him SNAKE EYES, and a LARIAT! Fans fire up for Hiku as he runs at Evil. Evil pulls the ropes down but Hiku is smarter than that. Hiku stops himself and stomps Evil down! Hiku drags Evil up, choke grips, and CHOKE- NO, Evil slips out! EVERY- NO, Hiku slips free, FULL NELSON SLAM!
The countdown is back and fourth out is… the Stone Pitbull, Tomohiro Ishii! Evil crawls out of the ring under the bottom rope and Dick checks on him. Ishii storms down to the ring while Hiku grabs at Sho in the corner. Hiku drags Sho around but Sho pushes him away. Ishii throws his shirt at Hiku, and Hiku steps up to him. Hiku mocks Ishii’s height, but then he and Ishii both go after Sho! Ishii holds Sho for Hiku to CHOP! Then BOOT, forearm, and BRAIN- Wait, Ishii turns on Hiku by saving Sho! They DOUBLE SUPLEX Hiku! Ishii stomps Hiku, and the countdown is back. Fifth out is… The Dominator, Great-O-Khan!
Ishii stomps Sho now as Khan makes his way to the ring. Hiku ROCKS Ishii with forearms but Ishii HEADBUTTS back! Sho also bails out under the bottom rope, the House of Torture regroups. Hiku CHOPS Ishii, CHOPS him again, Khan slides in but then slides right out. The Rev-Pro British Heavyweight Champion is smarter than that. Hiku knocks Ishii down and rains down forearms while Khan shows off his title. Hiku CHOKES Ishii, then drags him up. The countdown is back, and sixth out is… Japones Del Mal, DOUKI! Khan gets in the ring to CLUB Hiku and Mongolian Chop Ishii! Douki tosses his pipe aside to slide in, but Khan is right on him!
Khan whips but Douki RANAS Khan away! Douki keeps moving, SPRINGBOARD BACK ELBOW! Khan bails out, Evil gets in to CLUB Ishii! Douki slides out after Khan. Ishii holds ropes to dump Evil to the apron! Ishii ROCKS Evil but Dick keeps Evil up! Evil rakes Ishii’s eyes! Evil suplexes but Ishii slips free! They’re both on the apron but Dick is pulling on Ishii’s leg! Ishii holds onto ropes, and onto Evil! Evil has to hold onto ropes to keep from being eliminated, too! The countdown is back, and seventh is… Azucar, Rocky Romero! The King Coach is back, and he grabs Evil’s leg! Evil shots to Sho, but Rocky DECKS Dick!
Rocky runs in to KNEE Sho! Rock whips, Sho reverses, but Rocky uses that to ROCK Evil! Sho runs in but Rocky dodges, Sho BLASTS and ELIMINATES Evil!! Sho freaks out but Rocky gets him for a snap suplex! Fans fire up with Rocky and he whips Sho to a corner! Rocky starts up the Forever Clotheslines! The countdown is back, and eighth is… Fang Revived, KENTA! Rocky finally stops the lariats, and he keeps Sho from running away! He power walks to the ring, Sho slips away, but Ishii and Rocky are on guard. Rocky snags Khan as he crawls in, and Ishii is after Kenta! Kenta rakes Ishii’s eyes, then fires off haymakers!
Ishii growls but Kenta keeps throwing hands! Ishii ROCKS Kenta, HEADBUTTS him, and pulls hair! Kenta claws Ishii’s face! The ref reprimands, Kenta puts Ishii through ropes! Ishii fights back but Kenta HOTSHOTS him! The countdown is back and ninth is… The Heel Master, Yoshinobu Kanemaru! Rocky fights off Khan, Hiku mugs Sho on the outside, and Rocky now has Khan’s leg in the ropes. The ref reprimands, Kanemaru slides in and attacks Kenta! Kanemaru CLUBS and ROCKS Kenta but Kenta ROCKS him back! Kanemaru CLUBS Kenta down, then he kicks Rocky. Kenta comes back with forearms but Kanemaru EuroUppers!
Ishii hits Kenta from below, Kanemaru kicks Kenta from behind. Kanemaru EuroUppers again, then CLUBS him on the neck. The countdown is back, and tenth is… The Ultimate Weapon, Aaron Henare! Khan has reinforcements now, and Henare goes right after Ishii! Henare whips Ishii but Ishii comes back to RAM shoulders! And again! And again! The forearms start flying and fans fire up! Kanemaru keeps Kenta down, Khan has Rocky, and Henare gets the edge on Ishii! But Ishii swings! Henare ducks to body shot, but Ishii blocks the kick! Ishii ROCKS Henare, but Henare scoops him for a BERSERKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!
Khan calls to Henare and they work together as the countdown is back. Eleventh is… The Funky Weapon, Ryusuke Taguchi! Henare and Ishii keep throwing forearms, Khan saves Henare from a cover. Kanemaru dropkicks Kenta’s legs while the Empire mugs Ishii. Henare puts Ishii on the apron! Ishii fights back against Henare and Khan! But #Khanare hits the SUPERKICK BOOT COMBO! Ishii falls, The United Empire ELIMINATES Ishii! Taguchi HIP ATTACKS Henare! And HIP ATTACKS Khan! Taguchi stomps Khan, Hiku is still after Sho on the outside. Ishii throws forearms on Henare even though he’s out of this!
Taguchi uses his shirt to CHOKE Khan! The ref reprimands, the countdown is back, and twelfth is… The Imperial Unit, Jeff Cobb! The United Empire is growing stronger in this match! Taguchi & Rocky double whip Khan to DOUBLE HIP ATTACK! Cover, but Rocky breaks it? Guess not even former teammates are friends in this match. Hiku goes after Kanemaru but Kanemaru dropkicks his legs out! Sho is helping Rocky from the outside by pulling Taguchi’s hair! Douki returns to help Kanemaru! Dropkick to Hiku’s leg and ENZIGURI! Douki & Kanemaru try but they can’t double suplex Hiku! Hiku DOUBLE SUPLEXES them! Khan covers Kanemaru, but Taguchi stops him!
Hiku TOSSES Douki and ELIMINATES him! Then Hiku TOSSES Kanemaru out and ELIMINATES him, too! Not a good start for the former Suzuki-Gun members. But Cobb CLUBS Hiku! They brawl, the countdown is back, and thirteenth is… Hysterical Shane Haste! Hiku CHOPS Cobb down, Taguchi traps Henare in a corner, and Haste gets in to throw uppercuts on Rocky! Then an INVERTED EXPLODER! Fans fire up, Shane drags Rocky up, and he reels Rocky in for a POWER- RANA from Rocky! Cobb hoists Hiku up, Khan tries to help, but Hiku CLUBS them both away! Rocky covers Haste, TWO!
Rocky kicks Shane while he’s down, the countdown is back, and Kenta is after Taguchi. The fourteenth is… Mikey Nicholls! TMDK is quickly united! Hiku saves Taguchi from Kenta and Henare, Shane keeps after Rocky. Mikey hurries up but Rocky DECKS him! Shane turns Rocky around but Rocky ROCKS him! Rocky knuckle locks, CHOPS, and goes up, but Mikey is there to trip him! Shane DROPKICKS and ELIMINATES Rocky! Taguchi ROCKS Shane, aims from the corner, BUM-A- NO!! THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!! Shane counters the Funky Weapon with its one weakness! Mikey scoops Taguchi, for TANK BUSTER! Cover, TMDK ELIMINATES Taguchi!
Khan rolls Mikey up but Shane breaks it! The countdown is back, and fifteenth is… Tokyo Pimp, Yujiro Takahashi! The House of Torture is at full force! The United Empire mugs Shane while Yujiro jogs his way to ringside. Kenta and Mikey brawl with forearms, Hiku goes after Sho, and Kenta claws Mikey’s eyes. Yujiro hits Hiku, brings him around, but Hiku BOOTS him before the cane shot! Cobb ROCKS Hiku, ROCKS him some more, but Hiku choke grips! Khan grabs Hiku with an IRON CLAW! But Hiku choke grips Khan! Cobb SUPERKICKS Hiku! Cobb whips Khan at Hiku, and Khan clotheslines Hiku up and out to ELIMINATE him!
The countdown is back, and sweet sixteen is… The Producer, Toru Yano! The man who helped put KOPW on the map is here! Shane goes after Cobb, he and Mikey hoist Cobb up but Cobb fights out of Thunder Valley! But TMDK still work together, and they DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE Cobb up and out! TMDK ELIMINATES Cobb!! Henare fires off on the Mighty but they mug him back! Mikey scoops Henare and Shane goes up, but Henare shoves Mikey into Shane! Shane tumbles out, Mikey ELIMINATES Shane!! Henare then DECKS Mikey! Khan drags Mikey up, HITSUJIGOROSHI! Henare grabs the legs, FUBUKI!
Khanare carries Mikey to the ropes, they dump him out with MARINE to ELIMINATE him!! The United Empire has two, and they wait on Bullet Club. The countdown is back as Kenta fires off on Khan and then Henare. The seventeenth out is… The Headbanga, El Phantasmo! Bullet Club just grows stronger in this match! But Khan pulls Kenta’s shirt over his head! But Sho goes after Khan by clawing his eyes! ELP takes his time strutting to ringside as Sho stomps Khan down. Kenta joins in on that, and Yujiro hits Yano on the outside. ELP CLAWS Khan’s back! Then he rolls and CLAWS Henare’s back!
Fans fire up as House of Torture and ELP Too Sweet. But Henare throws body shots and a KICK! ELP flounders to ropes, Henare rushes in, but ELP holds the ropes down! Henare tumbles to the apron but he stays up! ELP ROCKS Henare but Henare ROCKS ELP! They brawl with the ropes between them! The countdown is back again as ELP gives Henare PURPLE NURPLES! Henare falls, ELP ELIMINATES Henare! But eighteenth in is… The Holy Emperor, Taichi! He lip syncs his way to the ring while ELP does jumping jacks. ELP slips away as Taichi slides in. Taichi’s the only one in the ring!
Khan and Henare go after the House of Torture, ELP helps turn the tides. Yano slides into the ring but Taichi CLOBBERS him! Khan rushes in, he and Taichi go sumo on this! They clinch as the countdown returns! Taichi THROWS Khan! Fans fire up, but twentieth in is… SHINGO TAKAGI!? Didn’t he say he was done with KOPW?! Perhaps the allure of going back-to-back was too much for him to resist! Taichi is ready for the Rampaging Dragon so that they can continue their feud from 2022! Taichi kicks Khan out so he and Takagi can have the entire ring! They DOUBLE BOMBER! And then again! And again!
Taichi SOBATS, runs, but Takagi clotheslines him at the ropes! Takagi runs, but into a clinch! Takagi resists, but Taichi THROWS him! Fans fire up even more for Taichi! Taichi dares Bullet Club to try something now, so they all get in! ELP, Kenta, Sho & Yujiro surround Taichi, and they all rush him together! They hoist Taichi up, and Takagi joins in! They all dump and ELIMINATE Taichi! Perhaps Taichi was too ambitious. Sho keeps Yano out of the ring while Kenta and Yujiro mug Takagi. ELP and Sho mug Yano, Kenta & Yujiro double whip. Takagi ducks to shove Kenta into Yujiro! Then he clinches Kenta, reels in Yujiro, COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO!
Takagi then DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS! Takagi TOSSES and ELIMINATES Yujiro! And then TOSSES and ELIMINATES Kenta! Sho storms up but into ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! ELP CLAWS Daddy Takagi! ELP runs, but into an ELBOW! ELP SUPERKICKS! Takagi JABS! ELP FOREARMS! Takagi YU- NO, ELP begs for mercy from Daddy. ELP says, “Papa!” He wants a hug? Takagi doesn’t trust ELP but the fans want to see the hug. Takagi obliges, and they hug! But then Takagi blocks the dick punch! ELP knees low, whips, but Takagi reverses! ELP goes to the apron, Takagi runs in to BLAST ELP! But ELP lands on the railing!
Yujiro is there, too, he confirms ELP’s feet are on the railing, not the floor! ELP is safe! Takagi stomps Khan while Kenta and Yujiro carry ELP to the ring! ELP is on the apron, he and Takagi start throwing hands! Takagi HEADBUTTS but ELP ROUNDHOUSES! ELP hooks Takagi, Sho runs in, but Takagi BOOTS Sho! Takagi elbows ELP, baits Sho in, and then sends Sho into ELP! ELP wobbles, leg hooked in the ropes! Takagi runs in, ELP holds the ropes! Takagi tumbles to the apron! ELP fires off forearms on Takagi! ELP calls to Sho, Sho runs in again, but Takagi pulls ELP in the way, Sho BLASTS and ELIMINATES ELP!! And that’s it! We have our four!
Winners: Shingo Takagi, Great-O-Khan, Sho & Toru Yano (advance to New Year’s Dash)
The Rampaging Dragon, the Dominator, the Murder Machine, and perhaps by sheer luck, The Producer, all make it to the Fatal 4 Way! Will Takagi pull off the repeat? Will Khan or Sho change the status quo? Or will the Clown Prince return to his former glory?
Antonio Inoki Memorial Six Man Tag: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe VS Tiger Mask, Minoru Suzuki & Tatsumi Fujinami!
To celebrate the legacy of the legend that founded this company, six legends in their own right come together for this match! Even THE Tiger Hattori is calling this special match! Who will best embody Inoki’s Fighting Spirit that Burns here tonight?
The teams sort out and Blue Justice steps up against The Dragon. The fans rally up as the two circle. They tie up, clinch, and Nagata puts Fujinami on the ropes. Fujinami turns it around, Hattori calls for the break, and Fujinami lets off clean. Fans applaud as the two reset. They tie up again, Nagata goes for a waistlock but Fujinami switches. Nagata wrenches free to have a wristlock, but Fujinami turns that around on Nagata. Fujinami hammerlocks but Nagata reaches back to facelock. They end up on ropes again, Hattori calls the break, and Nagata lets off. Fans applaud again as the two reset.
Nagata and Fujinami tie up again, and Nagata gets the headlock. Fujinami powers out, Nagata runs Fujinami over, but Fujinami gets back up. Nagata fires off kicks, but Fujinami blocks for a DRAGON SCREW! Fans cheer seeing the move from the man who invented it! Fujinami tags Suzuki and fans rally up as two rivals meet again. Suzuki grins, then SLAPS Nagata, but Nagata SLAPS back! Suzuki SLAPS, Nagata SLAPS, the SLAP fight is on! Fans fire up but Suzuki kicks low. Nagata falls over and Suzuki stomps away on Nagata’s leg! Suzuki then drags Nagata up and puts him in the corner. Suzuki CHOPS, then tags Tiger Mask.
Tiger Mask KICKS Nagata, KICKS and SOBATS! Nagata flounders but Tiger stomps him down. Tiger snapmares Nagata and has the motorcycle stretch. Tiger Mask then ELBOWS Nagata in the head and KICKS him in the back! Nagata gets up, throws body shots, but Tiger puts him in the corner. Suzuki holds Nagata so Tiger can fire off haymakers and KICKS! Tag to Fujinami and he stomps Nagata. Fujinami CLUBS Nagata but Nagata hits back with forearms! Fujinami CHOPS, Nagata throws another forearm, repeat! Fans fire up, Fujinami DRAGON PALMS! Tag to Suzuki and he stomps away on Nagata. Hattori counts, Suzuki stands Nagata up.
Suzuki ROCKS Nagata with forearm after forearm, but Nagata ROCKS Suzuki back! Fans cheer as Nagata eggs Suzuki on. Suzuki fires off more forearms, Nagata wobbles, but Nagata ROCKS Suzuki back! Suzuki swings, into the EXPLODER! Fans fire up as Nagata crawls, hot tag to Kojima! Kojima stomps Suzuki in the corner! And fires off Machine Gun CHOPS! Fans fire up but Suzuki eggs Kojima on! Kojima CHOPS, Suzuki talks trash, so Kojima reloads and Machine Gun CHOPS again! Kojima whips corner to corner, runs in and forearm smashes! Kojima shoves Suzuki aside, fans shout along with Kojima, but Suzuki BOOTS Kojima! Suzuki tells the fans to shut up!
Suzuki drags Kojima up but Kojima fires off forearms. Kojima spins but into a knee! Suzuki whips Kojima to a corner to BOOT! Suzuki snapmares Kojima, runs, but Kojima blocks the kick to CLUB the leg! Kojima then ROCKS Suzuki with a forearm! Suzuki eggs Kojima on and the forearms start flying! Fans rally as they go back and forth, faster and faster! Kojima gets the edge, but Suzuki laughs it off. Suzuki DECKS Kojima! Tag to Tiger Mask, he and Suzuki double whip. They dropkick the legs, then DOUBLE KICK! Suzuki then ROCKS Kojima, Tiger SOBATS and TIGER DRIVERS! Cover, TWO!! Kojima is still in this but Tiger looms over him.
Tiger sits Kojima up to CHOP! Then he CHOPS Kojima while he’s down! And again! Tiger stands Kojima up to ROCK him with a right. But Kojima hits back, to hit the COZY CUTTER! Fans fire up, hot tag to Makabe! The Gorilla BLASTS Suzuki and Fujinami! Then he whips Tiger to a corner for a clothesline! Makabe climbs up and rains down fists! Fans clap along as Makabe goes to ten! Makabe laughs, brings Tiger out, but Tiger fights the Northern Lights! Tiger knees low, whips Makabe to ropes, and Fujinami is there to kick low! Makabe kicks back but Fujinami blocks! DRAGON SCREW! Suzuki intercepts Nagata in the corner!
Suzuki whips Nagata and Fujinami gets a leg, DRAGON SCREW! Kojima kicks, but into a DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up as Fujinami takes down all three opponents! Suzuki keeps Kojima down with a SLEEPER!, and Tiger catches Makabe in a IRON OCTOPUS! Nagata storms up but Fujinami gets him with a DRAGON SLEEPER! Makabe gets the ROPEBREAK, everyone lets go of the holds. Fans rally up as Suzuki and Fujinami drag Nagata and Kojima out of the ring. Makabe ROCKS Tiger, then runs, but into a crucifix takedown! TWO! Fans rally, Tiger SOBATS, then runs. But Makabe scoops for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!
Fans fire up and Makabe slashes his throat. He runs, and he LARIATS Tiger down! Makabe drags Tiger to a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Suzuki springs up after him! Suzuki HEADBUTTS Makabe! Then he THROWS Makabe down! Suzuki bails out, pushes Makabe, and Tiger hops up onto Makabe’s shoulders! Makabe throws Tiger off, drags him back up, but Tiger drops to victory roll! But Makabe sits on it! Makabe’s team wins!!
Winner: Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata, by pinfall
A rather shocking end to a fiery match! And in the end, the Gorilla, King of Bread Style and Blue Justice stand tall! But since this was to honor Inoki, no hard feelings here. Everyone shakes hands and bows respect. Suzuki then gives the mic to Fujinami so that he can speak. Fans applaud, and Fujinami wishes everyone a Happy New Year. He says this was a special memorial for Antonio Inoki and is thankful there are so many being a part of it. After this, NJPW will carry on that Fighting Spirit through this incredible card. And he is sure Inoki would appreciate this. “DAAAA~!” Everyone cheers as Inoki’s song plays one more time! Thank you, Antonio Inoki. You will be missed.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Catch 2/2 VS YOH & Lio Rush!
TJP & Francesco Akira may not have won Super Jr. Tag League 2022, but they did beat Direct Drive & The Bad Child in the round robin. Can Yoh & Lio redeem themselves in the rematch? Or will the Public Enemy & Nova Fireball conquer Chaos to start the new year?
As the champs make their entrance, Yoh FLIES out onto them! Direct hit and down they go! Yoh throws TJP into the ring, Lio whips him to ropes, but TJP stops himself! Yoh runs in, TJP boots him away, then boots Lio! The bell rings, TJP rushes Yoh & Lio, but they both dodge him. They come back, TJP dodges Yoh and chases Lio but Lio dodges TJP. Yoh elbows TJP down while Lio runs, Yoh wheelbarrows Lio for the SPLASH! Fans fire up while TJP bails out to regroup with Akira. But Lio slingshots and MOONSAULTS onto them both! Fans fire up as Lio & Yoh drag Akira & TJP up. Lio ROCKS Akira and runs him up the ramp!
Yoh throws hands on TJP, Lio CLUBS Akira, but then TJP whips Yoh into railing! TJP saves Akira from a suplex! Lio kicks, TJP blocks and flips Lio, but Lio lands on his feet. Lio runs in, but into the ALLEY-OOP to the ramp! And that’s an LED ramp, too! Lio clutches his face while Catch 2/2 throws up the crowns. The ring count starts, Catch 2/2 return to ringside and fetch Yoh at 6 of 20. They put Yoh in the ring, but Yoh fires back with forearms and kicks! Yoh runs, but into a SOBAT, KICK, KICK and SHOTGUN! TJP covers, TWO! Things are finally 1v1 and TJP throws off his shirt. TJP drags Yoh up to bump him off buckles.
Tag to Akira and Akira brings Yoh out to DOUBLE CHOP! Yoh staggers to another corner, Akira whips corner to corner while fans clap “CATCH! NI NI!” Akira runs corner to corner to clothesline Yoh! Akira then turns Yoh around and puts him up top. Akira puts Yoh in a Tree of Woe, then he tags in TJP. TJP knuckle locks with Akira to help him go up and up, then walk the tightrope! SPRINGBOARD DROPKICK! Yoh gets knocked out of the Tree and TJP pushes him out of the ring. Yoh staggers, TJP and Akira go to the apron. Akira hops up onto TJP’s shoulders, “Take pictures! Take pictures!” SUPER ELECTRIC CHAIR SENTON!!
Fans fire up as Akira wipes Yoh out at the ramp! Akira drags Yoh up and puts him back in the ring. TJP drags Akira up, bumps him off buckles, and Akira keeps on Lio as he returns to ringside. Fans rally up and TJP scrapes his boot off Yoh. TJP runs side to side to BOOT WASH! Fans fire up and Akira puts Lio in the ring. TJP adds Lio to the corner for another round of face scrubbing! Then TJP runs, into a SPEAR from Lio! Lio crawls to the red corner and calls to Yoh. Yoh crawls his way over as fans rally up, but TJP stops Yoh with a whip! Yoh reverses and DROPKICKS TJP down! Fans fire up as both men crawl, hot tag to Lio!
The Bad Child, forehead busted up, rolls Akira for the SPIN KICK! TJP kicks low and reels Lio in but Lio slips out of the suplex! Lio goes Matrix, handsprings, and KIKCS to ENZIGURI! Fans fire up with Lio and he drags TJP up. Lio whips, TJP reverse but Lio slides to a stop. Catch 2/2 run in, Lio dodges to handspring, DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! Fans fire up again and Lio sees TJP bail out. Lio DIVES to knock TJP down at the ramp! Lio gets in again, and DIVES to send Akira into railing! Lio fires up and fans fire up with him as he puts Akira back in the ring. Akira crawls, Lio pounds the mat. Fans rally up and Lio chicken wings Akira.
Lio turns Akira, for the SPINNING KAMIKAZE! Cover, TWO!! Akira survives the swinging Unprettier, and Lio has to wipe the blood from his eyes. Tag to Yoh, and fans rally up as the Men of the Hour tune up the band! But TJP saves Akira from Yoh’s superkick! Akira SUPERKICKS Yoh! Lio mule kicks TJP to then SPIN HEEL KICK! Akira whips Lio but he uses that for the springboard, only to get stuck in the ropes! Akira drags Lio out into a HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Yoh SUPERKICKS Akira after all!! All four men are down and fans fire up again! Yoh stands first and he drags Akira up. Yoh hoists Akira to the top rope then CHOPS him!
Fans rally as Yoh climbs. Yoh stands Akira up, underhooks the arms, but TJP pulls Yoh away with an Electric Chair! But Lio shoves TJP forward, and Yoh grabs Akira again! ELECTRIC CHAIR SUPERPLEX! And then Yoh rolls through, to FALCON USHIGOROSHI!! And Lio is up top, for the FINAL HOUR!! Cover, TJP breaks it!! Fans are thunderous while Yoh is furious! Lio drags TJP up to throw him out. Yoh & Lio high-three, and fans rally up as they bring Akira up. They double whip, for 3K!! But TJP hits a MAMBA SPLASH on Yoh! And a SHOTGUN dropkick on Lio! TJP roars, fireman’s carries Yoh, DETONATION KICK! Cover, TWO!!
All four men are down again and fans are thunderous! TJP helps Akira up, and hoists him up top. Then TJP drags Yoh up and brings him over. TJP Electric Chair Lifts as Akira adjusts, but Yoh POISON-RANAS TJP! Lio rushes in, Akira jumps but Lio gets under! Lio comes back, SPANISH FLY! Yoh brings up TJP, 3K!!! Cover, Akira uses Lio to break it!! Lio is furious and he staggers over to Akira. Lio drags Akira up but Akira SLAPS him! Lio snarls, and he fires off fast hands and a SUPER FOREARM! Lio runs and springboards, to hit RUSH HOUR! Akira flops out of the ring and Yoh fires up! Fans are with him as he drags TJP up!
Yoh underhooks, for DIRECT- NO, TJP turns that into a cradle! CATCH 2/2 WIN!
Winners: Catch 2/2, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
Yoh is shocked! TJP turns things around at the last second and keeps the belts with the Empire! They are still the best Junior Heavyweight tag team, but will they have to be careful it doesn’t get that close again?
IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI VS Tam Nakano!
The Pirate Princess became the inaugural women’s champion of NJPW at the Historic X-Over, but she is no stranger to the Shining Stardom Dream. However, this will be the first time they’ve faced each other 1v1, and young Nakano has a lot to prove! Will she shine brightest tonight in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Kairi prove it’s still far too early for Nakano to take the spotlight on the world stage?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the star of women’s wrestling!
The bell rings and fans rally up. The two circle, feel things out, and then tie up. They go around, Tam powers Kairi back, but Kairi turns it around to put Tam on ropes. The ref counts the break and Kairi lets off. Kairi fakes a chop, to pat Tam on the head. And then she hits Tam with a body blow! Kairi then eggs Tam on, and Tam storms up. Kairi gets around to a waistlock but Tam headlocks. Kairi throws body shots, powers out, but Tam handsprings over the drop down. Kairi runs, Tam dodges, but then Kairi dodges to whip and arm-drag! Tam staggers up, Kairi runs in but Tam goes Matrix to get a roll-up! Kairi rolls through, but Tam basement dropkicks her!
Fans fire up and Tam taunts Kairi with a smile. Kairi grabs Tam by her hair and stands her up. Kairi ROCKS Tam with a forearm, but Tam ROCKS Kairi back! Kairi throws another forearm, but so does Tam! Tam gets the edge, fans fire up, and Tam ROCKS Kairi! Tam runs, but Kairi goes the other way, to SPEAR! Fans fire up with Kairi and she watches Tam go to a corner. Kairi walks the plank, to run and SLIDING D! Fans fire up more as Kairi goes up top! Tam stands, into the KABUKI ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Kairi keeps her cool and she brings Tam up. Kairi Alabama Lifts but Tam fights free! Kairi CHOPS Tam!
Kairi runs, but Tam HEEL KICKS her down! Kairi flops out and now Tam fires up! Fans rally as Tam goes to the corner and climbs! Kairi stands, and Tam SUPER CROSSBODIES! Down goes Kairi and some Young Lionesses! Tam puts Kairi in the ring, drags her up, and reels her into a waistlock. Kairi flails but Tam hits the GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Kairi survives but Tam keeps cool. Tam drags Kairi up, reels her in, and suplexes! But Kairi fights free! DOUBLE HAYMAKERS rock both women! They both roar, Kairi runs in and ducks the roundhouse! But Tam blocks the Uraken! Kairi swings into Tam’s hook and suplex!
Tam holds Kairi up and fans fire up as she slowly turns, for the VIOLET SCREW DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Tam can’t believe it but Kairi survives! Tam drags Kairi around, thrashes her and CLUBS her, hammers away on her back, and then aims, to AX KICK! Tam then stands Kairi up, runs, but into the URAKEN!! Cover, TWO?!!? Tam survives the vicious backhand, but Kairi fires up! Kairi drags Tam up but Tam roars! URAKEN AGAIN!! Tam falls over, Kairi climbs up! Fans fire up for the INSANE ELBOW!! Cover, Kairi wins!
Winner: Kairi, by pinfall (still IWGP Women’s Champion)
Tam fought her heart out, but she could not dethrone the Pirate Princess! Kairi’s reign continues to sail, but wait! The lights go out, and a video plays! Someone is stepping out of a luxury sports car. Money? Moné? It’s… THE BOSS! SASHA BANKS! Or rather, MERCEDES MONÉ! She has come here from the WWE to be in NJPW, and she’s going right to the ring! She stares Kairi down, and Kairi holds up the belt. Fans cheer, and Sasha/Mercedes nods. She offers a handshake, and Kairi accepts it. And then Sasha reels Kairi into a Gory Especial! SPIN-OUT DDT! And then she asks for a microphone.
“Kairi~. Aw… Congratulations on making history. I also know a thing or two about making history. I am here in NJPW and Stardom to make some more. Allow me introduce myself. I’m the Standard, the Conversation, the Blue Print and the CEO of this Women’s Division. So Kairi-san, enjoy your IWGP Women’s Championship while you can. Because at The Battle in the Valley in San Jose, I’m gonna leave you bankrupt, b*tch! And you can bank on Moné.” The Boss has struck first! But will she strike new gold in the new year?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: FTR VS Bishamon!
Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood were once three-belt champions, but they find themselves holding on to their last piece of gold. As for Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi, they are coming off a repeat win in the World Tag League! Will the Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter repeat history again by taking these titles in the Tokyo Dome? Or can FTR #SayYeah to staying on top?
The introductions are made, FTR give the belts a kiss and the belts are raised. Let’s see if FTR is kissing those belts good-bye!
The teams sort out and Hashi starts against Cash. They circle and fans rally up. Hashi avoids Cash as he shoots in, and then the tie up. Hashi powers Cash back and wrenches an arm to a wristlock. Cash reaches out, Hashi keeps him from Dax, so Cash rolls, handsprings and wrenches around to a headlock and takeover! Fans applaud the opening exchange while Hashi kicks around. Hashi fights up to his feet, pries the headlock open but Cash cranks it back on. Hashi keeps trying and prying, and he wraps the headlock onto Cash! Cash powers out and things speed up. Cash drops down, but Hashi comes back to run him over!
Fans rally while Cash stands back up. The two stare down, but Hashi tags out to Goto. Cash talks things over with Dax, then Cash grabs at Goto. Goto gets away, so Cash tags to Dax. Dax and Goto circle now, and Goto avoids Dax as he shoots in. They tie up, Dax powers Goto back but Goto puts Dax on the ropes. Dax turns it around, the ref calls for the break, and Dax lets off. Dax shoves Goto but Goto shoves Dax. They tie up again and Dax ROCKS Goto! Goto ROCKS Dax, Dax ROCKS Goto, repeat! Fans rally up as the forearms fly back and forth, faster and faster! Dax then CHOPS! Dax ROCKS Goto at the ropes, and again!
Dax runs, but Hashi gets in, Bishamon runs Dax over! Then HIP TOSS SENTON! Cash runs in but Goto sends him right out. Dax goes to a corner, Hashi runs in to clothesline! Hashi feeds Dax to Goto but Dax ROCKS Goto first! Dax ROCKS Hashi, too, but Goto dragon sleepers! Hashi gets the legs! But Dax kicks free! Cash trips and drags Hashi out while Dax suplexes Goto! Goto bails out and fans fire up. Cash builds speed!? Cash DIVES to wipe out Bishamon! Fans fire up and Cash puts Goto in the ring. Dax drags Goto up, hoists him up top, and then CHOPS Goto! Dax climbs up, Cash tags in and goes to an adjacent corner.
Dax has Goto for the SUPERPLEX! Cash FLYING SPLASHES! Cover off Power ‘n’ Glory, TWO!! Goto survives and fans fire up! Cash drags Goto over, tags Dax in, and FTR go to opposite corners now. Goto slowly sits up, FTR runs in to DOUBLE LARIAT SANDWICH! But Goto stays up! Goto ROCKS Dax, ROCKS Cash, but Dax CLUBS Goto and Cash ROCKS Goto! Dax reels Goto in, POWERBOMB, and a roll into Cash’s FULL NELSON SUPLEX! Cash bridges, and Dax jackknifes! But Hashi breaks it!! Fans fire up, but Cash KNEES Hashi out of the ring. Dax drags Goto up, whips him, but Goto KICKS Dax! Goto deflects Cash’s boot to DISCUS LARIAT!
Dax kicks Goto and reels him back in. Goto fights the lift, so Dax stands Goto up to ROCK him! Dax runs, into a fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and fans fire back up! Goto and Dax crawl for their corners, hot tags to Hashi and Cash! Hashi rallies on FTR with forearms and CHOPS! Cash kicks low, whips Hashi to a corner, and then runs in, only for Hashi to dodge! Hashi dropkicks Dax’s legs out and he CHOPS Cash! Hashi reels Cash in, suplexes, but Cash slips free! Tag to Dax, Hashi dodges Cash to SUPERKICK! Dax storms in, blocks the kick to JAB! Dax whips, but Hashi hits the HEADHUNTER!
Fans rally up and Hashi tags Goto. Bishamon calls their shout, they dragon sleeper Dax but Dax kicks free again! Dax ROCKS Goto but Hashi SUPERKICKS! They try the again, but Cash CLOBBERS Hashi! Dax hoists Goto up, BIG RIG!! Cover, Hashi breaks it in time!!! Bishamon survives FTR’s best shot! Cash UPPERCUTS Hashi, then CHOPS him and UPPERCUTS him against ropes! Cash then suplexes, but Hashi fights it! Hashi suplexes Cash, and they tumble out of the ring! Fans are stunned as Hashi clips railing! Dax slashes his throat and he drags Goto up! Dax reels Goto in but Goto fights the lift! Goto back drops Dax away!
But Dax is right up! Dax reels Goto in again, but Goto still resists! Another back drop! But Dax is up again! Goto HEADBUTTS him! Both men wobble, Goto reels Dax in to suplex high and hard! Both men are down, and Goto crawls for his corner. Fans rally, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi fires up, runs, but Dax swats the lariat! Hashi CHOPS, SUPERKICKS, and then full nelsons to the pump handle! Dax slips free but Hashi switches! Dax switches, Hashi switches, but Dax turns around to bring Hashi up, PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Hashi survives but Dax doesn’t hesitate! Fans fire up as Dax lifts Hashi again and Cash is up top! MIND BREAKER!!! Cover, GOTO BREAKS IT!!
Fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Cash staggers up and he snarls. Cash runs in but Goto blocks the lariat! Cash CLOBBERS Goto on the return! Cash mule kicks Goto then throws him out. Dax drags Hashi up, whip him, but Hashi fights off Big Rig with an ax handle! SUPERKICK for Cash! Goto returns to clothesline Cash up and out! Dax storms over to Hashi but Hashi holds him against ropes! Goto BLINDSIDE LARIATS, and then Hashi SUPERKICKS! Goto dragon sleepers, Hashi hooks the legs, SHOUTO!!!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!!
Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
Incredible! Back-to-back World Tag League wins resulting in back-to-back tag title wins! Goto & Hashi are back on top of the NJPW Heavyweight Tag Division! Will they make 2023 as big a year as last year? As for FTR, they are now left with NO belts! They do show respect to Bishamon, but when and where will FTR return to NJPW?
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament Finals: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita!
NJPW commemorates FIFTY YEARS with an innovative title division! One way or another, history is made tonight, but who will be the one getting their fifteen minutes of fame?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and in the end, there can only be one inaugural champion!
The bell rings and time is counting down already. The two rush in, ZSJ waistlocks but Narita switches. ZSJ switches, Narita switches, but ZSJ spins around for an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Narita quickly sits up and pushes for a cover but ZSJ’s leg guard keeps him at bay. Narita slips around to go for an arm but ZSJ does the same thing. Narita kicks around, rolls through, but ZSJ avoids the Penalty Kick! ZSJ grabs a leg and trips Narita but Narita kicks him away. ZSJ comes back, but Narita ducks the Penalty Kick! Narita stands, he blocks the hip toss and throws ZSJ down, but ZSJ avoids the stomp! Fans applaud this fast and furious start!
The two cool off and circle. Fans rally and duel, “NA-RI-TA!” “Z S J!” The two feel things out, knuckle lock, but then ZSJ rolls to wrench and wrap Narita up in a straitjacket stretch! Narita powers up and puts the straitjacket on ZSJ! ZSJ moves around, bridges back, rolls and we return to a Test of Strength knuckle lock. ZSJ and Narita fight for control, but ZSJ KICKS! Narita eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ KICKS again! Narita KICKS, KICKS, fires off palm strikes then a forearm! Narita runs and BOOTS ZSJ down! Fans fire up this second exchange as Narita paces. Narita stands ZSJ up, reels him in, but ZSJ fights the suplex. ZSJ wrenches and WRINGS Narita’s arm!
ZSJ looms over Narita, stands on his face and grabs an arm. ZSJ steps over, twists the wrist and bends the elbow! Narita endures as ZSJ tortures his arm, but then ZSJ isolates the arm into a top wristlock to STOMP it down! Narita clutches his arm, but ZSJ kicks at him. ZSJ kicks and kicks but Narita just snarls. ZSJ grabs the arm, wrenches it, but Narita fires a forearm! ZSJ eggs Narita on so Narita gives more forearms. ZSJ wrenches the arm to an ELBOW BREAKER, then runs the ropes. Narita OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes! Fans fire up while both men are down! Narita shakes out the bad arm as he and ZSJ go to opposite corners.
Narita stands, runs in corner to corner, and he back elbows! Narita reels ZSJ into a HALF HATCH! Bridging cover, TWO! Fans rally, Narita shakes out the bad arm and brings ZSJ up. Narita ties ZSJ up in a cobra twist but ZSJ pulls on Narita’s bad arm! ZSJ then switches the cobra twist onto Narita! Narita endures, fights through to switch again, but again the bad arm is ZSJ’s target! ZSJ pulls the arm and hits a hip toss! Then a KICK to the back! Narita just scowls and stands up. Narita knees low, snapmares, and KICKS ZSJ in the back! ZSJ frowns, and Narita sits down, daring him to go again! Fans fire up and ZSJ obliges, he KICKS Narita in the back!
Narita grits his teeth and ZSJ eggs him on. ZSJ sits down, daring Narita to bring it! Narita runs to PENALTY KICK! ZSJ writhes and Narita dares him to get up. Fans rally, ZSJ stands and BOOTS! Narita runs to BOOT! ZSJ and Narita both BOOT! And again! And again! Both men fall but ZSJ is up first! PENALTY KCIK! Cover, ONE?!? PENALTY KICK from Narita! Cover, ONE!!! Narita and ZSJ stagger up and we’re only five minutes in! ZSJ EuroUppers! Narita ENZIGURIS! Both men are down again and fans fire back up! Narita and ZSJ stir, Narita drags ZSJ up and throws forearm after forearm! Narita eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ stands up to EuroUpper!
ZSJ EuroUppers again, and again! Narita shakes his head so ZSJ ROCKS him with a forearm! ZSJ swings again, into a FISHERMAN EXPLODER! Bridging cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes and fans fire up as Narita stands. Narita snarls, drags ZSJ up and holds the wrists as he BOOTS and BOOTS! ZSJ uses his chin to trap the foot! ZSJ drags Narita down into a KNEEBAR! Narita sits up, ZSJ TWISTS the leg, but Narita rolls with it to get the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go quickly and fans applaud again. Narita shakes out the leg now but ZSJ is right on it with stomps. ZSJ kicks at the leg, and then at the arm, and then Narita’s chest!
Narita just takes the kicks and eggs ZSJ on. Fans rally and ZSJ gives Narita space. Narita still eggs ZSJ on so the kicks come back. ZSJ KICKS, but Narita just growls through it! ZSJ eggs Narita on so Narita KICKS ZSJ down! Narita sits ZSJ up to KICK again! Cover, TWO! Fans rally more and Narita roars! Narita drags ZSJ up, has the wrists, and reels ZSJ in for a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Narita still has the wrists, and he uses that to reel ZSJ in again, but ZSJ jumps on for a GUILLOTINE! Narita throws ZSJ down but ZSJ just drags Narita into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Narita fights, ZSJ still has his arm!
Narita pushes forward, kicks at ZSJ’s face, and ZSJ lets go of the arm. ZSJ checks his nose, but Narita swings a BIG forearm! Narita stands ZSJ up but ZSJ wrenches the arm to PELE! ZSJ KICKS the arm, kicks again but Narita blocks! Narita SLAPS ZSJ down! ZSJ sits up in a daze, and Narita drags him into a SLEEPER! ZSJ fights up, fans rally, and ZSJ reaches for ropes. Narita pulls ZSJ away, but ZSJ drops! Narita sits on it, TWO! ZSJ has the arms, EURO CLUTCH! TWO!?! Narita narrowly escapes , but ZSJ BOOTS him! GERMAN SUPLEX! But Narita roars as he rises up! GERMAN SUPLEX! ZSJ is up, but he and Narita both stagger around!
Narita runs, but ZSJ ducks the wheel kick! ZSJ runs in to PENALTY KICK! Narita sits up but ZSJ runs, into a clinch! ZSJ fights the throw and drags Narita down, double wristlock and sunset flip! TWO?!?!?! Narita escapes by a nanosecond!! Fans are thunderous as we now hit ten minutes! Narita staggers up, ZSJ clamps right on! But Narita switches around! ZSJ switches it back! They fight for cobra twist control, but then Narita has a SLEEPER! Into the cobra twist! ZSJ pries free but Narita rolls him to a HEEL HOOK! But ZSJ yanks the arm right into an ARMBAR! NARITA TAPS, ZSJ WINS!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (Inaugural NJPW World Television Champion)
Narita couldn’t endure, he had to #JustTapOut! And in the New Year, ZSJ has a new look and finally has himself singles gold in NJPW! Will ZSJ create a truly historic reign, 15 minutes at a time?
Hold on, TMDK’s Shane & Mikey are back. They applaud ZSJ and join him in the ring. ZSJ says give him a minute, he has to catch his breath. But wait, TMDK aren’t here to challenge ZSJ, they’re here to offer him a spot in the group! After all, Suzuki-Gun is no more, and the Top Dog did leave for WWE. Will the Submission Master be one of the Mighty? ZSJ sets the belt down, takes the shirt, and he puts it on?!? ZACK IS MIGHTY! The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but will they make all of NJPW #JustTapOut?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson VS Tama Tonga w/ Jado!
The Machine Gun may be part of the WWE, but he still shows up for the bright lights in NJPW! He’s shot down the Good Bad Guy once before, can he do it again? Or is this Tama’s time once and for all?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if this title stays in Japan or returns to the States!
But wait, Karl takes the belt back. He taunts Tama that the fans aren’t chanting “TAMA! TAMA!” And then Karl CLOBBERS Tama with the belt!! The fans boo but Karl tells the ref to ring the bell. The bell rings and Tama is on the apron, Karl runs to SHOTGUN Tama off the apron! Tama hits railing, Karl goes out after him to fisherman NECKBREAKER Tama on the railing! Karl then hurries back into the ring and wants the count to take care of this! Fans boo Karl but Karl kneels and apologizes. Karl soaks up the heat as the fans boo more, “That’s a beautiful sound, ain’t it?” The count starts, reaches 5 of 20 but Karl wants it to go faster.
Tama crawls back to the railing at 10 of 20 but Karl goes out after him! Karl brings Tama up the ramp to the LED section, and scoops for APE SHIT to the ramp!! Or rather, the Bernard Driver in honor of Giant Bernard. Either way, Karl mocks the fans by trying to start an “ANDERSON!” chant. Fans boo instead, but Tama starts stirring. Karl is annoyed, but then he pounds the ground. Karl wants Tama to stand, and Tama rises. Karl aims, GUN- NO, Tama SLAMS Karl down! Karl writhes down the ramp and fans fire back up! Tama and Karl both crawl towards ringside, and Karl rolls into the ring. Fans applaud as Tama gets in the ring, but Karl goes to the far side.
Karl stands on the apron, Tama hurries out after him. Tama fires body shots but Karl throws forearms! They brawl on the edge, Tama UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS again! Tama calls his shot but Karl denies the Gun Stun to hit a ROCKET KICK! Tama is down but fans rally up. Karl soaks up the heat again while Tama rolls into the ring. Karl slaps Tama around, saying this is just like back in the day. Karl SLAPS Tama, but Tama throws body shots! Tama ROCKS Karl with forearms but Karl ROCKS Tama back! The forearms go back and forth, Tama UPPERCUTS, then ROCKS Karl again! Fans fire up with Tama, but Karl UPPERCUTS right back!
Tama ends up in a corner, Karl whips him corner to corner, but Tama comes back to CLOBBER Karl! Fans fire up, Tama runs in at the corner, STINGER SPLASH! Tama throws more fast hands and forearms! The ref counts, Tama lets off, and then comes back to DROPKICK! Karl leans against the corner but Tama is right on him. Tama whips corner to corner, then runs in to STINGER- NO, Karl dodges! ROCKET KICK! Karl fireman’s carries Tama, and runs for a TKO! Cover, TWO! Karl hurries up top, Jado warns Tama, and Tama stands. Karl leaps, FLYING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Tama survives and fans fire up!
Karl paces around in frustration but he watches Tama. Tama stirs, Karl pounds the mat, and fans rally up. Tama rises again, Karl runs in, GUN- NO, Tama blocks, fireman’s carries, and hits S R C! Karl clutches his gut while Tama goes to the corner now. Tama climbs and fans rally, but Karl UPPERCUTS first! Karl climbs up after Tama, digs his elbow in and JAMS Tama in the head! Then he throws forearms! Tama wobbles but Karl brings him up. Karl goes to the very top, and he calls his shot! But Tama resists the super brainbuster! Tama throws body shots, HEADBUTTS Karl and shoves him away! Tama then adjusts to SUPREME CROSSBODY!
Fans fire up again as Karl is down! Tama climbs back up and takes aim, for SUPREME FLOW!! Cover, TWO!?! Karl survives but Jado keeps Tama focused. Fans drum along as Jado pounds the apron. Tama takes aim, Karl stands up, GUN- NO! Karl blocks it at the last moment! Karl fireman’s carries now, but Tama slips off! Tama swings, Karl ducks, but then Karl swings and Tama ducks! Tama ducks again, redirects Karl, but Karl follows! GUN- NO! Tama blocks it on the run! Tama spins Karl around but Karl UPPERCUTS! Tama PELES! Karl staggers, swings, misses, and Tama goes up, FLYING GUN STUN!!
Fans are thunderous, and OFF COMES THE VEST! Tama is ready, he pounds the mat! Karl rises, Tama aims again, GUN STUN!!! Cover, TAMA WINS!
Winner: Tama Tonga, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Champion)
Redemption and revenge, all for Tama! He gets even with Bullet Club for rejecting him, and he gets even with Karl for taking this belt from him! Will 2023 now be the Year of the Guerrilla?
Six Man Tag, Keiji Muto’s Last NJPW Match: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino VS Los Ingobernables de Japon!
Another legend says good-bye, as THE Great Muta, the Pro-Wrestling Master, wraps up his retirement tour. Will he, the Ace and the Roughneck send him off in style? Or will Bushi, Sanada and Tetsuya Naito be able to hang their hat on something at WrestleKingdom?
The teams sort out and fans already chant for “MU-TO! MU-TO!” Naito takes his time with his entrance attire, and Tanahashi shows off the muscles. Fans applaud, and even Muto approves. And so, Muto insists he start! Fans applaud, and then LIJ fist bumps. Muto waits, and it’s Sanada who insists he start! Naito and Bushi oblige, and fans fire up with the bell. Muto and Sanada circle, and Sanada throws up the Too Sweet in honor of nWo Japan! Muto gives the Too Sweet back, but then Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Sanada dropkicks again, and again, and Muto falls! Sanada drags Muto up to whip but Muto reverses.
Sanada goes up and out, springboards in and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Sanada drags Muto up, scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER! Sanada hurries to the corner, for the ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!! Muto is still in this but he seems rather surprised by Sanada. Sanada whips, Muto rolls under and comes back to dropkick the legs out! Muto then SHINING WIZARDS Sanada down! Fans fire up and Muto drags Sanada up for a POWERSLAM! Now Muto goes up, but Tanahashi hurries over to caution him! He’s no spring chicken, a moonsault might not be the best thing… Muto still wants to, but he listens to reason.
But then Sanada CLUBS Muto! Sanada whips, but Muto kicks him back! Muto snapmares and runs for the FLASH ELBOW! Fans fire up and Muto tags Tanahashi. Tanahashi drops an elbow of his own! Tanahashi then BLASTS Bushi & Naito! Sanada runs in, but Tanahashi elbows him away to go up and CROSSBODY! Fans fire up with the air guitar, and then Tanahashi drags Sanada up. Sanada ROCKS Tanahashi with a forearm but Tanahashi fires off a strike fest! Tanahashi whips, Sanada reverses and Bushi gets a cheap shot in! Naito dropkicks Tanahashi’s legs out, and Sanada basement dropkicks Tanahashi down!
The ref reprimands but Bushi and Naito hit Muto and Umino! Umino goes own, Muto stays up, but Bushi kicks him off the apron. The ref reprimands LIJ more, but Naito whips Umino into railing! Sanada stomps Tanahashi, then he tags Bushi. Bushi stomps Tanahashi around, then drags him up to turn and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Bushi stomps Tanahashi then tags Naito. Fans fire up as Naito ROCKS Tanahashi with forearms! Naito has Tanahashi in the corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! SWINGING DROPKICK! Fans fire up for Combinacion Cabron! Muto seems curious about Naito’s pose, and Naito raises the LIJ fist.
Muto reaches up, but then decides not to fist bump. Naito stomps Tanahashi, drags him up, but Tanahashi fires off forearms! Naito staggers, fakes a punch and kicks low! Naito whips, Tanahashi reverses but Naito reverses back. Tanahashi ducks the enziguri and he reels Naito in for a REVERSE DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up and Tanahashi crawls over, hot tag to Umino! Umino goes up top to MISSILE DROPKICK! Fans fire up as Umino intercepts Sanada with a kick. Umino whips, Sanada reverses but Umino holds ropes. Umino BOOTS Sanada, then baits him in. Sanada runs in but into an arm-drag! Umino then runs to RANA Sanada!
Bushi kicks Umino, runs, but into a scoop and DROP, to a BASEMENT UPPERCUT! Umino kips up and fans fire up! Umino whips Naito corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Then Umino reels Naito in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Umino keeps focus. Umino shouts out the legends on commentary as he clamps on an STF! Naito endures, crawls, Bushi & Sanada rush in but Tanahashi & Muto intercept! DRAGON SCREWS IN STEREO! Muto then puts Sanada in a FIGURE FOUR while Tanahashi puts Bushi in the TEXAS CLOVERLEAF! LIJ endures three different submissions!!
Fans rally, Naito crawls forward but Umino pulls back on the STF! Naito reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and LIJ is let go. Umino drags Naito up and clinches, but Naito fights the lift! Umino kicks low, whips, but Naito reverses to ELBOW! Umino fires up, but runs into an atomic drop! Naito fires off those heavy back elbows, then turns Umino for a NECKBREAKER! Fans rally and Naito crawls, hot tag to Bushi! Fans rally, Bushi climbs, and Bushi MISSILE DROPKICKS! Bushirooni! Umino goes to a corner, Bushi stomps him down. Bushi brings Umino up, spins him around, but Umino wrenches out to spin Bushi! TEST DRIVE!
Umino drags Bushi back up, for an inverted suplex! But Bushi slips out and waistlocks, to feed to Sanada’s DROPKICK! Sanada DROPKICKS Muto off the apron! Tanahashi storms in, he gets around Sanada and turns him for a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Naito full nelsons but Tanahashi breaks free for TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Bushi dodges, Tanahashi blocks one kick and ducks the enziguri, but the HEEL KICK hits! Bushi runs, into a SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi sets Bushi up and Muto fires up, for the SHINING WIZARD!! Fans are thunderous and Umino tops this off with DEATH RIDER!! Cover, Team Muto wins!
Winners: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino, by pinfall
The legend, the icon and the future of NJPW stand tall! Muto exits the ring quickly, not one for sentiment. But surely, everyone agrees in saying, #ThankYouMuto!
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4 Way: Taiji Ishimori VS El Desperado VS Hiromu Takahashi VS Master Wato!
The Bone Soldier has been able to hold onto this title for a long time, but now the odds are stacked against him! He has the Rogue Luchador, the Ticking Timebomb and the Way of the Grandmaster coming after him, will one of them take the title? Or will 2023 be REBORN?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the champion can defy the odds!
The bell rings and Hiromu SHOTGUNS Desperado down while Taiji runs away from Wato! Taiji taunts Wato on the outside, but then Hiromu runs to clothesline Wato in the corner! Hiromu snapmares Wato down but Taiji runs in to dropkick Wato first! Hiromu swings on Taiji but Taiji gets around to a waistlock. Hiromu switches, Desperado slides back in, and Hiromu sends Taiji his way. Desperado lifts Taiji, Hiromu runs in, DROPKICK BACK SUPLEX COMBO! Fans fire up as rivals work together, but then Desperado rakes Hiromu’s eyes! Desperado runs, Hiromu elbows him at the ropes. Hiromu runs but Wato hurdles over!
Wato back elbows Hiromu, back hands, but then elbows and back hands Desperado! Wato runs, but into double kicks! Hiromu & Desperado double whip to double shoulder tackle Wato down! Fans cheer as the rivals end up working together again. Hiromu offers a handshake, but Desperado pokes him in the eyes for a cradle! Taiji breaks the cover, then throws hands on Desperado. Taiji and Hiromu work together now and they mug Desperado in the corner. They double whip Desperado corner to corner, and then Taiji whips Hiromu, only to reel him in for a cradle! Wato breaks that! Wato stomps Taiji, Desperado rolls him! TWO!
All four rivals argue, Desperado CHOPS Wato but Wato ROCKS Desperado! Taiji rolls Desperado while Hiromu rolls Wato! Double covers! TWO!! Fans fire up as all four men stand off! Taiji says forget this and he bails out. But there’s no Champion’s Advantage in a Fatal 4. Taiji continues up the ramp while Desperado and Hiromu go after Wato. They double whip, but while Hiromu sets up for a back drop, Desperado elbows Wato down! Desperado and Hiromu argue, they obviously weren’t on the same page. But they put Wato in a corner, and then double whip him corner to corner. But then both Desperado and Hiromu run in!
Hiromu stops Desperado and they argue again. They each pie face the other, but Hiromu runs at Wato. Wato dodges and Hiromu hits buckles. Wato dodges Desperado then shoves him into Hiromu! DOUBLE BULLDOG! Fans fire up with Wato while Taiji just lounges on the ramp. Wato drags Desperado up to ROCK him with a forearm! And another! Desperado wants Wato to hold on, they can work together with Hiromu, against Taiji! Taiji takes notice, and he says bring it on! Desperado leads the charge up the ramp! Desperado runs in first, but into a HIP TOSS! Hiromu runs in, into a tilt-o-whirl SHOULDER BREAKER!
Wato runs in, Taiji dodges, and the SHOTGUN hits Hiromu and Desperado! Taiji grins as he outsmarts all his challengers! Taiji strolls back to the ring and waits on them to return. With all three challengers outside, there’s a ring count! One of them has to get back to stop Taiji from winning by default! They all hurry, they’re back to ringside by 8 of 20, but Taiji is up top! ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Taiji wipes out all three! The count continues, Taiji slides in at 12. Desperado, Wato & Hiromu stir, but they flounder around past 15! They all stand at 18 and slide in at 19! Taiji covers Desperado, TWO! Taiji is frustrated but the match continues!
Taiji drags Desperado up, whips him to a corner, then runs in. Taiji blocks the boots, puts Desperado in ropes and ENZIGURIS! Then Taiji runs side to side for a SLIDING GERMAN! Fans fire up as Taiji goes up top again. Taiji aims at Desperado, 450, but he has to bail out as Desperado moves! Wato is up top, but Taiji avoids his flying clothesline! Taiji throws a body shot, then whips Wato at Desperado. Desperado steps aside, hits Taiji and whips him into Wato! Desperado rolls Taiji up, TWO! Hiromu leaps at Wato for TRIANGLE HOLD D! And Desperado has the STRETCH MUFFLER, into NUMERO DOS! Dueling submissions are in effect!
Fans rally as Taiji and Wato each endure! Wato is fading, but Taiji fights his way over to ropes! Wato gets a second wind, just as Desperado drags Taiji away! Wato deadlifts Hiromu to POWERBOMB him on Desperado!! Taiji is saved, and fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Taiji clutches a knee as he crawls out to the apron. Wato goes to a corner and stands up. Wato fires up as he has Hiromu alone! Hiromu CHOPS, but Wato CHOPS and CHOPS and KICKS and KICKS! Wato KICKS Hiromu up high, then whips him to ropes. Hiromu reverses, goes around, but Wato dodges to RANA!
Fans fire up as Hiromu bails out. Wato builds speed, but Taiji trips him and drags him out! Taiji hurries but Hiromu SUNSET FLIPS! Taiji flips through the bomb but is sent into the apron! Desperado builds speed, Hiromu gets away, Desperado DIVES to take out Taiji! Wato slides back into the ring to build speed and FLY! Direct hit on Desperado now! Wato drags Desperado and Taiji up but Hiromu is up top! SUPER SENTON!! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down again! The ring count starts now that all four men are on the outside! Hiromu crawls over at 7 of 20, stands at 9, and he drags Wato up. Hiromu puts Wato in at 11 and hurries to get Wato up.
Hiromu fireman’s carries, for a CORNER DEATH VALLEY! And then another fireman’s carry, but Taiji BOOTS him down! Desperado runs Taiji over but Wato BOOTS Desperado! Hiromu dropkicks Wato’s legs out, then dodges Taiji’s clothesline. Taiji comes back with a JUMP KNEE! Desperado storms up but into a body shot! Taiji whips, Desperado reverses to SPINEBUSTER! Wato storms up on Desperado, avoids his haymaker to hit the JUMP NECKBREAKER! Wato roars, he brings Hiromu up, but Hiromu slips out of the scoop! Wato elbows Hiromu, runs, but into POP-UP POWERBOMB! Taiji dragon sleepers Hiromu into BLOODY SUNDAY!
But Desperado drags Taiji away from Hiromu! Taiji fires off fast hands, but Desperado catches the haymaker and spins Taiji around, GUITARA DEL ANGEL!! But that’s not all! Desperado underhooks for PINCHE- NO, Taiji fights off the driver, and Wato SUPERKICKS Desperado down! Wato roars again, and BUZZSAWS Desperado down! Wato fires up more and he brings Desperado up. Wato wrenches, but Desperado slips out, LOCO MONO!! Both men fall, all four men are down, and fans fire up again! The ref checks all four men, they stir, and the fans rally up. A standing count starts, Wato and Taiji crawl to one side.
Desperado and Hiromu go to other corners, the count is 8! Wato staggers up at 9 but leans against ropes. All four men wobble, hobble towards center, and Taiji CLUBS Wato. Wato hits back, Hiromu and Desperado trade CHOPS! Wato and Taiji then hit Hiromu and Desperado! Desperado and Hiromu hit back, so Taiji and Wato hit them again. Desperado rakes Taiji’s eyes, Hiromu SUPERKICKS Desperado! Wato SOBATS Hiromu but he blocks Taiji’s kick. Taiji blocks Wato’s kick, then rakes Wato’s eyes! Taiji whips, Wato reverses, but Taiji handsprings, into a waistlock! Taiji elbows free, but Wato gets around, crucifix takedown, into the MOUSE TRAP DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!
Taiji escapes but Wato just roars! Wato climbs up top, fans rally, but Desperado anchors Wato. Taiji BOOTS Desperado off the apron, ROCKS Wato, then climbs up after Wato. But Hiromu adds on! TOWER OF DOOM!! High stack on Taiji, but Desperado breaks it!! Fans fire up after that close call! Desperado and Hiromu crawl to each other, and they start throwing forearms! Fans rally as the rivals go back and forth! Hiromu gets the edge but then Desperado DECKS Hiromu! Hiromu roars, but into LOCO ELBOW! Desperado stands Hiromu up again for another ELBOW! Desperado reels Hiromu in, TIGER DRIVER!!
Desperado holds onto the underhooks, and he rolls Hiromu back to his feet, for PINCHE LO- NO! Hiromu fights free and fireman’s carries! TIMEBOMB!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Desperado survives Hiromu’s best shot, but Hiromu fires up! Hiromu drags Desperado up, dragon sleepers, but has to throw Desperado away as Wato SPRINGBOARD FLYING UPPERCUTS!! Wato drags Desperado back up, hooks him up with chicken wings, TIGER SUPLEX into a MOUSE TRAP DRIVER!!! Cover, Taiji drags the ref out!! Taiji stops Wato from winning! And now he has a chair!! Taiji sneaks up on Wato to SMACK him!
Taiji then fetches the ref, gets him in the ring, and Taiji says BANG! Taiji drags Wato up, reels him in, BLOODY- NO, Wato slips free! And he chicken wings Taiji into the MOUSE TRAP DRIVER!!! Cover, but Hiromu dropkicks it apart!! Hiromu saves this match for himself at the last possible second! Hiromu drags Taiji up but Wato stands! Wato ROUNDHOUSES Hiromu, hooks him up, but Hiromu wheelbarrows! Only for Wato to block it! Wato has the waistlock, Hiromu resists, but Wato hits a HIGH ANGLE GERMAN!!! Bridging cover, TWO!??!! Hiromu shocks everyone by surviving that! Fans are thunderous and Wato roars!!
Wato drags Hiromu up, chicken wings, but Hiromu arm-drags free! Wato comes back, tilt-o-whirls, but Hiromu blocks it! Hiromu shifts, TIMEBOMB MK II!!! Cover, Hiromu wins!!!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
Taiji could not defy the odds, and as close as Wato came, he is still not there yet! Desperado staggers away backwards, will he struggle to find his footing after Suzuki-Gun’s disbandment? As for Hiromu has the trophy, he has the title, does this truly make him the Best of the Super Juniors?
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay w/ The United Empire VS Kenny Omega!
Parallel paths and a rivalry that has been building for some time finally comes to a head on NJPW’s biggest stage! Will the Commonwealth Kingpin keep his United Empire strong? Or will the Best Bout Machine continue to live up to that name?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly elite!
The bell rings and the two rush in! Omega avoids the boot and lets things cool down. They circle, feel things out, and Omega shoots in. Ospreay counters with a facelock, they go around and now they collar ‘n’ elbow. They go around more, Omega wrenches out to a wristlock. Omega slaps Ospreay around, then wrenches the arm to avoid Ospreay’s hands. Ospreay rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to WRING Omega! Omega kangaroo kicks back, headlocks for the takeover, and he denies Ospreay the headscissors! Fans rally as Ospreay keeps trying but Omega keeps the headscissor away. Ospreay fights up and powers out of the headlock, only for Omega to run him over!
But Ospreay kips right back up! Fans fire up as the two stare down, and Ospreay talks a bit of trash. Omega shoves, but Ospreay shoves back. Omega slaps Ospreay but Ospreay SLAPS Omega back! Ospreay fires off on Omega in the corner, but lets off as Red Shoes reprimands. Ospreay whips corner to corner, but Omega BOOTS him away. Omega goes up and over, then comes back to RANA, but Ospreay handsprings through, to RANA back! Fans fire out while Omega bails out, and Ospreay goes to ropes to PLANCHA! Direct hit and then Ospreay rains down fists! Fans fire up while Ospreay stands over Omega.
Ospreay brings Omega up to whip him into railing! Omega writhes, Ospreay stands him up and puts him back in. Ospreay aims from the apron, springboards, but Omega catches him and trips him up! Omega then BLASTS Ospreay off the apron and Ospreay hits railing! Now Ospreay writhes as Omega goes out after him. Fans rally, Omega drags Ospreay up, puts him in the ring, and then CLUBS Ospreay on the back. Omega CLUBS Ospreay more, then stalks him to ropes. Omega ROCKS Ospreay in the back, fireman’s carries, and says, “YOU! CAN’T! ESCAPE!” ROLLING SENTON, and then Omega goes up the corner for the MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!
Omega is annoyed but fans rally up. Omega drags Ospreay up but Ospreay pushes him away. Omega CLUBS Ospreay, whips him to ropes, and then hits a BIG hip toss! Omega adds a KICK to Ospreay’s back! Omega stands on Ospreay for a cocky cover but Ospreay pushes him away before a count. Omega kicks Ospreay around, stands on Ospreay again, but Red Shoes doesn’t care for cocky covers. Omega paces around and drags Ospreay up. Omega pushes Ospreay to a corner and digs his boot in! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Omega lets off at 4. Omega SLAPS Ospreay on the back, whips him corner to corner hard, and Ospreay bounces off buckles!
Omega says “There’s a difference” as he stares into the camera. Omega then goes to the blue corner and he unties the buckle pad! He may not be Bullet Club anymore but he is using their move! Omega struggles with the straps a bit, but Don Callis distracts Red Shoes so that Omega can finish untying it. Omega then drags Ospreay up. Ospreay deadweights it so Omega stomps him down. Omega aims at the bare corner and fans rally up. Omega stands Ospreay up, whips him in, but Ospreay avoids the buckles! Ospreay elbows Omega, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again! Omega drops to his knees but Ospreay brings him up. But Omega BOOTS Ospreay into the buckles!
Omega hurries to stand Ospreay up, for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Omega is annoyed again but fans rally up. Ospreay clutches his back while resting on the apron, but Omega drags him back in. Omega springboard stomps Ospreay down, then drags him back up. Omega ROCKS Ospreay with a forearm, then knees low! And again! Callis talks up Omega on English commentary as Omega whips Ospreay to ropes. Ospreay catches Omega to a COBRA TWIST! Ospreay grinds Omega down, then stands him up to pull on the facelock! But Omega powers out with a HIP TOSS! Ospreay staggers up, Omega runs in, but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT!
Ospreay runs to BOOT Omega down! Fans fire up, and Ospreay drags Omega up to suplex! Omega knees free, suplexes, but Ospreay hits STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Fans rally up again as Ospreay works to loosen his back. Ospreay and Omega rise, and Ospreay ROCKS Omega with forearm after forearm! Ospreay whips, Omega reverses but Ospreay handsprings for the NEURALIZER! Fans fire up as Ospreay goes to the apron. Ospreay springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Omega survives the flying forearm but Ospreay keeps his cool. Fans rally again as Ospreay stands and Omega checks his jaw.
Ospreay drags Omega up but Omega resists the bomb lift. Ospreay fires off a sharp Kawada Kick, then CHOPS! Ospreay brings Omega in again, but Omega slips out of the bomb to CHOP! Omega runs, but Ospreay TIGER WALL KICKS and ENZIGURIS! Both men are down and fans fire up! Omega crawls to the apron, Ospreay goes out after him. Ospreay drags Omega up, aiming for the floor! Fans rally up, Omega resists the lift, so Ospreay CHOPS him! Omega shakes his head and CHOPS back! Ospreay CHOPS again! Omega is stinging, but he CHOPS back! Ospreay CHOPS but Omega ROCKS him! Ospreay SUPERKICKS!
Omega holds onto ropes to stay standing, but Ospreay goes to the corner! APRON OSC- NO!! Omega holds the ropes to deny the cutter, and Ospreay crashes down! Omega steadies himself, then goes looking under the ring! Ospreay crawls, but Omega drags him back! Omega drags out a table! And he SLAMS it on Ospreay’s back! Omega puts the table on Ospreay’s back, and stomps it down! Fans fire up as Omega goes to the apron, and he DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS the table!! He stomps a hole right through it!! Ospreay writhes and fans are going nuts as Omega picks the wrecked table up. “HERE’S~ KENNY!!”
Omega grins and he stands back up. Ospreay grits his teeth as he sits up, and he keeps Omega from sliding into the ring! Ospreay throws Omega into railing, then he fires off hands from all sides!! Ospreay brings Omega over to suplex him onto the busted table!! Omega writhes and spasms while fans go nuts again! Ospreay goes to the corner, climbs to to the top, and SUPER SKY TWISTERS!!! Direct hit but Ospreay also hits railing! Fans are thunderous as both men are down. Red Shoes checks, Ospreay stands up and his back seems in good enough shape to continue. Ospreay puts Omega in the ring, and then he climbs up again! BLINDSIDE FLYING FOREARM! Cover, TWO!!!
Omega staggers, Ospreay springboards, OSCUT- NO!! Omega blocks, pushes Ospreay, and BLINDSIDE V-TRIGGERS! Then POISON-RANAS! Then fisherman’s for AOI SHOUDO!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay barely gets that shoulder up but it keeps him in this! Omega flounders his way to ropes, drags himself up, and fans rally as he calls his shot. Omega drags Ospreay up with a half nelson. Omega has the full nelson, but Ospreay breaks free! Ospreay throws elbows, but Omega CLUBS him on the back! Omega CHOPS Ospreay to a corner, then hoists him up top backwards. Omega CHOPS Ospreay on the back, then climbs up after him!
Ospreay resists but Omega throws down elbows! Omega full nelsons but Ospreay still resists! Omega CLUBS away on Ospreay, has the nelson, and fans fire up as Omega stands on the very top! SUPER DRAGON SUPLEX!!! But Ospreay lands on his feet!!! ROBINSON SPECIAL!! Fans are thunderous, Ospreay springboards, OSCUTTER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Omega survives and no one can believe it! Fans rally as hard as they can as both men sit up. Omega crawls to ropes and drags himself up. Ospreay runs in, to HELLUVA KICK Omega against bare buckles! Ospreay then hoists Omega up top, tucks him in, and CHEEKY NANDOS!
And CHEEKY NANDOS again! Ospreay fires off boots but Red Shoes reprimands. Ospreay CHEEKY NANDOS for a third time! Omega flops off the top and to the apron! Fans rally, Ospreay climbs up the corner and brings Omega up to the top rope. Ospreay ROCKS Omega with a forearm, but Omega holds ropes to stay up! Ospreay ROCKS Omega again, but Omega throws a body shot. Ospreay ROCKS Omega again, but Omega throws another body shot. Ospreay hops down to CHOP! Omega flops but holds onto the rope to stay on the apron. Ospreay climbs up again, drags Omega back up, and clinches, only for Omega to throw body shots!
Omega facelocks Ospreay for a TOP ROPE DDT to the bare buckle!!! The United Empire can’t help it, they hurry over to check on Ospreay! Red Shoes reprimands as Akira, TJP, Henare, Cobb and Khan all check on Ospreay. Cobb complains that the DDT should’ve never happened! Fans rally up as Omega sits up. Ospreay also sits up and he is busted open! Red Shoes gets the Empire to return to their seats at ringside. Omega shouts for Red Shoes to count this already. Ospreay stirs but the ring count climbs. It reaches 10 of 20 but Ospreay is at the railing. Ospreay drags himself up at 12, flounders at 14, and the Empire shouts for him to get up!
The fans are thunderous, Ospreay drags himself up again, and he heads for the ring, only for Omega to WRECK him with a dropkick! Omega has the fans rally up and he starts the Terminator Drums! Ospreay manages to stand as Omega builds speed, Omega FLIES!! Direct hit and Omega almost lands on his feet! Omega has a wild look in his eyes while Ospreay reaches out feebly. Omega sets up what’s left of that table and he drags Ospreay up. Omega drags Ospreay over, and SMASHES his face into the table! Omega keeps going until there’s another hole in the wood! Red Shoes reprimands, Omega drags Ospreay back up and into the ring.
Omega drags Ospreay up and reels him in! Omega lifts for a STUFF PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay manages to tip the cover over just enough to escape! Omega is furious, and he rains down fists on Ospreay’s bloody forehead! Red Shoes reprimands but Omega lets off with a scuffing kick. Fans are thunderous again as Ospreay drags himself up. Ospreay has a crimson mask but he refuses to let it end by stoppage! He shoves Red Shoes down, swings at Omega, but into a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Omega is telling the Empire this is what Ospreay gets, and he drags Ospreay back up. Ospreay is a ragdoll as Omega hits another SNAP DRAGON!
Ospreay tries to stand but he just flops back over! Ospreay is on the ropes, Omega takes aim, BANG! But Ospreay grabs Omega’s leg to keep him from running! Omega stomps away on Ospreay! Ospreay holds on so Omega rains down palm strikes, then he fires off KNEE after KNEE!! Omega underhooks, lifts Ospreay, JAY DRILLER!!! Cover, ROPEBREAK?!?! Ospreay survives by inches and fans are thunderous again! Red Shoes checks Ospreay, but Ospreay refuses to give in. Omega says BANG, V-TRIGGER!!! Ospreay flops right out of the ring!!! Omega grins as he slides out after Ospreay. Omega drags Ospreay up and puts him in the ring.
Omega wants Ospreay to stand, and the fans rally for as much, too! Ospreay flounders, Omega climbs up the corner, and Omega gloats, only for Ospreay to hit the ropes! Omega falls right on his crotch! Ospreay staggers over, ROCKS Omega with a right hand, then goes up after Omega. Ospreay loses his balance moment but he fires off forearms on Omega! Ospreay slams himself to wake up, and he goes up on wobbly legs. Ospreay manages to reach the top, but Omega slips out and trips Ospreay up! Ospreay gets a face full of steel buckle!! Fans lose their minds as Omega crawls away to the far side!
The Empire shouts at Ospreay, but Omega runs in, to BLINDSIDE V-TRIGGER Ospreay into bare buckles!!! Omega shows no mercy as he hoists Ospreay up top! Omega climbs up, he reels Ospreay in for an Electric Chair Lift! But Ospreay fights back! Only for Omega to pop him for a SUPER CROYT’S WRATH!!! High stack cover, TWO!?!? But Omega pops Ospreay in place for a V-TRIGGER!! Cover, TWO!?!??! Ospreay is still in this, but how?!? Fans are thunderous all over again as Omega looms over Ospreay. Omega drags Ospreay up and V-TRIGGERS!! But Omega won’t let Ospreay fall over, either! V-TRIGGER!!!
Omega still keeps Ospreay up, for another- NO!! Ospreay blocks the V-Trigger! Omega fires off fists but Ospreay just fires up! Omega likes this, and fans are electric! Omega JABS, and JABS, and JABS! Ospreay fires off KAWADA KICKS, a CHOP, then more Kawada Kicks! CHOP, KAWADA KICKS, then CHOP, CHOP! Omega boots the elbow to V-TRIGGER! Omega winds up, but Ospreay slips through the lariat! LIGER BOMB!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?? Omega survives and fans are shocked! Ospreay roars, he drags Omega up and turns him, for the CHELSEA GRIN! Ospreay prepares the arm, for the HIDDEN BLADE! And then another HIDDEN BLADE!
Ospreay runs, goes up the corner, SUPER OSCUTTER!!!! Ospreay crawls to the cover, TWO!?!?!?! Just what are these two made of?!? Fans are electric, Khan waves the Empire’s banner, and Ospreay drags Omega up. Ospreay underhooks, lifts, but Omega slips free! And Electric Chairs, but Ospreay slips around to sunset flip! High stack, TWO, but Ospreay yanks Omega up! STYLES CLASH!!! But Ospreay doesn’t cover, he goes to the corner! Ospreay raises his arm, takes off the elbow pad, and fans are thunderous again! HIDDEN BLADE from the front!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Ospreay is furious, but he fires back up!
The fans rally as hard as they can and Ospreay drags Omega in. Ospreay underhooks, lifts, and STORM- NO, Omega lands free to V-TRIGGER! But Ospreay HIDDEN BLADES!! Fans are electric as both men are down again! Omega holds onto Ospreay’s wrist, and the two rise again. Omega drags Ospreay up and throws a forearm. Ospreay throws it back! Omega throws another, so Ospreay gives it back! Omega forearms, Ospreay forearms, repeat, and the fans are fired up with every shot! Ospreay gets the edge! But Omega shoots around, STRAITJACKET GERMAN!! Cover, TWO!!! But Omega holds onto the wrists!
Omega turns Ospreay around with the wristlocks, and everyone knows what’s coming! Ospreay SPITS at Omega and dares him to do it! KAMI-GOYE!!!!! But then, Electric Chair, and ONE WINGED ANGEL!!!!! Cover, Omega wins!!!
Winner: Kenny Omega, by pinfall (NEW IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion)
Truly an elite battle of elite wrestlers! But the Cleaner comes out on top to claim this title once again! Will this massive title win be the start of an All Elite Era in NJPW?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White w/ Gedo VS Kazuchika Okada!
Another grand rivalry of NJPW adds a new chapter to its history! The Switchblade has thwarted many a challenger, including the Rainmaker, but nothing lasts forever! Will this still be Jay White’s era? Or will Okada turn his G1 Climax win into a new reign?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we find out who is THE BEST in NJPW!
White mocks Tanahashi by taking off his jacket and showing off the abs. Then White and Gedo get the fans to join in on the Too Sweet. The bell rings and fans rally up as the two stare down. White hears the fans chant for “O-KA-DA!” but tells them to hush. White gets the claps going for “O-KA-DA!” but he means it mockingly. Then he says they’re idiots, so they should just chant it. Fans do chant it, and White says Okada needs to thank White. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and Okada powers White back. White turns it around to put Okada on the ropes, but Red Shoes calls the break. White lets go, but he chest bumps Okada as he lets off.
Fans applaud as Okada keeps his cool. Okada and White reset and circle again. They tie up, are in another deadlock, but Okada pushes White back again. White again puts Okada on the ropes but Okada turns it right back around. Gedo protests, Okada lets off slowly, but White SLAPS Okada! White grins, kicks low, then CLUBS Okada! White bumps Okada off buckles, stomps a mudhole in, then throws haymakers! Red Shoes reprimands, White CHOPS and brings Okada out. White knees low, whips, but Okada reverses to BOOT White down! Fans rally, Okada drags White up and Okada CLUBS White down.
Okada drags White back up, to ROCK him with a forearm! Okada brings White up again, for a NECKBREAKER! Okada kicks White, brings him up, and snapmares him along the ropes. Okada runs but Gedo drags White out to safety. Fans boo but Gedo shrugs. Okada rushes out, White slides back in, but Okada is focused on Gedo! White slides back out but Okada kicks him low! Okada CLUBS White, puts him in the ring, then he storms up on Gedo. Gedo says okay, he’ll stay back! Okada goes into the ring, but White gets around to waistlock and SAIDO! Gedo applauds but he’s the only one as White stands back up.
White grabs Okada’s legs and stomps him in the stomach! And again! White flexes and fans are torn. White kicks Okada around, sits Okada up to fishhook his face, but Red Shoes reprimands. White lets off, “apologizes,” and he drags Okada up. White top wristlocks, then he throws a body shot! White then stands Okada up to ROCK him in the back! Fans rally for Okada but White mocks their clapping. White scoops and SLAMS Okada, covers, TWO! White clamps on a chinlock and he pokes Okada with the Too Sweet. Okada endures, fans rally up, and Okada stands up to throw body shots. White ROCKS Okada with a forearm!
Okada swings, White gets around and reels Okada in for a DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but White kicks Okada out of the ring. White then goes out after Okada, taunts Tanahashi, and he brings Okada up to RAM him into railing! And then into the apron! And then back into the railing! And then back into the apron! White reels Okada in to suplex and APRON GOURD BUSTER! Okada flops right to the floor and White relaxes. White drags Okada up, puts him in the ring, and White brings Okada up to suplex. White hangs Okada out to dry! Okada flops onto the mat, White plays around, and then he drags Okada up for a CORNER HALF HATCH! Cover, ROPEBREAK!
Fans rally while White complains about the slow count. Red Shoes defends his count, so White gets fans to do a call and response of “Too!” “Sweet!” Okada stands, White winds up, and CHOPS! White waits on Okada as he continues the “Too!” “Sweet!” And then the CHOP! White mocks Okada, brings him up, whips him corner to corner, and then swings, but Okada dodges! Okada kicks, but White wrenches out of the DDT! White reels Okada in but Okada back drops free! White stagger sup, swings, but misses! Okada kicks low to DDT! Fans rally up, Okada has White, and he fires off forearms! Okada whips, White reverses but Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges to ELBOW White down!
Okada drags White up, whips again, and FLAPJACKS! Fans fire up while White writhes and clutches his ribs. White goes to a corner, Okada goes to the other. Okada runs in corner to corner but Gedo warns White! White dodges and Okada hits buckles! White RAMS into Okada, and again, and again! And again, and again, and again! Red Shoes reprimands but White shoves him away. Fans boo, but Okada hoists White right up to DROPKICK him down to the floor! Fans rally and Gedo coaches White up. Okada goes out after White and drags him up. Okada brings White around, and then to the ramp.
Gedo storms up after Okada and tells him no. But White spins Okada around! Okada avoids the haymaker and kicks low! Gedo storms up but Okada kicks him low! DOUBLE DDT to the ramp! Fans cheer as Okada gets even with the Blacksmith! Okada fires up and the fans fire up with him, and Okada fetches White. White calls to Gedo but Okada drags White into the ring. Okada climbs up the corner, White stands, MISSILE DROPKICK! Okada drags White back up, wrenches his arm, and clamps on the MONEY CLIP! White endures, throws body shots, and he RAMS Okada into a corner! White gets free, but Okada storms up, only to swing into a COMPLETE SHOT!
White drags Okada up with a deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! White mocks Okada, “Rocking the baby,” but fans rally up. Okada stirs but White goes to the opposite corner. Okada stands, White runs in, and White UPPERCUTS! Then suplexes, for BLADE BUSTER! Cover, TWO! White grows frustrated but the fans continue to rally. White hears that and is annoyed. He drags Okada up, but also stands on Okada’s head. White then stands Okada up, but Okada resists the clinch with elbows! White knees low and Okada drops to his knees. White mocks the claps again, then drags Okada back up. Okada UPPERCUTS, then gut wrenches!
White fights with elbows and body shots! Okada lets go, White FISHERMAN BUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and White scowls. White drags Okada around, sits him up and clamps on a chinlock. White stands Okada up but Okada rams him into a corner! Okada is free, but White CHOP BLOCKS his leg! White gets the bad leg but Okada kicks with the other leg! White flops back, Okada drags himself up the ropes, and White CHOPS! But Okada doesn’t flinch! Okada stares White down, so White CHOPS again! Okada still doesn’t flinch. White pokes Okada with the Two Sweet, then CHOPS! Okada fires off forearm after forearm!
Okada whips and DROPKICKS White right down! Fans fire up as Okada roars! Okada drags White back up, gut wrenches, but White rakes the eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, White stops, but he has the sleeper! But Okada arm-drags free! Okada runs in, spins White, but White ducks the discus to clinch! But Okada fights off Bladerunner to get the MONEY CLIP! White endures, he pries at the hold, but he’s fading! White gets a second wind to fight back up, so Okada gut wrenches him! SPINNING TOMBSTONE! Okada drags White up again, DISCUS LARIAT! Okada roars again and fans fire back up! Okada sits White up, for the MONEY CLIP!!
White is turning red and Okada leans on the hold! Gedo shouts for White to do something, move anything, and White flails around! White reaches out but he’s starting to foam from the mouth! Red Shoes checks, White gets a third wind to get the ROPEBREAK! Okada lets go in frustration but the fans rally up. White flops out of the ring but Okada takes aim. Okada builds speed, but Gedo stands in the way! Gedo begs Okada not to do this, but fans boo. Gedo then tries a sucker punch, but Okada blocks and DECKS Gedo! Gedo flounders to where White is, and Okada climbs the corner!? SUPER CANNONBALL takes out White AND Gedo!!
Fans are thunderous as Okada stands back up! Okada drags White up to put him in the ring. Okada drags White up, brings him around and scoops to SLAM! White is in the drop zone, Okada climbs up the corner, and he MACHO ELBOWS! And fans fire up because here comes the Rainmaker Pose! Okada brings White up and in, ripcords, but White deadweights it! Fans boo but White smirks. Okada KICKS White down! White chuckles even though Okada kicks him more. Okada won’t let White play possum forever, and he drags White back up. White pushes Okada away, but that forearm is rather weak. Okada DECKS White with his!
Okada eggs White on, and White drags himself to ropes. White stands, steps up to Okada, and he throws another forearm. Still no good, and Okada DECKS White again! Gedo gets in the ring and distracts Red Shoes! But Okada sees White gearing up for the low blow, so he DECKS White first! Okada drags White around by his arm, stands him up, but White BOOTS! And BOOTS! And SPITS at Okada! Okada is furious, but he swings into an URENAGE!! Both men are down again and fans rally up. White crawls after Okada, clamps onto him with a chinlock, and drags him up. Okada throws elbows to fight the sleeper suplex!
Okada has White on the ropes, he throws more elbows, but White SAIDOS Okada up and out of the ring!! Red Shoes checks on Okada but White hurries to drag Okada back up and in! White flounders after Okada, drags him back up, and SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEXES!! Gedo cheers White on but fans rally for Okada. White drags Okada up and back into the sleeper, and hooks the leg! FISHERMAN BACK SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Okada survives and Gedo is frustrated. But White grabs Okada’s arms, tucks them in, BLACK DRAGON BRAINBUSTER!! White grins and slashes his throat! He drags Okada back up, clinches, BLADE- NO, Okada GERMAN SUPLEXES!
Okada keeps the waistlock, drags White up and now has the wristlock. Gedo panics and White reaches for ropes, but Okada hooks that arm! Backslide, White rolls through, but Okada short arm LARIATS! Okada drags White back up by an arm, for another short arm LARIAT! Okada roars, Gedo freaks out, and fans fire up! Okada ripcords, for the RAIN- NO, White ducks, but comes back into the DROPKICK! Okada ripcords, RAIN- NO! BLADE- NO!! Scoop and LANDSLIDE DRIVER!! Okada drags White back up, ripcords again, RAIN- BLADERUNNER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Okada survives and shocks everyone!
Fans are thunderous as Red Shoes checks both men. White crawls over as Gedo says he just needs one more good shot. White sits Okada up and clinches him. But Okada CLUBS White from below! White just stands Okada up, to short arm LARIAT! White is copying Okada now as he drags Okada back up, for another short arm LARIAT! Fans rally as Okada stirs, but White copies the Rainmaker Pose! White says it’s time, and he ripcords, for the BLADE- NO! Okada sips out, ripcords, RAINMAKER!!!! Cover, TWO!?!?? Gedo is going nuts as White somehow survives! White sputters, Gedo pounds the mat to wake him up.
White and Okada stir, and White crawls over to Okada. Okada sits up, he and White are forehead to forehead. Okada throws a forearm! White throws it back! Okada nods and throws another forearm! White flounders, but he comes back to throw another forearm! Gedo fires up, White calls Okada a coward, but Okada and White are forehead to forehead again. The forearms start flying, and White keeps talking trash! Okada grins, White fires up, but Okada ROCKS him! White CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! Gedo likes this as White CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Okada falls over and fans fire up more!
White drags Okada up but Okada pushes him away. White CHOPS Okada back down! White keeps telling Okada he’s a coward, and that Okada isn’t going to take this from him! But Okada DECKS White with a forearm! Okada drags White up to ROCK him with forearm after forearm! White flops into the ropes and falls over! Okada eggs White on, White drags himself back up, and the two storm up to each other. White forearms, Okada forearms, repeat, and the fans rally harder with every shot! Okada UPPERCUTS! White wobbles, but Okada brings him around for another UPPERCUT! Okada UPPERCUTS again, but White clinches!
But Okada fights free! Ripcord ENZIGURI! Okada then drags White up, gut wrenches, but White slips free! BLADE- NO, Okada ripcords! NO, White ripcords, Okada STEALS BLADERUNNER?!?! Fans are going nuts and Okada drags White back up! Okada gut wrenches for a SPINNING POWERSLAM!! Fans are thunderous as Okada roars! Okada ripcords, for the RAINMAKER!!!! Cover, OKADA WINS!!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The New Year starts with the end of the Switchblade Era! And once again, The Rainmaker reigns! White grabs the title belt, refusing to give it up. Red Shoes grabs the belt and makes it clear White lost. White reluctantly lets go, and the belt is officially given to Okada. When and where will White come back for the top title in NJPW?
As for Okada, he applauds White, and goes to get the mic, but Shingo Takagi gets it first! Takagi tells Okada to hold on! Takagi wishes to interrupt. “Okada, congratulations on becoming the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.” But Takagi didn’t come all the way down here just to say that. One year ago to this day, Takagi lost that title to Okada, and Takagi hasn’t forgotten that. Takagi made up for it with my KOPW reign last year, and he had more than a fitting resumé in 2022. Okada, anyone who watched that match knows how great and strong you are. And the fans definitely got their money’s worth tonight.
Takagi says that this is something worth an even higher ticket price: him challenging Okada for that title! That’s pretty straightforward, so how about they do this on February 11th? AKA New Beginnings in Osaka! And Takagi promises to have the KOPW Championship on top of it! Takagi drops the mic and waits on Okada to respond. Okada picks the mic up, and tells Takagi that he should just get the hell out. Fans cheer for “O-KA-DA!” and Okada says, “TOKYO DOME~! Thank you for your hot, passionate support.” Okada says this was a truly amazing night, and he thanks the fans so much for that.
Okada says he and Jay White fought on another grand stage in NJPW, and White does lead their series 4-1, so Okada knows he’ll have to fight even harder to claw back that difference. But Okada thanks everyone for watching NJPW’s 50th anniversary year, and he gets a bit emotional seeing so many fans in the crowd. Okada asks Antonio Inoki what he thinks about tonight’s matches. Was he watching tonight? Okada hopes Inoki sees that his fighting spirit is here and will continue to burn, so please watch over NJPW as we enter year 51. There is plenty more for NJPW to do the next 50 years and beyond. Inoki, we hope the lights are bright enough for you to see in Heaven.
Okada says as long as the fans support and love NJPW, NJPW will keep fighting for them. And Okada will be the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and continue to make it rain~! Okada drops the mic and fans cheer, but will the Rainmaker be ready for the Rampaging Dragon in Osaka?
My Thoughts:
Just an incredible event for NJPW to cap their year while starting this new year. I suppose I didn’t need to skip the Young Lion showdown at the very beginning, that was a three minute time limit match, and it looked pretty competitive and fast paced from what I skimmed through. But the New Japan Ranbo was a lot of fun, and what a surprise that Takagi entered that. I’m also surprised Taichi didn’t make the final four, but I do like that they’re giving Khan and Sho a spot in that Fatal 4. I don’t see Sho winning that, it has to be anyone else in that match to win. And that was a really fun Six Man Tag to honor Inoki, though I feel like Makabe getting that pin was semi-botch.
Great match from Catch 2/2 VS Yoh & Lio, and a great finish with TJP snatching that win away. The United Empire is still holding onto those Junior Heavyweight titles, that’s the bit of gold they have and they might be holding onto those for quite some time. Great match from Kairi VS Tam, but I figured Kairi was going to win. And as I had heard the talk of Sasha Banks showing up here, I wasn’t surprised that she confronted Kairi. Sasha calling out Kairi is fitting, but that Gory Especial to DDT is not a good finisher. I didn’t even realize she did the DDT at first. And Sasha’s in NJPW, she can copy a finisher she saw in WWE so long as it isn’t a move someone in NJPW or Stardom already uses. And now I have a reason to put Battle in the Valley on my calendar.
FTR VS Bishamon was a great match for the heavyweight tag titles, but I had a feeling FTR was dropping the belts. This was the time for something that big, and with what’s building for them in AEW, it gives FTR a strong story of having to build back up from nothing after such a great 2022. FTR will beat up Austin & Colten Gunn to get going again, and Goto & Hashi will carry these belts into the various New Beginnings events to give some NJPW teams their chances. Aussie Open wasn’t spotted anywhere tonight, maybe they make a big splash by getting those belts this year.
Great match from ZSJ VS Narita, and while it’s a lot to keep up with when typing it, I really like the pace of the NJPW World TV Division. It truly is a “don’t blink or you’ll miss something,” “thank goodness for rewind technology” type of thing. ZSJ winning is the right choice, he has deserved a singles title for a long time and he is so good as a literal wrestler that he can make this pace work. But the real big development was him joining up with The Mighty in the wake of Suzuki-Gun disbanding and Jonah Rock returning to being Bronson Reed in WWE. ZSJ can help bring TMDK to another level and really establish them as a force in NJPW.
Tama VS Karl was a great match, but with Karl getting busier in WWE, it just makes sense Tama wins the NEVER Openweight title. Tama himself has been deserving of more in a singles run, he can get that going this year and finally come into his own as a singles guy. And it’s not like Guerrillas of Destiny is out of tag team wrestling, as Hikuleo has joined the fold and can team with Tanga Loa when Loa returns from injury. Hell, the three brothers can even go for the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles if they want and reign together. And we got another really fun tribute match with Muto’s team winning over LIJ. I know Naito had been teasing this was his last WrestleKingdom, but this didn’t feel like that. Naito can easily say he’s changed his mind and try everything all over again.
That Fatal 4 Way was great stuff, too, with everyone playing off the rivalries and odd team-ups really well. They really made it look like Wato was gonna get it there with how strong he was before the end, but Hiromu winning out makes sense. He set the record for Best of the Super Junior tournament wins, he has definitely put in the work to be worthy of the title. Ospreay VS Omega for the US title was NUTS! I did not think they were going to go that hard, but what a way for Omega to take that title off of Ospreay. Omega now has the potential to a be a dual champion with the AEW World Trios Championship ladder match next Wednesday, that would be pretty wild.
And of course, another great world title match between Okada and White. In terms of excitement and shock factor, Ospreay VS Omega did better. But the storytelling of Okada and White is a large part of their strength. They know each other so well, the countering back and forth was great, and in the end, of course Okada ends up on top. Okada is still NJPW’s number one guy, they will always circle back to him because of how good he is and how much the fans love him. Now, Takagi showing up to call Okada out was rather surprising, but Takagi being that confident is rather fitting. IWGP World Champion VS KOPW Champion for the first time ever would be really cool, that’ll be big for their Osaka show no matter who wins. At the same time, I think Okada retains, no way his newest reign is only a month and change.
My Score: 9.6/10
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Austin paves the way to Grand Slam: Australia!
Even before the big night in Brisbane, AEW is in Austin and gold is on the line! Will Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin hurt The Gunns?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Best Wrestler Alive Open Challenge: Max Caster VS ???; Hangman Page wins.
- AEW World Trios Championships: The Death Riders VS The Undisputed Kingdom; The Death Riders win and retain the titles.
- Six Man Tag: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata VS Aaron Solo, Jon Cruz & Rosario Grillo; Joe, Hook & Shibata win.
- Dustin Rhodes VS MJF; MJF wins.
- Megan Bayne VS Maya World; Megan wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford; Kris wins.
- AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS The Gunns; Lashley & Shelton win and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
Best Wrestler Alive Open Challenge: Max Caster VS ???
Dynamite begins with Platinum Max already in the ring, mic in hand and he thanks Austin, even though they’re booing as hard as they can. Caster introduces himself as the Best Wrestler Alive! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” Caster says if you don’t believe him, look at this trademark certificate, signed and notarized by “your precious American government.” The fans boo but Caster says he’s giving anyone, anywhere, a chance to go eye-to-eye with the Best Wrestler Alive. And since he ran his partners, Anthony Bowens & Billy Gunn, outta this company, now you can all see the true mastermind behind The Acclaimed was always Max!
“So without further ado, let’s see who can survive the Best Wrestler Alive!” Caster hands the mic to Justin Roberts, and here comes HANGMAN PAGE! Caster is freaking out but he should’ve known better when he got on The Cowboy’s nerves last week. Caster bails out of the ring the moment Hangman steps in, and Caster wants to run away through the crowd? Hangman asks where Caster went, and the fans point him out! Caster says stop it, but here comes Hangman! Hangman storms through crowd, catches up to Caster, and then chases him into the ring! Caster attacks, the bell rings, and the fans boo.
Caster fires hands, then throws off his shirt. Caster whips, Hangman reverses, but Caster BOOTS back! Caster goes up, leaps, and FLYING RANAS! The fans boo but Caster says that’s why he’s the best! But he gloats too much, and he doesn’t see Hangman get up. Caster turns around, Hangman LARIATS him down! The fans fire up as Caster goes to the corner, and Hangman runs in, LARIAT! Hangman whips corner to corner, LARIATS, then snapmares for a SLIDING LARIAT! The fans fire up as Hangman now loads up on the apron! Caster stands up, into a BUCKSHOT! Cover, Hangman wins!
Winner: Hangman Page, by pinfall
Platinum Max is 0-2 at his own challenge, but we can only hope that ego has been deflated. As for Hangman, will there be even more #CowboyS*it on this road to Revolution?
AEW hears from Ricochet and Swerve Strickland.
The One & Only says, “Much like the Philadelphia Eagles, I now stand before you a winner. Swerve Strickland, he had all the threats, he had all the insults, he had all the menacing looks, and he had all the vigor. But again, none of that matters when you can’t win. Ricochet is moving on to bigger and better things.” But the Realest tells Ricochet that this is far from over. “I’m a big believer in eye for an eye, and I’m coming for you.” But Prince Nana speaks up, saying this is the same thing he’s been telling Swerve about! Why does Swerve have to make things personal? Focus on what matters: Jon Moxley & the AEW World Championship!
Swerve says he can’t! He’s tried! And Nana knows of all people that he tried. But look at what happened the last time he let someone walk way: Hangman burned down Swerve’s house and Swerve lost everything! Ricochet says it is a cold, cold world, but ya boi is staying really, really warm. AHA~! Ricochet has the Embassy’s robe, but he also has Swerve aiming for the kill shot. When and where will these two go one more round?
AEW World Trios Championships: The Death Riders VS The Undisputed Kingdom!
The “reign of terror” doesn’t just pertain to Moxley’s grip on the AEW World Championship, it applies to how Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & Pac have barely even defended these titles since winning them. However, it was just last week that they attacked Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Adam Cole BAYBAY in an attempt to keep them down. Cole said the Death Riders were messing with the wrong team, will that fact be undisputed? Or will the Death Riders continue to hold four belts hostage?
The introductions are made, but the Kingdom goes after the Death Riders on the outside! The bell rings to get this on record, but the brawl is already on! Austin fires up as Cole is after the Swiss Superman, Roddy is after The Decoder, and Kyle has The Bastard! Claudio sends Cole into barriers! Kyle fires knees on Pac, Roddy whips Yuta, and Yuta hits railing! Kyle kicks Pac against railing, Roddy CHOPS away on Yuta, Kyle KICKS Pac, then Roddy gives Pac a CHOP as he and Yuta pass by. Cole fires shots on Claudio then bumps him off barriers! Kyle runs to DORPKICK Kyle against barriers! Pac slumps down while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Roddy fires shots on Yuta, Cole stomps Claudio, then Kyle runs to KNEE Yuta down! Kyle then runs to DROPKICK Claudio! The fans are fired up with The Kingdom, and they get Yuta in the ring. Kyle stomps Yuta, puts him in a corner, then tags Roddy. They CHOP and KICK Yuta on repeat! The ref counts, Roddy brings Yuta around and hits a BACKBREAKER! Tag to Cole and Cole drags Yuta up. Cole turns Yuta for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Yuta stays in this but Cole stays on him with a buckle bump. Tag to Kyle, they DOUBLE SUPLEX Yuta, then Kyle covers, TWO! Kyle rains down palm strikes as Dynamite returns to single picture.
The fans rally for “UNDISPUTED! UNDISPUTED!” while Kyle wrenches Yuta. But Yuta pulls hair, puts Kyle in the corner, and the Death Riders mug Kyle! The ref counts, Pac tags in, and Pac BOOTS Kyle! Pac bumps Kyle off buckles, then runs him corner to corner to bump him off more buckles! Pac then brings Kyle back to the Death Rider corner for one more buckle bump! Tag to Claudio and the Death Riders stomp away on Kyle! The fans boo, the ref counts, but Pac lets off. Claudio looms over Kyle, brings him up, and CHOPS! The fans rally but Kyle fires a forearm! Claudio UPPERCUTS, Kyle fires another forearm, but Claudio gets a SLEEPER!
The fans rally for Kyle but Claudio sits him down already! Kyle pries at the hold, bends Claudio’s fingers, but Claudio just powers up to keep the hold. Kyle stands, turns around, but Claudio facelocks. Kyle powers his way forward a step at a time, but Claudio power shim back! Yuta storms in to CLUB Kyle! The ref reprimands Yuta, but then he has to keep Cole & Roddy back, and all this allows Claudio & Pac to mug Kyle more! Yuta joins in, the fans boo more, but the Death Riders get away with everything before the ref sees! Yuta tags in, Pac gets a cheap shot in before Yuta JUMP STOMPS again and again!
But Kyle grapevines the leg! The fans fire up but Claudio stomps Kyle down! The ref reprimands but Yuta tags Pac. Pac stalks Kyle, stays between him and The Kingdom, and then Pac stands Kyle up to pie face. Kyle fires a forearm, so Pac fires back! They go back and forth, Kyle fires a strike fest, but Pac jumps the leg sweep! Pac SOBATS, KICKS, and SOBATS! Pac runs, but into a kitchen sink knee! Hot tag to Roddy! The Savior of the Backbreaker CALF KICKS Pac, then CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Roddy catches Claudio to a leg capture BACKBREAKAER! Roddy BLATS Yuta, CHOPS Pac, then hits a BACKBREAKER!
Yuta runs in, but into a HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER! Then an X-PLEX onto Pac! Cover, TWO!! Pac survives but Roddy hurries to tag Cole. Tag to Kyle now, and then Roddy fireman’s carries Pac. GUT BUSTER DROP, then Cole adds a BACKSTABBER! Kyle hits a RUNNING KNEE! Cover, Claudio breaks it! The fans boo but Cole runs up! Claudio UPPERCUTS Cole, but Roddy KNEES Claudio out of the ring! Kyle hurries to tag Roddy, and they get Pac up. But Yuta sneaks up as Kyle climbs! Roddy gives Pac the BACKBREAKER, but Yuta SHOVES Kyle off the top! Kyle tumbles to apron then the floor!
The ref argues with Yuta, but Claudio hits a BIG back suplex on Roddy! Cole protests but Claudio tags back in. Claudio stomps away on Roddy, then he soaks up the heat from Austin. Tag to Yuta, he and Claudio mug Roddy, then they hit a HART ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Roddy is tougher than that, but Yuta clamps on him with a facelock. Yuta grinds Roddy down, but Roddy endures and fights up. Roddy wrenches up, but Yuta kicks low! Yuta hits a snap suplex, then covers, TWO! Tag to Pac, and Pac takes the handoff to a headlock. Pac grinds Roddy down but Roddy keeps his shoulders up. The fans rally up and Roddy stands, but Pac facelocks, snap suplex!
Pac watches Roddy goes to a corner, then runs up to UPPERCUT! Snapmare and covers, TWO! Roddy stays in this but Pac tries to intimidate the ref. Pac keeps Roddy from the Kingdom, then tags in Claudio. They mug Roddy, then Claudio snapmares for a chinlock. Claudio grinds Roddy down, the fans rally up, and Roddy fights to his feet. Roddy carries Claudio as a backpack, but Claudio brings him around! Claudio whips Roddy to the corner, tag to Pac! Claudio pokes Roddy in the eyes before he runs to BLAST Kyle off the apron! Pac tags Yuta, and the Death Riders regroup. Claudio whips Yuta in to ELBOW Roddy!
Claudio whips Pac in to ELBOW Roddy, then Claudio adds an UPPERCUT! Yuta ELBOWS, Pac UPPERCUTS, Claudio UPPERCUTS, and the cycle repeats, even as Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Roddy gets hit with another sequence of ELBOW, UPPERCUT and UPPERCUT, then Claudio feeds Roddy to Yuta’s LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Yuta scowls, as does Pac, but Cole is back to coach Roddy. Yuta stands on Roddy’s chest to dig in his heel, but Roddy pushes him away. Roddy goes to ropes, but Yuta drags him up. Yuta CHOPS Roddy, has him in a corner, but Roddy CHOPS back! Yuta CHOPS again, Roddy CHOPS again, but Yuta powers Roddy to ropes! Claudio is there to hold Roddy, and Yuta ROCKS Roddy! Yuta tags Claudio, Claudio stands between Roddy and his corner, then stands Roddy up. Claudio shoves Roddy to a corner, but Roddy BOOTS back!
Roddy fires forearms and CHOPS, then reaches for his corner. Claudio reels Roddy in first, but Roddy fights the suplex! Roddy suplexes Claudio! The fans rally up as Claudio and Roddy crawl, and they push past each other, hot tag to Yuta! Yuta BLASTS Cole before Roddy can get there! Yuta then stands Roddy up, only for Roddy to CHOP Yuta down! Roddy goes for his corner, but Yuta trips him! Yuta drags Roddy back, tags Pac, and Pac drops a knee on Roddy’s back! Pac tells Austin to shut it, then he stalks Roddy to ropes. Pac digs his boots in, the ref counts, but Pac lets off. Pac JUMP STOMPS Roddy down, then brings him up.
Pac puts Roddy on ropes to CHOP him, then CHOKE him! The ref counts again, Pac lets off, but Claudio gets a cheap shot UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO, and Pac argues the count. The ref defends the pace, so Pac drags Roddy back to the corner. Tag to Yuta, Yuta stomps Roddy, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Yuta suplexes, but Roddy cradle counters! TWO!! Yuta escapes, and he DROPKICKS Roddy down! Cover, TWO! Yuta keeps Roddy from his corner, but Roddy CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS again! The fans “WOO~” but Yuta knees low! Yuta whips, Roddy LARIATS first! The fans fire up while both men are down!
Roddy and Yuta crawl, hot tag to Cole! Cole dodges Yuta to BLAST Claudio! Cole BOOTS Yuta, runs up, and LARIATS! And ELBOWS! And BOOTS again! The fans fire up with Cole, then he fireman’s carries Yuta. Yuta slips free, shoves Cole, but Cole BLASTS Pac! Yuta waistlocks, Cole breaks free and PELES! Then the fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Cole takes aim. Yuta slowly rises, Claudio storms in! Cole TOSSES Claudio, Kyle FLYING KNEES Claudio down! Yuta ELBOWS Cole away, tags Pac, and Pac springboards in, into a SUPERKICK! The fans are thunderous as Cole tags Roddy and Roddy tags Kyle!
Claudio is back, but he runs into DOUBLE KNEES, then a BOOT! Roddy SHINING WIZARDS Pac, feed to a KNEE from Kyle! Then it’s AX ‘N’ TRIPLE SMASH!! Cover, CLAUDIO BREAKS IT! The fans boo but Cole & Roddy get Claudio. But Claudio DOUBLE SUPLEXES them first! The fans are thunderous as Claudio has Kyle’s legs! Yuta tags in, climbs up, and Claudio winds up, ROCKET LAUNCHER onto Kyle’s knees! Roddy STRONG KNEES Claudio outta the ring! Kyle cradles Yuta, TWO!! Cole aims, SUPERKICKS, and Roddy shouts to “KYYYLE~! Sweep the leg!” TOTAL ANNIHILATION!! Cover, PAC & CLAUDIO BREAK IT!
The fans are going nuts as Cole & Roddy TOSS Pac & Claudio! Kyle has Yuta in an ANKLE LOCK!! Cole sends Pac at railing, Roddy runs to WRECK- NO, Claudio blocks the dropkick, and he SWINGS Roddy into railing! Yuta endures, reaches out, but Claudio has a chair! The ref stops Claudio, but then Cole SUPERKICKS Claudio! Claudio stays up, Kyle lets Yuta go so he and Cole can DOUBLE SUPERKICK Claudio out! Pac runs in, Cole TOSSES him back out! But Yuta LOW BLOWS!! The ref missed it while dealing with the chair!! Yuta rolls Kyle up, DEATH RIDERS WIN!
Winners: The Death Riders, by pinfall (still AEW World Trios Champions)
Yuta takes advantage of the chaos and keeps the reign of terror going! But now the Death Riders beat up on Kyle & Cole for good measure! But wait! Daniel Garcia & 2Point0 make their way out here! They run the Death Riders off into the night! The fans cheer on Daddy Magic, Cool Hand Ange & Red Death as they help the Kingdom stand back up. But while the Death Riders get away with the trios titles, will Garcia have to go on the defense of his TNT Championship?
Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir walk the halls.
The Problem gets the cameraman to back off, but as she turns the corner, ADAM COPELAND SMACKS MOX WITH A CHAIR! The Rated R Superstar then blocks an attack from Marina, and shoves her into a closet! Cope holds the door closed while he tug-o-wars with Marina over the briefcase! Cope shouts for Switchblade, and Jay White rushes in with bolt cutters! White says hold still, we don’t want anyone losing fingers over this. White CUTS the chain, and now Marina is locked in the closet! Cope & White get away with the belt and Moxley is fuming! Will getting that briefcase back be the new stakes for the Brisbane Brawl?
Backstage interview with MJF.
Renee Paquette is with the Wolf of Wrestling and brings up his match with the living legend, Dustin Rhodes. This is Dustin’s home state of Texas, what kind of home court advantage does that give The Natural? MJF says this might be Dustin’s home, “but Texas isn’t a real state, and Dustin isn’t a real man.” MJF knows AA meetings tell you to pray to a higher power in times of need. Then if MJF were Dustin, he’d be on his hands and knees and pray to the devil, aka MJF. Ain’t no amount of paint on that mangled face will be able to hide Dustin’s shame! But then Hangman steps in, and he tells MJF, “Out.”
MJF asks, “Pardon?” Hangman says get out, this is his interview now. Oh, okay. Hangman, MJF doesn’t know what is going on, but does Hangman have a crush on him or something? Four weeks in a row! To be honest, Hangman smells great. MJF had no idea Jack Daniels had a cologne. Hangman says it’s been five years, is that the best MJF has? MJF says okay, okay. Not high class enough for Hanger. How about this? Whatever this is, it isn’t Hangman. Hangman doesn’t have the stomach for it, and deep down, he knows it. MJF watches week in and week out as Hangman questions every decision he makes, like a lost puppy.
Hangman has lost his friends and his sanity, all for what? A little apology? Hangman’s a joke. And the punchline is the fact that these SHMUCKS actually believe in him! But if anyone deserves an apology, it is MJF. For the lack of respect from the fans, from Hangman, and from Dustin. But tonight, MJF beats it into all of you. He’ll beat Dustin, he’ll get one step closer to accomplishing what Hangman has failed to do, after multiple failures, and that is become a TWO-TIME AEW World Champion. So see you later, Seabiscuit. MJF heads out, and Renee starts to ask a question, but Hangman quietly stops her. Will the Cowboy soon dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight?
Six Man Tag: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata VS Aaron Solo, Jon Cruz & Rosario Grillo!
While their target is The Patriarchy, the Samoan Submission Specialist, The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil & The Wrestler are looking to keep that edge sharp. Will they be more than tuned up after taking on The Extra Talented, totally not Serpentico, and #ForzaGrillo?
The trios sort out and the fans sing, “Joe’s Gonna Kill~ You!” In fact, Joe leads the charge as his team attacks! The bell rings, the fans fire up, and Joe JABS away on Cruz while Hook as Solo and Shibata has Grillo! They all fire hands in corners, then Joe drags Cruz up to TOSS him out! Joe & Shibata let Hook handle this as he fires off on Solo. Solo kicks, Hook ducks, and Hook catches Solo for the HIGH CAPTURE PLEX! Solo tumbles out of the ring but Hook storms out after him! Shibata puts Grillo in, and Grillo wants mercy, but only gets a CHOP! Joe sends Cruz into steps! Shibata CHOPS Grillo again!
Shibata CHOPS away on the ropes! MACHINE GUN CHOPS! The fans fire up, and Shibata CHOPS again! Joe returns to join in, they CHOP and CHOP on repeat! They double whip Grillo, then trip him rather easily, before the SENTON! Cruz runs in to fire forearms! Joe didn’t even realize Cruz was doing that until he turned around. Cruz says oh well. He winds up, but Joe CHOPS him! Joe puts Cruz up top, tucks him in, and MUSCLE BUSTER! Cover, Joe’s team wins!
Winners: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata, by pinfall
The fans cheer “JOE! JOE! JOE!” but Joe grabs a mic. Joe introduces himself, as well as his “brothers,” Hook and Shibata. And week after week, they come out here, and the world asks Joe, “What is this about?” Joe will tell us. “What stands before you is three men who go everywhere, always have a misunderstanding, and the only answer is violence!” The fans cheer that! They are three men who don’t understand, they always have a problem, and they always beat your ass to solve it. What stands here are the OPS, and they will hunt you down in the street, in this ring, and you will be caught lacking.
That leads Joe to Christian Cage & The Patriarchy. The fans boo those names, and Joe says this could’ve been real simple. Christian could’ve just not hid away, took his ass whooping like a man, and they could’ve gone about their business. But no, Christian continues to hide from the ops! So since Joe can’t drag Christian out of his dressing room, and Christian is too much of a chicken ass coward to come out here tonight… The fans echo “CHICKEN ASS!” and Joe adds a cluck cluck. Joe says next week, Dynamite, The Patriarch VS The Ops! Will Captain Charisma prove Joe wrong by having the guts to accept this challenge?
Backstage interview with Chris Jericho & Bryan Keith.
Renee is now with The Learning Tree, and she says Jericho promised to double the $100,000 bounty on Bandido, should The Bad Apple beat The Most Wanted. Keith did not win, is Jericho at least relieved he keeps his 200K? Jericho asks if she’s mocking him. Is that a smirk? Relieved to keep the 200K? He wouldn’t have put that money up if he wasn’t prepared to lose it. He would’ve paid even TRIPLE to get Bandido out of AEW. But Jericho assures Keith that it is okay he didn’t beat Bandido. They don’t yell at each other in The Learning Tree, they learn from each other. And so this is a teachable moment, because now Keith can watch and learn as Jericho collects the bounty!
Jericho tells Bandido that he wants to see him in the ring now! Jericho challenges him to a showdown! Jericho leaves, and Keith tells Renee to never embarrass him in front of Jericho again. The Bad Apple follows after his Learning Tree, but will The Nueve be able to bring down The Most Wanted?
Backstage interview with Willow Nightingale.
Dynamite returns and Renee is now with The Babe with the Power. Renee notes that last time they talked, Kris Statlander was there, but Willow told everyone that she’s just focusing on herself. Coming up, Willow has a return to Japan, so what’s the plan? Before Willow can answer, Marina Shafir attacks?! She must be taking her anger out towards Cope & Switchblade out on the first woman wrestler she saw! Marina CHOKES Willow, then tells her, “Smile, b*tch!” Marina THROWS Willow into spare tubes or something! Moxley steps in, and he calls out Copeland! Cope fights fire with fire, but Moxley thinks that’s pathetic. Cope is a dead man walking!
Moxley storms off, but is this anger only proof that Cope’s plan is working? Will Revolution still get Rated R?
The Learning Tree heads to the ring!
As promised, The Nueve is making his way out because he wants a showdown with Bandido! The fans boo the ROH World Champion as he waves to them. Jericho puts his title belt aside, and here comes The Most Wanted! The two step to each other in the ring, and a spotlight is put on them! Austin likes where this is going. The bell tolls, and both men go back to back. Bandido and Jericho then walk ten paces, of more like nine, and then they turn back around. The hats come off, and then they fire up! But Keith trips Bandido! The fans boo as the Learning Tree mugs Bandido! This was never going to be a fair fight!
But here come The Outrunners! Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd not only owe Bandido for previous saves, but they still owe Jericho & Keith payback! The fans fire up as the tables have turned, but Keith kicks Truth! Jericho ROCKS Turbo, but Turbo hits back! The brawl keeps going, but here comes BIG BILL!? The Redwood wants to claim the bounty! He storms up on Bandido in the ring, shows him that wanted poster, and then grabs Bandido by the neck! SKYSCRAPER- NO, Powerhouse Hobbs is here! Bill puts Bandido aside so he can brawl with Hobbs! The fans fire up for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs ROCKS Bill, Bandido GAMANGIRIS!
Bill staggers, into a SPINEBUSTER! Hobbs stands tall and the fans fire up! Bandido and Hobbs fist bump and tell Bill that’s what he gets! But will things only escalate from here on out?
Cope & White speak.
The Switchblade says, “Oh, Jonny~! Jonny Boy! Are you missing something?” The Rated R Superstar holds up that briefcase. Is their luggage feeling a little light? Well, don’t worry about the precious cargo, just worry about getting to Australia. Because White & Cope have a canvas that they must paint with the blood of the “One True King.” Cope says he’s carried briefcases like this before. But that aside, Moxley is running around, throwing tantrums and drooling all over the place, all because he knows he doesn’t have the weapon that keeps everyone under his thumb. Are the sycophants gonna listen to him still?
Well, tell ya what. If Moxley wants this briefcase back, he just has to meet Cope & White in the ring at the end of the show. See you there, kid. White & Cope hold all the cards, will Moxley have no choice but to play their game?
Backstage interview with Dustin Rhodes.
Dynamite returns and Renee is with The Natural, and brings up last week’s words he had for MJF. Any last words before facing off with the Scumbag? Dustin asks, “Austin, Texas, are you ready?!” The fans sure sound it! Dustin tells MJF that he promised to bring him to the devil, and the devil is here! And MJF will find out why Dustin is the Last of His Kind! B*TCH!! Dustin heads out, because it is time for the shootout! And it’ll be commercial free! Will Dustin show MJF that even ass-kickings are bigger in Texas? Or will Dustin just end up a stepping stone on MJF’s road back to the AEW World Championship?
Dustin Rhodes VS MJF!
The fans are fired up for Dustin already just for his entrance! Dustin and MJF are forehead to forehead, then they back up. The bell rings, the two step back up, and Dustin draws a line in the sand. MJF runs up, but into a SNAP POWRESLAM! Dustin throws down fists, but MJF scrambles to a corner. MJF wants a timeout but Dustin gives him more stomps! MJF bails out, wants to just leave, but Dustin storms out after him! Dustin CLAWS MJF’s back, then ROCKS him with a right! Dustin brings MJF back tot he ring, bumps him off the apron, and MJF staggers. Dustin puts MJF in, but MJF scrambles to the far side.
Dustin storms over and drags MJF up by his hair! MJF HOTSHOTS the arm! MJF then hurries to push Dustin down, and he drops knee after knee on the arm. MJF SLAMS the arm off the mat, the fans boo, but MJF just soaks it all up with a cocky grin. MJF goes back to Dustin, grabs the bad arm, and he wrangles Dustin down for a cording hold! Dustin endures, the fans rally, but MJF tells them to shut up. Dustin fights to his feet, and he fires haymakers! The fans cheer but MJF YANKS the arm! MJF whips, Dustin ducks ‘n’ dodges to sunset flip! MJF stays up as he flails, then he steps around to YANK the bad arm! Cover, ONE!!
MJF is annoyed already but he looms over Dustin. MJF clamps onto Dustin’s arm again, wrenches it, then hammerlocks. The fans chant “MAXWELL SUCKS!” but MJF hits a HAMMERLOCK BACK SUPLEX! The fans boo and even flip MJF off, but he acts like he doesn’t know why. MJF goes back to Dustin, sits him up, and KNEES Dustin in the back! MJF mocks the fans by clapping along, then he runs, runs, and runs, to then just T-BAG Dustin! The fans boo but MJF grins as he soaks it all up. MJF does kissy faces to the camera, and he tells Dustin, “You’re a joke, old man!” Dustin UPPERCUST! And UPPERCUTS!
Dustin puts MJF in the corner, but MJF CLAWS the eyes! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but MJF claims he did nothing wrong. MJF then wraps Dustin’s and arm around ropes and pulls! The ref counts, MJF stops at 4, but then MJF climbs up. MJF rains down fists, the fans do count along, but MJF takes a deep breath, to then flip everyone off. But Dustin picks MJF up for a POWERBOMB! The fans fire up while MJF writhes and flounders around. Dustin pounds the mat, the fans rally up behind him, and Dustin rises. MJF also stands, he runs up, but Dustin dodges! Dustin kicks low, says, “Not Today!” UPPERCUTT! Atomic drop!
Dustin runs to BOOT MJF, and MJF goes to a corner. Dustin storms up to climb up, and the fans count along as he rains down fists! Dustin goes to nine, takes a deep breath, and says “SUCK IT!” before he hits TEN! The fans fire up and Dustin headlocks, for the BULLDOG! The fans fire up while MJF is down, and Dustin goes back for the Scumbag. Dustin drags MJF up, reels him in, but MJF slips around to go for the arm! Dustin whips him away, MJF ELBOWS back! MJF goes up, and he DOUBLE STOMPS the bad arm! The fans boo, but MJF FUJIWARA- NO, Dustin rolls it to a cover! TWO, and Dustin swings, but into MJF’s dragon sleeper!
MJF grins, the fans boo, but Dustin fights free! Dustin dragon sleepers, MJF flails, but Dustin still hits CROSS RHODES!! Cover, TWO?!? MJF survives and Dustin can’t believe it! The fans rally as hard as they can while both men are down. Dustin reaches up and the fans cheer him more. Dustin uses that energy to rise again! “Let’s Go, Dustin!” Dustin stands MJF up, but MJF cradles! TWO and Dustin has it, TWO! Both men stand again, and Dustin reels MJF in! Back suplex, but MJF lands out! MJF clutches his knee, Dustin goes for it, but it was a trick! MJF steps over to reel Dustin in, PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!!
The fans fire up as Dustin survives, and now MJF is shocked! MJF gets mad as the fans again rally for Dustin. MJF goes outside to grab a chair! The fans boo as MJF brings it to the ring, but the ref tells him don’t do this. MJF puts the arm around Dustin’s arm! MJF goes up the corner, the ref tells MJF not to do this, and then the ref takes the chair away! The fans cheer, and then Dustin trips MJF into the ropes! The fans like where this is going, and Dustin says this is for what happened in Houston! SHATTERED DREAMS!! Then FINAL RECKONING!! Cover, TWO?!?! MJF survives again and the fans boo!
Dustin is seething, but he storms up on MJF again. Dustin drags MJF up, reels him in again, but MJF wrenches and WRINGS the bad arm! MJF snarls now, and he hauls Dustin up. MJF suplexes, FINAL RECKONING?!? Cover, TWO?!?!? But into the FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! MJF pulls on the arm but the fans rally as hard as they can! Dustin reaches out, but MJF thrashes the bad arm around! Dustin digs his knuckles into the mat, crawls towards the ropes, and the fans are thunderous, until MJF drags him away! CROSSFACE!!! Dustin is fading! DUSTIN IS OUT! MJF WINS!!
Winner: MJF, by submission
MJF still holds on a little longer, then lets go when he’s satisfied! The fans boo, but there’s nothing that can be done. MJF beat Dustin, then threatens the ref. The ref gets out of there, and MJF grins as he looks to do more to The Son of Texas! MJF puts on the FUJIWARA ARMBAR again!! BUT HERE COMES HANGMAN! The fans fire up as The Cowboy storms out here! MJF lets Dustin go, and he stares down with Hangman. Fans chant for #CowboyS*it, but neither Hangman nor MJF makes a move. MJF backs down, but then he TACKLES Hangman! MJF throws hands, but Hangman fires hands in return!
Security rushes out there to separate the two, with Jerry Lynn representing the Board of Directors. But MJF gets loose to LEAP at Hangman! Security drags him back, but now Hangman breaks free! Hangman CLOBBERS MJF in the corner! Security hurries to separate these two once again, and MJF bails out of the ring. Hangman slips out the side and they brawl on the outside! MJF throat chops Hangman, but Hangman still pursues! They go into the crowd, up the bleachers, and the brawl just gets meaner! Security catches up, MJF hurries away, then he SMASHES Hangman with someone’s beer bottle!
MJF keeps retreating, but Hangman keeps pursuing! They go to the nosebleed section, and MJF RAMS Hangman into the railing! MJF tries to dump Hangman over! Security pulls both men apart once more, and they go down separate ends of the bleachers. Austin wants to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but Hangman is being brought out of the building! Hangman promises to get MJF, but MJF just says the Cowboy isn’t a hero, he’s a zero! MJF then takes a fan’s drink, just to SPLASH it on the fan! MJF grabs a mic and says the fans were chanting “Let Them Fight,” right? The thing is, MJF’s ready to go, but “your boy” is afraid of him!
The fans boo that, but MJF says Hangman ain’t coming back out here! Because he’s a loser like each and every single one of the fans! The fans again boo, but MJF just soaks it up. WEAIT! Hangman got loose of the security! HE TACKLES MJF!! The fans fire up as security has to again pull these two apart! Security keeps Hangman in the ring while they pull MJF away, but when and where will these two finally settle things?
AEW shows us what happened during commercial.
With MJF away from ringside, Hangman was slowly let go by security. Only for Hangman to DECK each and every one of the guards! Hangman would even give one poor guy a BUCKSHOT! Austin is all fired up, and so Tony Khan just sent word: next week on Dynamite, in Phoenix, Arizona, it will be a face-to-face of Hangman and MJF! But will they be able to keep it from going fist to fist and blow for blow?
Megan Bayne VS Maya World!
The Megasus made quite the impressive return to AEW in the inaugural Women’s Casino Gauntlet, and then continued to impress with a win on Collision. However, it seems she’s aiming for the big fish as she went after Thunder Rosa last Saturday! Will Megan make all of AEW, and even The World, bow down?
The bell rings and Maya steps up to Megan. But Megan’s 6’1″ frame is intimidating. Maya runs up, Megan grabs her and powers her to a corner! Megan fires knees into Maya, then brings her around to whip. Megan CLOBBERS Maya, then soaks up cheers and jeers. Megan runs, Maya drops down, but Megan catches the hurdle! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Maya flounders around while the fans fire up. Megan looms over Maya, stands her up, but Maya fires body shots! Megan just OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES again! Megan drags Maya into a corner, stands her up, and RAMS her again and again!
Megan stops as the ref counts, then Megan CHOPS Maya! Megan whips Maya corner to corner, Maya bounces off buckles, and Megan LEAPING LARIATS Maya down! The fans fire up with Megan, and she hauls Maya up for the fireman’s carry! “BOW! DOWN!” F5!! Cover, Megan wins!
Winner: Megan Bayne, by pinfall
The Megasus conquered The World, but then Kris Statlander makes her entrance. The Galaxy’s Greatest is herself a female titan, will she show even big bad Bayne that every night is #StaturdayNight? Or is Dynamite about to be superbad?
Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford!
The bell rings and Ford circles with Kris. They tie up, Kris powers Ford to a corner, but the ref counts. Ford turns things around slightly, and she LICKS Kris’s face! Kris gets mad and she hits a headlock takeover! Ford fights up, but Kris wrenches to wristlock. Ford wrenches through, but Kris spins and wrenches back to then hit another headlock takeover! Ford headscissors, and she thrashes Kris around. Kris kips free, the two reset, and the fans rally up. Kris and Ford circle, tie up, and Kris waistlocks. Ford switches, Kris wrenches, and Kris wristlocks. Ford wrenches to wristlock then hammerlock, and she again gets a taste!
Kris ELBOWS Ford, snapmares her, and runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Kris drags Ford back up in a deadlift gut wrench, then bumps Ford off buckles! Kris ROCKS Ford, then fires the fans up. Kris goes corner to corner, but Ford dodges! Ford ROCKS Kris, but Kris stops her from getting another taste by grabbing that superbad tongue! Ford tries to apologizes, but then she SLAPS Kris! Kris swings, Ford goes Matrix, but then Kris throws Ford down and stomps her! Kris whips Ford to a corner, Ford goes up and around to sunset flip, but Kris rolls through, basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally for Kris as she drags Ford back up. Kris flexes, then suplexes! The fans cheer for the stall, then the SLAM! Kris flexes more and the fans fire up again. Kris gives a side chest pose, then she stands Ford up. Kris whips Ford, but Ford wheelbarrows, victory roll puts Kris on ropes right as Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Ford rolls back, runs in, and DROPKICKS Kris in the back! Cover, TWO! Kris stays int his but she still has to catch her breath. Ford huffs ‘n’ puffs and KNEES Kris in the back! And again! And again! Ford pulls on the arms for a motorcycle stretch! Kris endures, powers up, and works to turn things around. Kris stands, but Ford throws her down by her hair! Ford mocks the flexing while the ref reprimands her. Ford then drags Kris back up, just to kick her in the face! And again! And again! Kris BODY SHOTS back, then CLUBS away on Ford’s back! Ford kicks low, but Kris RAMS her! Kris runs, but Ford LARIATS! Cover, TWO!
Ford is annoyed, and she stalks Kris to the ropes. Ford CHOKES Kris, then talks trash. The ref counts, Ford lets off, and she drags Kris up to bump her off buckles. And bumps her off buckles again! Ford digs her boot in, the ref counts, but Ford lets off. Ford then stands Kris up, puts her back on ropes, and Ford CHOKES her again! The ref counts more, but Ford steps off. Ford brings Kris around, but Kris stops the buckle bump to fire body shots! Kris bumps Ford off buckles, ROCKS her, then hoists her up top. Kris ROCKS Ford, but Ford hits back! Ford CLUBS Kris, Kris ROCKS Ford, and Kris climbs up to get Ford.
The two brawl, the fans rally up, and Kris hits a SUPERPLEX! Both women are down and a standing count begins. The fans rally and Kris rises up first. Dynamite returns to single picture as Kris has Ford at 5 of 10. Kris fires a forearm, then another! Ford CHOKES Kris with her bare hands, but Kris fires haymakers! Ford still CHOKES Kris! Kris breaks free, wrenches Ford, and ROCKS her! Kris fires shot after shot, then a short arm LARIAT! Then another short arm LARIAT! Ford swings, misses, and Kris hits a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Ford survives, but Kris goes corner to corner! UPPERCUT!
Kris goes side to side, but Ford dodges! Ford comes back to BOOT Kris! And then DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kris survives that rough landing and Ford grows frustrated. Ford goes up the corner, but Kris CLUBS her! Kris drag Ford down with a waistlock, and she GERMAN SUPLEXES, but Ford lands out! And she goes Matrix to dodge a lariat! STUNNER! Ford springboards, but into the waistlock! GERMAN SUPLEX!! Cover, TWO!!! Ford survives and Kris is rather surprised! Kris just drags Ford up, fireman’s carries, and she pops Ford up into an Electric Chair. Ford POISON RANAS free!!
Ford goes corner to corner and handsprings in, BACK- NO, Kris dodges the elbow, then tilt-o-whirls Ford! Ford slips free but Kris LARIATS her! Kris then gut wrenches, tucks Ford in, STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! Cover, Kris wins!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Ford put up a fight, but she could not win out against the Galaxy’s Greatest! Wait, Megan Bayne makes her way back out here. Kris isn’t sure what this is about, but Ford BLASTS Kris of the apron! And Megan gets Kris for the F5 to the floor!! Just like with Thunder Rosa on Saturday! Are the Superbad Girl and The Megasus becoming a super duo?
AEW checks in with Mercedes Mone…?
Wait, that’s PUPPET MONE! Harley Cameron’s CEO is having the time of her life, and surprise, Harley is rapping! “C E O? C E NO! You might’ve robbed the bank, but girl, I’m gonna steal the show. I wonder, down under, will I be the one that steals your thunder?” Harley shows off her high speed bars, but she says hold on, cut. What? What’s wrong? Harley speaks to Mone by telling her she is in fact one of the greatest women’s wrestlers alive. But Mone had to start somewhere. And not too long ago, there was a time where Harley had no idea how to wrestle. But there was also a time where Harley didn’t know how to sing, play guitar, do ventriloquism, or speak Mandarin Chinese.
Harley shows off her Chinese, and says she’s a quick learner. But for all the times Mone called Harley a “loser” and ignored her, Harley says thanks. Because that pushed her to work harder! That inspired her to be different! So again, thank you, Mercedes Mone, for elevating the Women’s Division! Thanks to Mone, Harley is going to win the TBS Championship in her home country of Australia! Harley won’t ride the Mone Train, she’ll drive it! #FeelTheWrath! Austin is on Harley’s side, but will she become the Face of TBS? Or will Mone hold onto her gold?
AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS The Gunns!
The Hurt Syndicate called their shot against Private Party, and they won these titles. But likewise, Austin & Colten made their return from injury to call their shot against the Hurt Syndicate! Will The Gunns be up? Or will the All Mighty & The Standard of Excellence remind everyone: #WeHurtPeople?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who are the real AEW gold members!
The teams sort out and the fans cheer for “M V P!” Lashley starts against Colten while MVP wants to join commentary, but the ring staff wasn’t even ready. MVP says thanks for the invite, but he’ll just stay ringside. Colten and Lashley tie up, go around, and Lashley puts Colten right in a corner. The ref counts, Lashley lets off slowly, and Colten gets out of the corner. The two reset, Colten waistlocks, but Lashley elbows free. Lashley headlocks, but Colten powers up and out. Colten then hurdles over Lashley, literally no small feat, and the fans cheer. Lashley scowls, then runs up, but Colten dodges him.
Lashley BACKDROPS, but Colten lands out! Colten whips, Lashley blocks, and Lashley CLOBBERS Colten! Colten gets back while the fans cheer, and Austin tags in. Lashley and Austin circle while the fans duel, “We Hurt~ People!” “GUNNS UP!” “We Hurt~ People!” “GUNNS UP!” Lashley seems annoyed that there’s a split in the crowd, but Austin has fun with it. Lashley storms up, Austin headlocks, but Lashley SLAMS Austin down! Austin flounders to a corner, but he dodges Lashley to fire forearms! Austin whips, Lashley reverses, but Austin goes up, only to get caught! Lashley TOSSES Austin to the floor! Austin sputters and the fans go nuts!
Colten protests, but Shelton tags in so he can get Austin up. Shelton throws Austin into the apron, into the barriers, and Austin ends up in the front row! The fans fire up and MVP tells Colten to stay back. The ref has everyone calm down, but the fans cheer MVP. Shelton drags Austin up, puts him in the ring, then stands him up for a HIGH CROTCH PLEX! Austin writhes, Shelton covers, TWO! Austin survives and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Shelton drags Austin up, puts him in a corner, then whips corner to corner hard! Austin bounces off buckles, flops out of the ring, then sputters on the floor. Colten coaches Austin up, but Shelton paces. MVP stares Austin down, taunting him from afar. Austin rises up, only for Lashley to CLOBBER him! Lashley grins, Colten protests, but Lashley drags Austin up again. Lashley RAMS Austin into the railing, gets in his face, then DECKS him! The ref has to keep Colten back, and Lashley puts Austin in the ring. Lashley drags Austin up, tags Shelton back in, and Shelton stomps Austin in the corner. Shelton stomps a mudhole in, but the ref counts.
Shelton lets off to argue with the ref, but Lashley gets cheap shots in. The fans rally while Shelton drags Austin up. Shelton puts Austin in a corner to ROCK him with a haymaker! Austin ROCKS Shelton back! Shelton and Austin trade shot for shot, then Shelton gets the edge! Shelton winds up, but Austin counter punches! Austin fires a flurry, blocks a kick, but the DRAGON WHIP finds him! Cover, TWO! MVP is almost amused but Shelton puts Austin in the corner. Tag to Lashley and he runs corner to corner to RAM into Austin! Austin sputters, Lashley lets him stumble and fall, then Lashley drags Austin up.
Lashley suplexes Austin, holds him up, and waits for TEN to SLAM him down! Dynamite returns to single picture, Lashley covers, TWO! Austin survives but Lashley dares him to go to Colten. The fans rally and duel again, and Austin rises! Lashley keeps him from Colten, but Austin fires as forearm! Lashley CLUBS Austin down! Lashley taunts Colten, grins as he drags Austin up again, but Austin fires more shots! Austin breaks free, but Shelton tags in! Lashley runs up, Austin dodges and Colten DUMPS Lashley out! Shelton has Austin, puts him in the corner, but Austin jukes to NECKBREAKER!
The fans fire up as Austin crawls, but Lashley YANKS Colten down! Lashley RAMS Colten into railing, then Shelton bumps Austin off buckles! The fans continue to duel, “We Hurt~ People!” “GUNNS UP!” Shelton ROCKS Austin, and Lashley steps in. The Hurt Syndicate helps Austin to his feet, just to double whip him to the corner. Lashley runs in, Austin goes up and over! Lashley POSTS himself, then Austin ducks Shelton! Hot tag to Colten! Colten dodges Shelton to SPLASH Lashley! COlten fires haymakers on Shelton, then whips. Shelton reverses, but Colten LEAPING LARIATS! Then a DROPKICK for Lashley!
Colten fires up with the fans, then he SPLASHES Shelton in the Gunn corner! Colten keeps moving, jukes and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Shelton survives the crossover but Colten stands him up. Colten kicks low, says ‘SUCK IT!” and then runs, but he avoids the sweep by Lashley! Shelton waistlocks, Colten switches, O’Conner Roll! TWO, and Shelton has the ANKLE LOCK! Austin storms in to SLINGBLADE Shelton! Lashley is in, but Austin dodges! Lashley comes back, but Colten helps Austin hit a BOOSTED BLOCKBUSTER! Shelton stands, Colten hits him with the RABBIT PUNCH! Austin hits a FAMOUSER!! Colten covers, TWO!!
Shelton survives, the fans fire up, and MVP is still rather amused that The Gunns are lasting this long. Tag to Austin, they wait on Shelton! Lashley CLOBBERS Colten first! Austin ROCKS Lashley, but Shelton SUPERKICKS Austin! The fans fire up with Shelton and he waits on Austin. Austin rises, GERMAN SUPLEX! “We Hurt~ People!” “GUNNS UP!” Shelton stalks Austin again, GERMAN SUPLEX! Colten is up, but Shelton GERMAN SUPLEXES him, now! Lashley adds a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER!! Shelton STEP-UP KNEES Austin in the corner, then Lashley adds the ALL MIGHTY SPEAR!! Cover, Hurt Syndicate wins!
Winners: The Hurt Syndicate, by pinfall (still AEW World Tag Team Champions)
And with that, the first defense is in the books! The Gunns just didn’t have enough ammo, but wait! Lance Archer & Brian Cage walk out on stage! The Murder Machines applaud for Lashley & Shelton, will they not just hurt people when #EverybodyDies?
Mariah May speaks.
“You should’ve died in August. But you never did know how to write an ending, did you? You can write beginnings, you can write comebacks, but you never know when to stop. Beating you in Australia is not the worst thing I can do. I could let you beat me and then disappear. And then everyone will realize Mariah did it better. Every match, every move, every promo, Mariah did it better! Every entrance, every cosplay, every mind game, Mariah did it better! You are NOTHING without me! You don’t exist without me! Toni Storm isn’t real! She’s just the imagination of a sick, tired, pathetic woman and it stops now!”
The Glamour calms herself down, and says, “I guess I really do love you. Because this is going to be a mercy killing.” Grand Slam: Australia is the long awaited sequel from All In: London, but the question is, how will the story end?
Adam Copeland heads to the ring!
He and Jay White bring the AEW World Championship briefcase with them, just as they promised earlier tonight. Cope grabs a mic to tell Austin, “Hear me out. The AEW World Heavyweight Championship has been hidden inside this briefcase for I dunno how many months now. Too long, right?” The fans want him to open it! Wait, they wanna see it? The fans cheer, and Cope says he has an idea. He sets the briefcase down, then goes out to look under the ring. Cope brings out an old friend in “Spike.” Cope says he doesn’t know if they remember Spike, but she’s pretty hungry. And she might wanna dig her teeth into that briefcase.
Cope opens the case, brings out ol’ Spike, and Cope tells Moxley it’s rather simple. If Moxley doesn’t get out to the ring to accept Cope’s challenge for the world title at Revolution, Cope will just smash the briefcase open and TAKE the title! The fans like the sound of that! Cope tells Moxley to get out here to give us an answer. We wait, fans chant “OPEN IT! OPEN IT!” No Death Riders, so Cope says last chance. Moxley says Cope has no idea the mistake he’s making. Moxley says Cope thinks he doesn’t care. No, he doesn’t! At all! Moxley says Cope doesn’t know JACK about that title! These people don’t know jack about it!
Moxley says he has left pieces of his SOUL in the ring for that title, and what it represents! Moxley is that title’s protector, he is its shepherd, and he is going to do something he doesn’t wanna do because he is just that much of a nice guy. Moxley will show how much he cares! At Revolution, Moxley breaks Copeland’s NECK!! The fans boo, but Moxley says if Cope wants his shot at the title, if he wants his shot at the king, then he’s got it! The fans cheer that! Cope says that’s all he was looking for. But Cope’s also gonna show everyone here how much he cares about the title. Cope aims, Moxley calls for reinforcements, but Spike hits briefcase!
Cope SMASHES away at the case, but Yuta slides in! White gives Yuta a BLADERUNNER! Moxley stays back as Cope watches him, but Pac slithers in! Cope spots The Bastard, and Pac says hold on now. Marian scurries in and she snatches the briefcase! Moxley CLOBBERS Cope, he and Pac stomp away! The fans boo, Moxley & Pac whip Cope, but Cope SPEARS Pac! Cope ROCKS Moxley, throws more shots, but Claudio is in! Claudio UPPERCUTS Cope, brings him around, but Cope dodges, and White is back! BLADERUNNER! Moxley grabs Spike! Mox says the tables have turned, but White dares him to do it! COPE SPEARS MOXLEY!
The fans fire up as Cope, White & Spike get outta there! White grabs a mic to say Revolution is set, but before we get there, Grand Slam: Australia is coming! And White promises he and Cope put the Death Riders in the ground! The fans cheer that! Will Moxley & Claudio soon Breathe with The Switchblade? And will Cope lead the Revolution to free the AEW World Championship?
My Thoughts:
A great Dynamite here, especially as the go-home to Grand Slam: Australia, but also still building things for next week’s Dynamite. For one, I predicted it last week that Hangman was going to answer Caster’s open challenge. Hangman of course won that, and then he of course had another interaction with MJF. MJF VS Dustin was awesome, and as this was a prerecorded episode, they were able to go commercial free for more content. It made sense MJF would win this, and we got a great brawl between him and Hangman. Their face-to-face will be a great promo segment, but hopefully not too long of one. Then they can have a great match at Revolution, unofficially establishing the winner as the next world title contender.
Great Trios Championship match, but I figured the Death Riders would win that, especially with sneaky tactics. Garcia & 2Point0 might get the next trios title match, maybe for Revolution, but at the same time, what about Garcia’s TNT Championship? I could see him going 1v1 with Cole, and I could see Cole winning just so Cole actually has something going for him. Joe, Hook & Shibata of course got to squash their opponents, but I’m surprised it was Aaron Solo in the mix and not like Brick Savage or Adam Priest. Great promo from Joe, of course, and their trio finally has a name. I would think “The Ops” wins that trios match, setting up Joe VS Christian 1v1.
Great promo from Harley, I legitimately could not keep up with her rap, so thankfully she in kayfabe gave up on that so she could talk seriously to Mone. Harley is so good as a character, talented in so many different ways, but I still can’t say she’ll beat Mone. Harley does deserve something, though, and it’d be amazing if she won. Mariah had a great promo of her own to call out Toni Storm, and really, that match could go either way. Megan Bayne of course squashes her opponent, but what a great match from Kris VS Ford. Right after I brought up Ford showing ring rust, this match showed she got through that. And oddly, are we going to get Megan & Ford VS Rosa & Kris? That’ll be a great match, and I can’t wait to see how that goes.
Very good promo from Jericho and Keith ahead of the “showdown,” but of course Jericho & Keith were going to gang up on Bandido. The Outrunners, Big Bill and Will Hobbs getting in on this was also natural, and the Faces standing tall makes sense given where this is going. Hobbs and Bill will have a proper 1v1, probably for Revolution, and I still expect there to be Jericho VS Bandido for the ROH World Championship. Seriously, there’s been talk about ROH getting a cable deal, when is that happening? For that matter, we still need Bill ditching Jericho.
We got a great tag title match from Hurt Syndicate VS Gunns, and I really liked the rhythm of the dueling chant. Lashley & Shelton won out, of course, but then Archer & Cage basically saying they’ve got next is great stuff. That match is going to be some awesome stuff, but also another big win for Hurt Syndicate. And then some really fun stuff in the world title story. For one, Cope & White getting the jump on Moxley & Marina was great. And trying to bash the briefcase open was also pretty clever. Spike is back, so surely that weapon will play a part in the Brisbane Brawl. But of course we established Moxley VS Copeland for Revolution. A part of me still wants Christian to cash in just to spice things up, since there’s his history with Cope.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW New Beginning Osaka Results & Report! (2/11/25)
Who is the mightiest of them all?

Will this truly be a New Beginning?
Hirooki Goto won the New Japan Ranbo to have this shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, can he finally reach that mountaintop? Or will Zack Sabre Jr. prove he is the mightiest of them all?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – El Desperado & Katsuya Murashima VS Francesco Akira & Jeff Cobb; Akira & Cobb win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Togi Makabe; Tanahashi wins.
- Shingo Takagi VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Drilla wins.
- Shota Umino VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins.
- Taichi VS SANADA; Sanada wins.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita VS Rocky Romero & YOH; Eagles & Fujita win and retain the titles.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Boltin Oleg; Konosuke wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: The Young Bucks VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS Gabe Kidd; Double Down Draw, Yota retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and becomes the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
Shingo Takagi VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!
The Rampaging Dragon is big and bad, but 44 Caliber ain’t too shabby, either. Will Shingo avoid a Drilla Killa? Or will this “Super Junior” slay the dragon?
The bell rings and the two run right up! Drilla dodges, Takagi blocks to kick low and HEADBUTT! Takagi whips, Drilla grabs ropes and BOOTS back! Drilla runs, RAMS Takagi, but Takagi RAMS him back! Drilla RAMS Takagi again, neither man falls, and the fans fire up! Drilla fires a forearm, but Takagi fires back! Drilla fires another, but so does Takagi! Fans bark with Drilla as he fires another, but then fans “OI! OI! OI!” with Takagi! The forearms go back and forth, “BARK! OI!” and repeat! Takagi gets the edge, “OI! OI! OI!” Drilla fires back, “BARK! BARK! BARK!” Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint, but Drilla slips out of the DDT!
Takagi avoids the double stomps, knees low, but then things speed up. Drilla hurdles, drops down, then DROPKICKS! But Takagi stays up to RUN Drilla over! The fans fire up again and Takagi storms up on Drilla. Takagi drags Drilla up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Drilla is still in this, but Takagi fires Osaka up. But Drilla SUPERKICKS Takagi before he can even say “Toki!” Both men are down, the fans rally up, and Drilla stands. Drilla fires the fans up now and the barking returns. Drilla storms up to CHOP Takagi! Drilla whips, Takagi reverses, and Takagi blocks a boot to LARIAT through!
Takagi fires the fans up as he JABS and CHOPS on repeat! Then Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, and CHOPS! Drilla pushes Takagi and eggs him on! The fans like that, and Takagi obliges, only for Drilla to block the shot! Drilla ROCKS Takagi, but Takagi ducks the enzigiri to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! But Drilla’s right up to SAIDO! Both men stand, Takagi runs up, and DOUBLE LARIATS hit! Drilla ripcords to CHOP, then he runs, only for Takagi to follow and LARIAT! Takagi runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up while both men are down. Takagi rolls out of the ring but Drilla pursues.
The fans rally both ways, and Drilla stalks Takagi. Drilla drags Takagi up, then whips him into railing! Takagi slumps down, but Drilla brings Takagi around to throw him into chairs! The fans bark for Drilla and he drags Takagi up. Drilla ROCKS Takagi, then brings him around and whips him hard into more railing! The fans are torn, Drilla glares at Young Lions, and Drilla goes to Takagi. Drilla wrenches Takagi, puts him in the ring, and then throws up the Too Sweet. Drilla brings Takagi up, but Takagi backdrops free! Drilla goes to a corner, Takagi runs up, but Drilla dodges to GAMANGIRI! Drilla reels Takagi in, hoists him up, but Takagi arm-drags free!
The fans fire up as Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feints, but then Takagi stands Drilla up to JAB and YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up while Drilla sputters. Takagi drags Drilla up, hoists him to the top rope, and then he ROCKS Drilla! Takagi climbs, and he brings Drilla up for a SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down again! The fans join in on “OI! OI! OI!” as Takagi rises. Takagi drags Drilla up, slashes his throat and then Canadian Racks! But Drilla slips out, and pump handles! Takagi arm-drags free of that, then catches Drilla for some knees. Drilla powers up, runs, and GORES! Cover, TWO!!
Takagi survives, the fans fire up, and Drilla grows frustrated. Drilla slashes his throat, brings Takagi in, and Canadian Racks! Takagi slips free to Gory Especial and NOSHIGAMI! The fans fire up, Takagi crawls over to Drilla, and Takagi stands Drilla up to LARIAT! Drilla stays on his feet so Takagi eggs him on. Drilla BOOTS, SUPERKICKS, then he SUPERKICKS again! Takagi comes back, but into MADE IN JAPAN!? Cover, TWO!!! Takagi survives and the fans are thunderous! Drilla is frustrated that he couldn’t beat Takagi with his own move. Drilla drags Takagi up but Takagi fights the lift to then ALABAMA SLAM!
Takagi CATAPULTS Drilla to a corner, and then LARIATS! Takagi hurries to pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO?!? Drilla survives taking Takagi’s move and Takagi is shocked! The fans fire up with more “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi brings Drilla up. Takagi fires boxing elbows, but Drilla roars! JAB from Takagi, then a HEADBUTT! SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!? WHAT?! Drilla staggers, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous again as Takagi hauls Drilla up for the torture rack! But Drilla slips free, to inverted suplex, and then he pops Takagi around?! DRILLA KILLA!!! Cover, DRILLA WINS!!!!
Winner: “Drilla” Dan Moloney, by pinfall
HOLY SMOKES! 44 Caliber just shot down the Rampaging Dragon! Is this a sign that Drilla is ready for bigger and better than the Junior Heavyweight Division?
Shota Umino VS Great-O-Khan!
As if losing on the Road to New Beginning wasn’t bad enough, The Roughneck suffered humiliation as The Dominator cut off a lock of his hair! Will Shota defy the United Empire once more? Or will he fail to bring about a Paradigm Shift?
As Khan makes his entrance, he shows off the electric clippers! Is he planning on doing more follicle based damage to Shota should he win tonight? Shota steps into the ring, and SHOTGUNS Khan right down! Khan goes to ropes, but Shota slingshots to APRON DDT! The fans fire up while Shota puts his jacket aside. Shota drags Khan up, puts him back in the ring, and the bell rings! The fans rally for Khan as he scrambles away from the underhooks! Khan gets out of the ring again and Shota goes out after him. Shota drags Khan up, but Khan grabs railing. Shota CLUBS Khan down, UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS again!
Shota whips Khan, but Khan reverses, sending Shota into railing! But Shota comes back to SHOTGUN again! The fans are torn but Shota drags Khan up. Shota brings Khan to the ramp, he clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Khan knees low, then he underhooks Shota! Khan BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES Shota into railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref checks on them, Khan rises up, and Khan pulls some railing from the rest. Khan SLAMS it onto Shota! Shota writhes, the ref reprimands, but Khan drags Shota up. Khan Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops again! And he Mongolian Chops again!
Shota falls back over, the fans rally and duel, and Khan drags Shota up. Khan brings Shota around, picks him up, and then he APRON SPINEBUSTERS! Shota writhes, Khan slides in and covers, TWO! Shota stays in this but Khan stays on him. Khan wrenches to fireman’s carry takeover! Then he wristlocks to MONKEY FLIP! And then SAYANAGI! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Khan stands over Shota, and then Khan clamps onto Shota with the IRON CLAW! Khan drags Shota up, Shota breaks free, but Khan gut wrenches! GUT BUSTER, then GUT WRENCH PLEX! The fans fire up while Shota flounders away to the corner.
Khan waits on Shota, then runs in, but Shota BOOTS him! Khan comes back, but into more BOOTS! Shota runs up, but Khan ROCKS him first! Khan runs, but Shota clinches him! EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans are torn again. Khan and Shota slowly sit up, Shota rallies the fans, and he gets moving. IGNITION! Cover, TWO! Khan stays in this but Shota drags Khan up. Shota underhooks, but Khan wrenches free. Khan slips around, IRON CLAW, then the Bow ‘n’ Arrow rack, only for Shota to slip free! Shota blocks the Mongolian Chop to ROCK and ENZIGIRI! Khan wobbles, the fans duel, and Shota powers up!
Shota aims from a corner, runs up on Khan, but into a LARIAT! IRON CLAW, then ELIMI- SATELLITE DDT!! Both men are down again and the fans rally back up. Shota rises, goes back to a corner, and then powers up, to BLAZE BLADE! But Khan’s right up! Khan swings, but into underhooks! PARADIGM SHIFT! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives but Shota hurries to bring him around. Underhooks, but Khan slips out to RABBIT PUNCH! Shota goes down in a heap, but Khan rains down more forearms! The ref warns Khan, he has to check Shota! Khan SHOVES the ref down to rain more shots down on Shota!
The ref reprimands, Khan stops with the forearms, just to grab Shota’s hair. The ref stops Khan and checks on Shota. Khan comes back, drags Shota to his feet, REVERSE S T O! Cover, TWO!! Shota still has something to give, but Khan’s Monster Rage boils over! Khan clamps on the IRON CLAW, hauls Shota back up, and he ELIMIN- NO, Shota slips free! Khan runs up, Shota dodges, and uses the ropes in a TORNADO DDT! Shota hurries to bring Khan up, underhook, but Khan NORTHERN LIGHTS free! Khan then drags Shota up with wristlocks, into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Shota endures, flails, but Khan swings him around! Shota slips free to spin Khan, and ROLLING ELBOW! Then ROLLING- IRON RIGHT from Khan!!
The fans fire up while Shota staggers around. Khan clamps onto Shota with the FLATLINER, and then IRON CLAW! ELIMINATOR!! Cover, KHAN WINS!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall
The Roughneck was running hot, but Khan just cooled him down! Khan stands tall over Shota, but then he grabs the clippers! Khan has them, and even some scissors, but Young Lions stop him! Khan just kicks one and throws him into the other! Khan now has Shota all to himself! Khan turns on the clippers, but Shota stops him! Shota has power enough to take the trimmers from Khan! But then Shota stares at them, and starts shaving his head anyway?! Fans are shocked to see Shota doing Khan’s work for him, cutting away at the fiery red locks! Khan grins, and Shota flops over, having only down a runway down the center.
Khan leaves Shota behind for Shota to wallow in his humiliation and defeat. What and who will Khan look to conquer next in the name of the United Empire?
Taichi w/ Taka Michinoku VS SANADA w/ Taiji Ishimori!
When Just4Guys became Just5Guys, it was because the Holy Emperor reached out to a man he respected in the Cold Skull. And while Sanada reigned as world champion for a time, it would seem his losses made him Cold Blooded. Sanada would betray Taichi, all to join The Rebel that beat him, and there’s no more respect here. Will Taichi make Sanada pay for his betrayal? Or will Sanada destroy what’s left of Just4Guys?
As if to mock Taichi’s operatic entrance, Sanada has a leather jacket with big speakers on the jacket, and a guitar in hand. But speaking of that entrance, the moment Taichi is ringside, Sanada PLANCHAS onto him! The fans fire up but the ref reprimands, only for Sanada to push Taichi into the ring. Sanada then grabs his guitar! The ref reprimands, the fans cheer on Taichi, but Sanada takes aim! Taichi avoids the Smash Hit to then kick low! Taichi whips, Sanada reverses, but Taichi BOOTS him down! The fans fire up while Taichi seethes. Taichi then grabs the guitar? The ref says don’t do it, as does Taka, and Taichi throws the guitar aside.
The fans cheer as Taichi storms back out after Sanada. The ref reprimands, this isn’t even a match yet! Taichi whips but Sanada reverses! Taichi hits railing, but he comes back to BOOT Sanada! Taichi then whips Sanada into railing after all! Sanada hobbles away while the fans rally behind Taichi. The bell rings now, but Taichi has a chair! The ref stops Taichi, only for Taichi to shove him aside! Taichi JAMS Sanada up with a chair! Then SMACKS him on the back! The fans cheer while Sanada falls in a heap! Taichi stalks Sanada, daring him to get back up. The ref keeps Taiji from getting involved, and Taka has Taichi calm down.
Taka takes the chair from Taichi, and Taichi finally takes off his coat. Taichi drags Sanada up, puts him in the ring, and the fans applaud. But Sanada grabs at the ref so Taiji can anchor Taichi! Taichi tries to kick free, but Sanada KICKS the ropes! Taichi gets jammed up low, Taka goes after Taiji, but Taiji CLAWS Taka’s face! Sanada drags Taichi up to then suplex and MAGIC SCREW! The fans boo Sanada, Sanada complains about the chair, but nothing the ref can do about it now. Sanada rains down fists on Taichi, the ref reprimands, but Sanada lets off. Sanada paces, then he sits Taichi up to throw a haymaker!
The ref reprimands about closed fists, but Sanada just throws another! Taichi eggs Sanada on, so Sanada fires more haymakers! Taichi gets in Sanada’s face, so Sanada dropkicks the leg! Taichi hobbles back, Sanada whips him to ropes, but Taichi grabs ropes to BOOT back! Taichi then whips, but Sanada reverses, only for Taichi to reverse back, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi sits up, and he watches Sanada go to the corner. Taichi paces while he wants on Sanada to stand. Taichi runs up to BOOT Sanada! Taichi runs, Sanada dodges, but then Taichi dodges! Taichi wrenches to HOOK KICK! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up more as Taichi paces around. Taichi kicks Sanada, kicks him again, then KICKS him again! The fans cheer, but now Sanada eggs Taichi on. Taichi KICKS Sanada again, and he definitely felt that one! Taichi sits Sanada up, and KICKS, but Sanada blocks! Sanada CLUBS the leg, fireman’s carries, but Taichi slips free! Only for Sanada to dropkick the leg again! And then he DROPKICKS Taichi to a corner! Sanada runs up, but Taichi dodges to GAMANGIRI! Sanada slumps down and the fans fire up! Taichi fires up now, and the fans fire up even more as OFF COME THE PANTS! Taichi aims at Sanada, TENSHO- NO, Sanada dodges!
Sanada goes up, out, springboards, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! But Taichi’s right up! ROUNDHOUSE, and then DANGEROUS- NO, Sanada grabs the ref to stop the saido! LOW BLOW MULE KICK!! The fans boo as Sanada gets away with it! SHINING WIZARD! Sanada isn’t done, he puts Taichi in the drop zone! Sanada goes up, up and ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives and the fans fire up! Sanada is frustrated but he drags Taichi up. Sanada encourages the fans to cheer Taichi, as he clinches for SIDE- NO, Taichi slips free and ROCKS Sanada! BLINDSIDE AX BOMBER, then GAMANGIRI!
The fans fire up while both men are down again! Taiji coaches Sanada, Taka coaches Taichi, and Osaka rallies again. Taichi rises first, goes to a corner, and he roars! The fans are with him as he takes aim again. Sanada stirs, Taichi powers up, TENSHO- NO, Sanada pulls the ref in! Taichi pushes the ref aside, BUZZ- NO, Sanada blocks that kick! Taichi shouts to the ref to see the FAKE LOW BLOW! Sanada won’t get away with this one as Taka also vouches for Taichi! Sanada gets pissed at the ref and says it’s so obvious! But then Taka argues with the ref, and Taichi LOW BLOWS Sanada!! And then GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!!!
Sanada escapes, Taiji shouts to the ref, and Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! Taka YANKS Taiji down and the fans are thunderous for Taichi! Taichi drags Sanada up, DANGEROUS SAIDO BRIDGE!! TWO!?!? Sanada escapes but the fans are thunderous again! Taichi roars, he drags Sanada up, and Taichi Alabama Lifts! Sanada grabs the ref again! Taichi drops Sanada, the ref falls, Sanada hits the POP-UP LOW BLOW! DEADFALL!! Cover, SANADA WINS!!
Winner: Sanada, by pinfall
Another cheap tactic, another cheap win for Sanada! He gives thumbs up and Too Sweet to Taiji, and then he rains down fists on Taichi! Taka and Young Lions get in there, and Taka SLAPS Sanada! And he SLAPS Taiji! But Taiji LOW BLOWS Taka and hits BLOODY CROSS! The War Dogs keep on winning, but they’re not done with Taichi! Taiji drags Taichi up while Sanada grabs his guitar. Taiji says to end Taichi, and Sanada nods. Sanada winds up, BUT WAIT! YUYA UEMURA is back?! He throws off his suit jacket to then arm-drag Sanada, and DROPKICK him! The fans are thunderous as he arm-drags Taiji, then CHOPS him down!
The fans are all fired up now that Heat Storm is back! Yuya clamps onto Sanada with one cording hold, then goes for the other, but Sanada scrambles free! Sanada takes a moment to catch his breath, and the fans now rally for Yuya. Yuya grabs the mic to tell Sanada that he’s back, and that he’s ready anytime, anywhere to get his revenge! Sanada will become Yuya’s stepping stone! Sanada looks to camera and shakes his head like, “He did not just say that.” The fans cheer Yuya on more, but the War Dogs take their leave. Yuya continues with “YOSH! Taka-san, Taichi-san, and everyone here in Osaka, Uemura is back, and he’s ready to blow!”
Yuya adds that from now on, HE will be the one to heat up everyone’s hearts! Mic drop and the fans are already fired up! But when and where will the Heat Storm get to burn the Cold Blooded Sanada?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita VS Rocky Romero & YOH!
From winning the Super Junior Tag League to then winning these titles in a huge Fatal 4 Way, the Ichiban Sweet Boys have been riding high. However, the revival of a classic threatens their reign. Will “Roppongi ReVICE” write a new chapter with this gold? Or will they find that no matter what, The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who punctuates this story!
The teams sort out and after he assures Yoh it’s fine, Azucar starts against the Sniper of the Skies. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and Eagles circles with Rocky. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Rocky finds a point of leverage to push Eagles back. They go to ropes, the ref counts, and Rocky lets off to give some Azucar Heat. The fans cheer and Eagles is amused. But then he trips Rocky, goes for the leg, but Rocky kicks him away. Things speed up, Rocky hurdles but Eagles leaps over. Eagles sidesteps, arm-drags, but Rocky arm-drags back. Rocky avoids Eagles’ next arm-drag, then calls him a “konoyaro” before he UPPERCUTS!
Eagles flounders away while the fans fire up, and the fans rally behind Rocky. Rocky whips Eagles, Fujita sneaks a tag. TMDK double elbow Rocky down, then split the wishbone! Eagles knocks Yoh down for good measure, and Fujita brings Rocky up. Fujita whips and wrenches Rocky to a corner, then CHOPS! The fans cheer and Fujita runs Rocky to ropes. Fujita CHOPS Rocky again, then snapmares for a KICK! Cover, ONE, and the fans cheer more. Fujita is on Rocky with a facelock, and Eagles tags in. The Sweet Boys mug Rocky, but then Rocky CHOPS Eagles! Eagles eggs Rocky on so Rocky CHOPS again! Eagles CHOPS Rocky off his feet!
The fans rally and duel, Eagles bumps Rocky off buckles, then Fujita tags in. Fujita stomps Rocky, brings him around, and CHOPS again! Rocky shoves Fujita, they go forehead to forehead, then Fujita CHOPS Rocky down again! The fans fire up and Fujita whips. Rocky grabs ropes, BOOTS Fujita, and Yoh tags in! Rocky whips Fujita and Yoh bypasses him. Drop toehold, basement dropkick, and then Eagles runs in! Eagles takes DOUBLE DROPKICKS and the fans cheer RPG ReVice! Yoh storms up to Fujita, CHOPS him in the corner, then wrenches and whips. Yoh runs up, ELBOWS Fujita, then scoops to SLAM him!
Yoh soaks up the cheers, drops an elbow, then cover, TWO! Knee drop! Cover, TWO! SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fujita stays in this and the fans cheer, but Yoh keeps his cool. Yoh brings Fujita up, but Fujita fires forearms! Yoh kicks low, CHOPS Fujita, then reels him in. Yoh suplexes but Fujita fights free! Fujita wrenches, but Yoh ducks the chop! Fujita drop toeholds Yoh and ties up the legs! Fujita pulls Yoh back into the NEMESIS HOLD! Rocky runs in, but Eagles catches him with a wheelbarrow and victory roll! Eagles steps through on the legs, but Rocky KICKS him into Yoh and Fujita! Yoh is saved, though maybe in a rather rough manor.
The fans rally up as all four men rise up. Eagles runs up, Rocky DUMPS him out, but Fujita CHOPS Rocky! Fujita whips Rocky, Rocky ducks the chop to DIVE onto Eagles! Fujita dodges Yoh, CHOPS him, but Yoh says I’LL BE BACK! Yoh CHOPS, but Fujita rebounds to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up while Yoh tumbles out, and now Fujita aims! Fujita slingshots to feint the plancha, then he ASAI MOONSAULTS, only for RPG ReVICE to catch him! The fans fire up as Yoh & Rocky now DOUBLE SUPLEX Fujita to the floor! Eagles is up, but Yoh scoops and SLAMS him! Rocky goes to the apron, to DIVING DOUBLE STOMP to the floor!
Eagles coughs and sputters while the fans fire up! Yoh drags Fujita back up and puts him in the ring. Rocky is there, RPG ReVICE tunes up and the fans join in. Fujita rises slowly, into a shove and 3- NO! Fujita RANAS Yoh away! Rocky spins Fujita to UPPERCUT, then he calls to Yoh again. Yoh is back, he aims while Rocky whips, but Fujita reverses! SUPERKICK for Rocky! Fujita then waistlocks Yoh to roll him and O’Conner BRIDGE! TWO!! Yoh escapes just in time! Fujita CHOPS him, roars, then runs, into a 3K!! Cover, EAGLES BREAKS IT! The fans are thunderous, but Rocky kicks Eagles! Rocky tells Yoh to get up!
Yoh rises, reloads, and Rocky whips Eagles, only for Eagles to reverse! But Rocky stops himself from having a repeat, and he again whips Eagles! Yoh SUPERKICKS Eagles! Finally, the right target gets hit! Eagles tumbles out, Rocky goes to the corner, and Yoh tags Rocky in. RPG ReVICE hauls Fujita up, BACKSTABBER and feed to the suplex! Rocky joins in, FALCON ARROW BOMB!! Rocky high stacks, TWO!! Fujita survives again, but Rocky calls for the next one! Yoh hauls Fujita up and Alabama Lifts! Rocky climbs up top, but Eagles springboards up to get him! SUPER STEINER! And Fujita SUNSET FLIP BOMBS Yoh!
The fans fire up again as all four men are down! The teams regroup, then they all go to corners. The fans rally as all four men stand, and then Rocky runs at Eagles! Eagles BOOTS Rocky, Yoh UPPERCUTS Fujita! Eagles ducks Yoh’s superkick to then CHOP! TMDK double whip, but Yoh crisscrosses them, only to get a ENZIGIRI HEEL KICK COMBO! The fans fire up with TMDK and they get Rocky up. Double wrench, lift, and MAX- NO, Rocky slips free and DOUBLE RANAS! TMDK go to opposite ends, so Rocky winds up, LARIAT for Eagles! LARIAT for Fujita! THREE-EVER for Eagles, but Fujita ducks Four-ever!
TMDK catch Rocky again, but Rocky slips out of the double back suplex! Only to run into the MAXY BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Rocky survives and the fans cheer again! Fujita crawls to tag Eagles! Eagles fires up, scoops Rocky, and Fujita adds on, SWEET BUSTER!! Cover, YOH BREAKS IT! The fans fire up, Fujita kicks Yoh but Yoh TOSSES Fujita out! Eagles blocks a kick to ROUNDHOUSE! YOH’LL BE- NO, Eagles dropkicks Yoh! Fujita tags back in, and then Eagles DIVES onto Yoh! They both hit railing! Eagles gets his leg tweaked in there, Hartley Jackson hurries to make sure Eagles is okay. Fujita springboards, MISSILE DROPKICK on Rocky!
The fans fire up with the Japanese Young Punk as he gets Rocky! Suplex and- NO, Rocky cradle counters! TWO!! Fujita escapes, runs up again, but Rocky pops him up to an Alabama Lift, and then a tuck! DUDE BUSTER!! Cover, TWO!!! Rocky’s shoutout to #JustTrent doesn’t finish this, but Rocky roars! The fans fire up as Rocky cravats Fujita, but no Sliced Bread here! Fujita then slips around Rocky to O’Conner, and CHAOS- NO, Rocky fights that, but Eagles is back! GAMANGIRI into the GERMAN SUPLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous and Fujita holds onto Rocky! Fujita hauls Rocky up, spins him, ABANDON HOPE!! Cover, TMDK wins!
Winners: Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
It got scary there for a second, but the Ichiban Sweet Boys pull off the win! Will the Junior Heavyweight Division continue to be Mighty? Wait, wait, Taiji is making his way back out here. Taiji grabs a mic and he congratulates Fujita & Eagles for making it through. But yes, he wants next! Fujita & Eagles say okay, but who will his partner be? Taiji says yes, he knows. Taiji will be teaming with Robbie! No, not Eagles. Robbie “Extreme,” aka Robbie X! Taiji promises he and Mr. X will be the next champions, so they better be ready! The Bone Soldier leaves, having delivered his message. But will TMDK be ready for Taiji and his X-Factor?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Boltin Oleg!
The Alpha of the Don Callis Family, the DOUBLE CHAMPION, puts up just one of his belts against the former NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion. Josh Barnett promised to make him a singles champion, will Boltin soon become “Gold Bars?” Or will he see what it means to be All Elite?
The introductions are made, the NEVER belt is raised, and we see who NEVER backs down!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as these two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock as they’re both big and strong, and Konosuke headlocks. Oleg powers up and out, Konosuke RAMS him, but Oleg stands his ground! Oleg runs, RAMS Konosuke now, but Konosuke runs. They RAM shoulders again, then Oleg runs to RAM Konosuke! Konosuke comes back to RAM Oleg, Oleg comes back to RAM Konosuke! Oleg runs, but into a BOOT! Konosuke whips, Oleg reverses, Konosuke RAMS him, but Oleg rebounds to CLOBBER Konosuke! The fans are thunderous already as Konosuke tumbles out of the ring!
The fans rally behind Oleg, he eggs on Konosuke, but Konosuke eggs on Oleg. Oleg slides out, and the two tie up on the outside!? They’re in a deadlock all the same, until Oleg POSTS Konosuke! The fans fire up and Oleg opens the gate. Oleg runs up, but Konosuke moves, Oleg POSTS himself! Oleg goes down in a heap, but Konosuke drags him up. Konosuke brings Oleg to the apron, then hammerlocks the bad arm, to POST it again! Oleg falls to the floor, the ref checks on him, but Konosuke drags Oleg back up. Konosuke wrenches the arm while the fans rally, but Konosuke puts Oleg in the ring. Konosuke then drags Oleg back up by the bad arm.
Konosuke fires a forearm into the bad arm, but Oleg hits back! Oleg fires another shot, and another shot, but Konosuke CLUBS the bad arm! Oleg staggers back, but Konosuke is on him with a whip. Oleg reverses, but the TAKESHITA LINE takes Oleg down! The fans fire up while Oleg writhes, and Konosuke brings Oleg back up. Konosuke hoists Oleg up to the top rope, then climbs up to join him. The fans rally as Konosuke goes to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Oleg tumbles, Konosuke hurries to cover, TWO!! Oleg survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke steps on the bad arm, digs his heel in, but the ref reprimands.
Konosuke steps off, and he smirks as he eggs Oleg on. Konosuke stomps Oleg, drags him up again, but Oleg DROPKICKS Konosuke away! Both men rise and go to corners. Oleg runs up, but Konosuke BOOTS him away! Konosuke runs up, but into a scoop!? Oleg THROWS Konosuke away, then runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Konosuke is tougher than that but Oleg still gut wrenches him! But Konosuke wrenches the bad arm to an ELBOW BREAKER! Konosuke throws a back elbow into the arm, but Oleg picks Konosuke up! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Oleg roars and the fans fire up with him!
Konosuke pounds the mat in frustration, but the fans rally as both men stand. Oleg runs up, he and Konosuke DOUBLE LARIAT! They stagger back, run back up, and DOUBLE LARIAT! Again, they stagger back, and they run back up, DOUBLE LARIAT! Oleg CHOPS Konosuke, then he gut wrenches! Shake, Rattle and THROW! Konosuke tumbles away and the fans are thunderous! Oleg rises, Konosuke goes to a corner, and Oleg runs in! SPLASH! And then a scoop, for a SLAM! Oleg runs to go up, up, and VADER BOMB! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Oleg stays on Konosuke with a deadlift scoop!
Oleg pops Konosuke to the fireman’s carry, but Konosuke slips fere! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Oleg survives and the fans fire up again! Konosuke snarls as he crawls over to the ropes. Konosuke and Oleg rise as the fans rally again. The two stare down, then they step up. They wristlock to then fire forearm after forearm! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth between these titans! Oleg DECKS Konosuke!! But Oleg says that’s not all! Oleg stands Konosuke up to DECK him again! Oleg wants more, and he stands Konosuke up, but the ALPHA ELBOW hits! So Oleg ROCKS Konosuke! ALPHA ELBOW AGAIN!!
Konosuke flops onto Oleg, but Oleg’s on his stomach! And then Oleg fireman’s carries Konosuke from the mat?! POINT BLANK KAMIKAZE!! Cover, TWO?!? Konosuke survives and Osaka is erupting! Oleg waistlocks to GERMAN- NO, Konosuke fights and throws elbows! Oleg shoves Konosuke, but Konosuke ducks the lariat! Oleg ducks a lariat, but then Konsouke LARAITS on the return! Cover, ONE?!?!?! HOW?!?! Konosuke doesn’t ask how, he just POWER DRIVE KNEES!! Cover, TWO!?!? Okay, now HOW?!? ALPHA ELBOW!!! Konosuke has the GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!!! Oleg is fading but then he SPINEBUSTERS!!
But Konosuke holds on!? So Oleg powers up again! But Konosuke CRANKS the hold!! Oleg is fading on his feet! Oleg drops to a knee, the fans are thunderous, but the hand drops once! The hand drops twice! The hand- KONOSUKE won’t let it drop!? And then he hits RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
Konosuke didn’t take the easy win, he punctuated it! And while he’s still the Double Champion, Konosuke shakes Oleg’s hand to show him the respect he earned. But if Oleg got this close at this early in his career, is his rise to the top inevitable? As for Konosuke, he not only stays the Double Champion, but he builds momentum towards AEW Grand Slam: Australia this Saturday! Wait, wait, wait, here comes Ryohei Oiwa! The Mighty Mullet stares down the Double Champion, and he has the mic to say, “Takeshita-san, your style, going worldwide, and my style, Japanese-made, if we mix that, it’ll be electric.” Fans cheer that.
Oiwa says he is challenging Takeshita for the NEVER Openweight Championship! NJPW’s Konosuke Takeshita? NO, OIWA is NJPW! The fans cheer that, and Oiwa drops the mic. Oiwa then heads out, but Konosuke takes the mic. “Oiwa, hold on. Worldwide Takeshita is damn tough.” The fans like the sound of that. When and where will Oiwa took to get a grip on the NEVER title?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: The Young Bucks VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi!
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson made their return to NJPW by calling out then-champions, Great-O-Khan & Henare. But as Khan & Henare battled Los Ingobernables de Japon, the Face of Fury would go down with an injury. A Triple Threat was made, and it was won by the AEW EVPs. However, NJPW says the 2024 World Tag League winners deserve their 2v2 title shot. Will LIJ finally have these titles once again? Or will The Bucks throw a Superkick Party for Osaka?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if tranquilo beats The Elite, the the Elite!
As always, Naito takes his time with his entrance attire. The Bucks get impatient, but then the teams sort out, only for The Bucks to fake a sneak attack! The Bucks then mockingly tell LIJ to relax. Matt and Hiromu shake hands, which the fans applaud. But then Hiromu uses that handshake to DOUBLE AX HANDLE Nick! The bell rings, Matt dodges double ax handles, only for LIJ to come back on the rebound! LIJ double whip, and DOUBLE AX HANDLE, then DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! They kick and whip Nick, he gets around to send Naito into Hiromu, but Hiromu & Naito dosido! They kick Nick, and Hiromu gives Naito the boost into the RANA!
Nick tumbles out, Matt storms up, but Hiromu CROSSBODIES Matt down! The fans fire up as Hiromu keeps moving, and he CROSSBODIES Nick! The Bucks bail out, Hiromu slides out to keep going! CROSSBODY for Nick! Hiromu keeps going, and Naito holds Matt up, but Matt SUPERKICKS first! Matt then elbows Naito, and he sets up LIJ for Nick! Nick FLIES and wipes out LIJ! The fans fire up as Nick lands on his feet! Nick asks the cameraman if he saw that. Unbelievable, right? The fans duel, Nick puts Naito in, and Nick finally takes off his shirt. Nick kicks Naito to a corner, then whips him to the Bucks’ corner.
Nick runs up, he blocks boots, and he puts Naito int he ropes! Tag to Matt, NECKBREAKER and DRAPING SLINGSHOT SENTON! Matt keeps going and he BLASTS Hiromu off the apron! Matt runs in, he and Nick LARIAT ENZIGIRI combo on Naito! Matt keeps moving, and he slides out to SUPERKICK Hiromu! Nick slides out, Matt slides in, and they coordinate, CANNONBALL ENZIGIRI COMBO! The fans fire up with The Bucks, then Matt brings Naito up. Matt bumps Naito off buckles, then CLAWS Naito’s back! The ref reprimands, Nick tags in, and Nick CLAWS Naito’s back! Nick facelocks and he grinds Naito down.
Naito endures, and he manages to CLAW Nick’s back! Nick lets go, Naito CLAWS him again! The ref reprimands but Naito SPITS at Nick! Naito runs, but Matt trips him! Matt drags Naito out and sets him up for Nick. Nick runs from the apron, but then Naito ducks! PENALTY KICK hits Matt! Nick panics, then springboards at Naito, but into a MANHATTAN DROP! A little double-edged given Naito’s bad knees, but he and Nick crawl. Hot tags to Matt and Hiromu! The fans fire up as Hiromu fires forearms on Matt! Hiromu whips, Matt reverses, but Hiromu RANAS! Nick is back and he kicks Hiromu!
Nick CLAWS Hiromu, then he coordinates with Matt. They double whip Hiromu, but Hiromu ducks the double ax handle to send Matt into Nick! Then Hiromu lifts Matt to make him RANA Nick! The fans fire up, and Hiromu runs to LARIAT Matt in a corner! Hiromu snapmares Matt, runs and basement DROPKICKS him out! Hiromu goes out and he CROSSBODIES Nick like before! And then he finally CROSSBODIES Matt! The fans fire up as Hiromu says he’s going another round! CROSSBODY for Nick! CROSSBODY for Matt! The fans fire up and Hiromu puts Matt in the ring. Hiromu drags Matt up, fireman’s carries, but Matt slips free!
Matt clinches to NORTHERN LIGHTS! And roll through, NORTHERN LIGHTS! The Polar Express gets going as Matt NORTHERN LIGHTS again! Then he has the legs, Nick tags in, CATAPULT GAMANGIRI! Hiromu falls back, Nick goes up, DOUBLE STMOP BACKBREAKER COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and the fans fire up! Nick argues the count but the ref defends it. Nick whips, Naito tags in, and Hiromu reverses! DOUBLE AX HANDLE on Nick! LIJ then whip Nick to a corner, but Nick reverses! Naito is sent in, Nick kicks Hiromu. Nick runs at Naito, but gets BOOTS! Hiromu SUPERKICKS Nick into the ESPERANZA!
Nick sputters and flounders, Naito takes aim, but Matt SUPERKICKS Naito! Hiromu is up, he blocks Nick’s kick, then sends it at Matt! Matt ducks, Nick keeps the spin going so he can sweep the legs on Hiromu! Hiromu sits up into basement DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Naito stands, into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Nick climbs, Matt puts Naito in the ropes, DRAPING SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and the fans fire up! Nick tags Matt and Matt drags Naito up. Nick goes to the apron, Matt scoops Naito, but Hiromu SUNSET FLIPS Nick! Nick fights off the bomb, but Naito fights the driver! Victory roll, TWO!!
Hiromu has Nick anchored on the outside, but Matt schoolboys Naito! TWO, but Nick kicks free of Hiromu! Matt has Naito’s wrist, Nick grabs the other! E V P- NO, Naito ducks so the knees hit together! CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTI- NO, Matt stops the Destino in time! Nick gets the other arm, E V P TRIGGER!! Cover, HIROMU BREAKS IT! The fans fire up again as Hiromu CHOPS Nick, then CHOPS Matt! And CHOPS Nick! And CHOPS Matt! Hiromu runs, into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Matt tags Nick and they soak up the cheers and jeers. The Bucks aim at Hiromu first, but he blows past the kicks! CROSSBODY caught!
Matt has Hiromu while Nick goes back to the apron. But Naito anchors Nick this time! Hiromu fights the gut wrench while Nick kicks free! Nick goes up the corner, but Naito anchors him there! Hiromu turns things around on Matt, and now Naito SHOVES Nick! INVOLUNTARY TK DRIVER on Matt!! Naito storms in, Hiromu laughs as he gives Nick TIMEBOMB 1.5! Naito & Hiromu work together now, ASSISTED- NO, Nick slips out of the DDT! Nick shoves Naito at Hiromu, but they dosido again for the DOUBLE AX HANDLE! The fans fire up as NOW we get the ASSISTED TORNADO DDT!!
Naito waits on Nick to stagger up, then he wrenches and tilt-o-whirls, DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ WINS!!!
Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Bucks’ reign ends at just over five weeks! The Bucks thank Japan, and they promise that they’ll be back again some day. Meanwhile, Hiromu has his first reign as a heavyweight champion, and he wants Captain Naito to stand up with him. Naito asks for help but he kinda sandbags on it. Hiromu gives up and simply fetches Naito’s hat for him. They eventually do stand together, but will this New Beginning be LIJ’s best chapter yet?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS Gabe Kidd!
The Gene Blast took down the “Boss Dog,” David Finlay, and took this title from him at WrestleKingdom. But now the second in command is looking to avenge The Rebel! Will this Mad Man become a double champion? Or will Yota keep everything tranquilo?
As Yota makes his entrance, he tosses his coat away to reveal he went with SHORT tights tonight! Gabe smirks, this is clearly Yota’s answer to Gabe wanting NJPW to return to tradition. The introductions are made, the white strap is raised, and we see who takes NJPW global!
The bell rings and Gabe steps to Yota and vice versa. The fans fire up for this stare down, and the crowd sounds pretty torn. Gabe SLAPS Yota, so Yota SLAPS back! Gabe grins, the two back up, and then they tie up! They’re in a deadlock, but then the forearms start flying! They tie up again, are still in a deadlock, but Gabe pulls hair! Yota turns things around to put Gabe on ropes, but Gabe turns that back around. Red Shoes calls the break, Gabe lets off slowly, then he fires forearms! Red Shoes reprimands, Gabe eggs Yota on, but Yota headlocks. Gabe powers up and out, Yota RAMS him, but Gabe rebounds to RUN Yota over!
The fans fire up and duel again. Yota reaches up at Gabe, Gabe stomps him, then things speed up. Gabe hurdles, Yota hurdles, then Yota bypasses Gabe to RANA! But Gabe handsprings through!? Only for Yota to arm-drag! Gabe headscissors, Yota kips free, and then Gabe scoops to SLAM Yota! The fans fire up, Gabe covers, TWO! Gabe stays cool, that was just a heat check. Gabe drags Yota up, tells him this is NJPW, and he CHOPS! The fans fire up, Gabe gets in Yota’s face, and Gabe eggs Yota on. Yota CHOPS, Gabe wants more, so Yota CHOPS again. And CHOPS again! Gabe UPPERCUTS Yota, then UPPERCUTS again!
Yota falls, sputters, and the fans fire up. Gabe kicks Yota out of the ring, then brings him around to whip him hard into the railing! Gabe opens the gate, grabs a chair, but then puts it aside as he sees Yota stirring. Gabe drags Yota up, whips him, and Yota hits railing hard! But he comes back, only for Gabe to clinch! Yota fights the clinch with elbows, but Gabe still hits the T-BONE to the floor! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Gabe then sits up cross-legged a la Shibata. Gabe shakes his head, then he storms up on Yota. The fans rally and duel, Gabe encourages them to get louder, then he CHOPS Yota!
Yota staggers away, Gabe storms up, and Gabe CHOPS again! Yota huffs ‘n’ puffs as he staggers away. Gabe storms up to CHOP him again! Gabe eggs Yota on, so Yota CHOPS in return! Gabe felt that one! Yota stands Gabe up to CHOP again, and CHOP again! Gabe SUPERKICKS!? Yota staggers back as Gabe shows he’s been working on his arsenal. Gabe fires up, the fans fire up with him, and Gabe brings Yota up. Gabe puts Yota in, covers, but Red Shoes says no, too many shenanigans on the outside. Gabe scuffs Yota to egg him on, and the fans rally up. Gabe scuffs Yota more, then KICKS him in the back!
Yota rises up, Gabe pushes him around, and talks trash. Yota DECKS Gabe! The fans rally again, Gabe stands back up, and he ROCKS Yota! Yota shakes that off to ROCK Gabe! The forearms go back and forth again and again, and then Gabe ROCKS Yota! Gabe eggs Yota on as he wobbles! Yota roars, CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Yota fires more CHOPS, then he brings Gabe around to CHOP again! Gabe drops to his knees but Yota says he’s not done! Yota stands Gabe up, but Gabe CHOPS! Yota doesn’t back down, so Gabe CHOPS again! Yota CHOPS back, so Gabe CHOPS again! The CHOPS keep going and the fans rally up!
Gabe CHOPS, he gets the edge, and he eggs Yota on to show him NJPW’s spirit! Yota fires a flurry of forearms, and he ROCKS Gabe! Gabe leans against ropes, seethes but also grins. “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” Gabe comes back to CHOP! The fans fire up and Yota grits his teeth. Yota CHOPS and Gabe drops to his knees! The fans are thunderous as Yota looks at his own hand. Gabe seethes, rises up, and though he’s stinging, he says F you, Yota! CHOP! Yota grits his teeth, both men storm up, and Gabe CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS Yota against the ropes again and again, but Red Shoes counts.
Gabe LARIATS, runs, but into a BOOT! Gabe UPERCUTS! Yota ROCKS! Gabe CHOPS! Yota SUPERKICKS! Gabe roars so Yota SUPERKICKS again!! The fans are thunderous, Yota covers, TWO! Gabe stays in this and the fans fire up more. Yota rises, goes to ropes, and he fires up again! The fans join him and Yota grabs Gabe’s legs. Gabe kicks at Yota, but Yota works to turn Gabe! Gabe resists, but Yota still has the BOSTON CRAB! Yota wants to use the “Young Lion” hold to humble Gabe! Gabe powers up, fights forward, but Yota sits down deep on the hold! Gabe endures, the fans rally, and Gabe powers up again! Gabe claws at the mat, but Yota drags him from the ropes!
The fans rally as hard as they can as Gabe endures! Gabe powers up one more time, and he makes it to the ROPEBREAK! Yota lets go, barely holding on as it was, but both men are down as they catch their breath. Yota rises, Gabe goes to a corner, and the fans rally as hard as they can. Gabe bites the rope as he drags himself up. Yota runs in, KNEE! Gabe slumps down, Yota pushes him, and Yota goes up, up, and MARLOWE- NO, Gabe gets under! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men wobble, but Yota drops to a knee! Gabe runs, but Yota blocks the knee! POP-UP KNEE, and then a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Gabe survives, Yota roars, and Osaka is thunderous again!
Yota aims from a corner, Gabe slowly rises, GENE- COBRA TWIST!! Gabe catches Yota into the iconic Inoki hold! Yota endures, even as Gabe puts on the pressure! Yota reaches for ropes, but Gabe shifts to a BIG back suplex! Yota almost lands on his head! Both men are down and the fans rally up again. Gabe rises and the fans fire up! But then Yota also rises in the other corner. Gabe hobbles his way over, then runs up to LARIAT! Yota drops to his knees, and Gabe goes up? Gabe shouts, “SAEKO DA! <I’M AWESOME!>” Gabe drags Yota up with a facelock, bringing him up the corner. Yota endures the guillotine and fires body shots.
Yota fires forearms, Gabe fires back, and they brawl on the corner. Gabe HEADBUTTS Yota! Yota holds onto ropes, and he RISING HEADBUTTS in return! Gabe sputters, Yota roars, and Yota goes to the very top! The fans fire up already as Yota has Gabe in the clinch, but Gab says F YOU! SUPER LARIAT!!! Yota has a crash landing but Gabe roars! Gabe runs, to LARIAT Yota again!! Cover, TWO!?!? Yota survives being turned inside-out, but Gabe roars again! Osaka is ready to erupt again, but Yota suplexes first! X-PLEX even! Gabe sputters, Yota KNEES him down!! Osaka is electric as both men are down again!
Yota grits his teeth as he crawls away to a corner. Yota drags himself up with the ropes while Gabe is in a daze. Yota staggers back over to Gabe, drags him up, but Gabe’s a ragdoll. Red Shoes checks Gabe but Gabe is somehow still in this. Yota eggs Gabe on, and he wants Gabe to show that NJPW spirit! Gabe rises, leaning against Yota. Yota then SLAPS Gabe! Gabe staggers, but that slap woke him up! Gabe comes back to PALM STRIKE! Gabe grins, but so does Yota! Gabe tells Yota, “Who you think you are, I AM!” Yota gets up, and he SLAPS Gabe! Gabe SLAPS Yota, Yota SLAPS!! Gabe wobbles but the SLAPS keep going!
The fans fire up as the SLAPS come in from all directions, back and forth! Yota fires a flurry, but Gabe gives it back! STRAIGHT RIGHT! Gabe runs, Yota dodges, and Yota LARIATS Gabe!! Yota hurries to haul Gabe up, POWERBOMB! A very Finlay looking one at that! Then CURB STOMP! Yota roars as he aims from the corner! Gabe rises, into the GENE- PILEDRIVER?!?! Gabe turns things around in an instant and Osaka is erupting again! Yota and Gabe stir, Gabe finds the cover, TWO!! Yota is still in this, but so is Gabe. The fans rally as hard as they ever have, and Gabe rolls away to the ropes.
Gabe rises and Osaka roars again! Gabe snarls, he drags Yota up by his hair, and he reels Yota in. The barking echoes through the stadium, but Yota fights the lift! Wrench and HEADBUTT! Gabe stays up, but a GENE TRIGGER hits! COMEBACKER from Gabe!! The Mad Man is going nuts, and he brings down the kneepad and even the wrap! ONI- GENE BLASTER!!! But Gabe tumbles away, Yota can’t make the cover! Time is running out on this match as Gabe sputters and Yota crawls his way over! Yota claws at Gabe, Gabe turns over, and Red Shoes begins a double down count! The fans rally as both men have until 10!
Gabe sputters, grits his teeth, and he grabs the ropes. But we’re already at 5! And then 7! 8! Yota stands at 9, but he flops back down! TEN, IT’S A DRAW!!
Double Down Draw; Yota retains the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
These two men fought so hard, neither man could keep going! Or maybe they can? They both sit up and give junkyard dog headbutts, but there’s no point now! They both flop back down, the fans cheer again, and Red Shoes tells them both to stop. The fans chant for NJPW, clearly feeling these two epitomize the truth spirit of Strong Style. Gabe and Yota stare down, then nod. Gabe DECKS Yota! In a roundabout way, that is how these two show respect. Yota keeps the title, but will he and Gabe look to run this back?
WAIT, THE HOUSE OF TORTURE ATTACKS!! The fans boo as Sho, Kanemaru, Yujiro and Narita all stomp away on Yota! Is this because not a single one of these rejects got on the card? Wait, Narita stomps Gabe, too?! And then the lights go out! WAIT! EVIL is here! The King of Darkness said he wasn’t coming home after losing back at Battle in the Valley! And yet he’s returned with New Beginning? Then he STOPS The House from beating up on Yota?! What’s going on with The King of Darkness? He and Dick Togo have the guys back off, and Evil helps Yota to his feet? Oh, just so he can hit EVERYTHING IS EVIL on him!
The fans boo as Evil tricked us into thinking he had a change of heart. Or a heart at all. The fans tell The House of Torture to just go home, but now they want to help Gabe up? Evil & Dick help Gabe stand, only to set him up!? PUSHUP BAR ATTACK?!? Narita then hits Gabe with the DOUBLE CROSSER!! What happened to House of Torture being Bullet Club? Hold on, Evil grabs a mic to speak. “Oi, Tsuji, you thought I was here to help you? TOO BAD, SUCKER! HAHAHA!” The fans boo more, but Evil says Yota’s head is foggy from all that damage. This is your present and future. And as for “Gabe-chan,” Evil is here to speak to him.
Evil tells Gabe, “You’re in my way, pieces of crap like you. Tell this to Finlay, as well. From now on, the War Dogs are no longer part of Bullet Club!” What!? Does Evil have the authority to say that? But he says, “Your crew of losers aren’t needed in Bullet Club anymore! Got it? Remember that!” The House has declared war, but will this be anything but civil?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Hirooki Goto w/ Yoshi-Hashi!
The Front Man really shook things up when he used the G1 Climax golden ticket to win this title in Ryogoku rather than the Tokyo Dome, but now the Fierce Warrior looks to do the same in Osaka! Goto has been fighting for decades, will this finally be his moment? Or will he #JustTapOut?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if there is truly a New Beginning in Osaka!
The bell rings and the fans are already strong for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” ZSJ doesn’t let that bother him as the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and ZSJ wrenches an arm. ZSJ then waistlocks, but Goto wrenches free. ZSJ spins around, slips through, and he wrangles Goto by an arm. Goto fights up but ZSJ top wristlocks. ZSJ wrangles Goto after all, but Goto keeps his shoulders up. Goto slips around, goes for a leg, but ZSJ slips away, and the fans cheer this opening exchange. The two reset, tie up, and ZSJ headlocks. Goto powers up and out, ZSJ RAMS him, but Goto returns to RUN ZSJ over!
ZSJ avoids the elbow drop but Goto avoids the Penalty Kick! ZSJ avoids a lariat, Goto avoids as roundhouse, then Goto kicks and whips. ZSJ reverses but Goto RUNS him over again! The fans fire up while ZSJ shakes out the stars. Goto CLUBS ZSJ to a corner, whups him corner to corner, then runs up to LARIAT! Goto HIP- NO, ZSJ THROWS Goto down, the NECK TWISTS! The fans rally and ZSJ brings Goto up. ZSJ cravats for the neck wrench, then shifts to a headlocks. Goto endures the grind, fights up, and powers out. ZSJ RUNS Goto over! Things keep moving, but ZSJ catches the dropdown into a NECK TWIST!
Goto writhes and goes to the apron. ZSJ goes out to NECK TWIST even out there! Goto falls, Hashi protests, but ZSJ just shakes out his arms. ZSJ drags Goto up, UPPERCUTS him, and Goto staggers up the ramp. ZSJ pursues to UPPERCUT, but Goto CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again and Goto falls! ZSJ goes to the ring, which fans applaud, and Goto crawls his way over. The fans rally as Goto reaches the ring by 5 of 20. Goto rolls in, ZSJ drags him by a leg, and ZSJ has a toehold. ZSJ turns Goto over and ties up the legs, while also adding a headscissor! Goto endures this modified deathlock, but then ZSJ focuses on just the headscissors!
Goto fights around, the fans rally, but ZSJ rolls Goto away from the ropes. ZSJ has Goto at the center of the ring, grabs an arm, but Goto kicks around! ROPEBREAK right as ZSJ goes for the armbar! ZSJ lets go, and the fans rally for “GO-TO-O!” even more. ZSJ paces, drags Goto up to cravat, but Goto again endures the neck wrench. Goto fires body shots, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Goto staggers to a corner, ZSJ whips him corner to corner, but Goto reverses. Goto runs up, but into a BOOT! ZSJ runs, but Goto follows! ZSJ BOOTS the lariat, but Goto avoids the Pele! ZSJ
avoid the buzzsaw, RAMS low, then whips.
Goto reverses, fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up! ZSJ goes to a corner, Goto runs up, and Goto LARIATS! Goto whips corner to corner, then runs to MURAMASA! And SAIDO! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but Goto stays on him. Goto fireman’s carries again, but ZSJ kicks his way to the apron! ZSJ has Goto in the ropes, HANGING ARMBAR! Red Shoes reprimands, then counts, but ZSJ lets go at 4. ZSJ stumbles a bit, but goes back for Goto in the ring. ZSJ knees on Goto’s face, then grabs an arm. ZSJ SNAPS fingers! And then he digs his elbow into Goto’s ribs, to then isolate an arm, and STOMP it!
The fans duel while Goto clutches that elbow. ZSJ drags Goto around, digs an elbow into Goto’s shoulder, then pulls on the bad arm. ZSJ twists it around, and STOMPS it again! Goto writhes more but ZSJ looms over him. ZSJ stands Goto up, reels him in, but Goto fights the scoop! Goto CLUBS with the good arm, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS the bad arm! And again! And again! ZSJ brings Goto around to scoop, but Goto slips free! Goto waistlocks, ZSJ elbows free, and ZSJ runs up. Goto dodges to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! And then roll into the GOTO SAN SHIKI! TWO, and ZSJ body scissors, JAPANESE ROLLING CLUTCH! TWO!!
The fans fire up as both men escape the other! ZSJ BOOTS Goto to a corner, then runs up. Goto dodges to put ZSJ right in the ropes! Draping dragon sleeper, for DRAPING SHOTO! Cover, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ survives but Goto roars! Goto dragon sleepers, but ZSJ slips around to scoop and ZACK DRIVER! But ZSJ can’t make the cover! The fans fire up again while ZSJ sits back up. ZSJ grabs Goto by the hair and drags him up. ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Goto wobbles, and the fans rally. ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, Goto staggers, but ZSJ has him again. ZSJ UPPERCUTS, but Goto just gets mad! Goto fires forearm after forearm!
ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, but Goto just roars! The fans fire up as Goto LARIATS! ZSJ stays up and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! ZSJ comes back, but Goto spins him around, URA G T R! Goto roars, runs, but ZSJ ROUNDHOUSEES the lariat, then scoops! SABRE DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! But into an ARMBAR!! Goto flails, reaches out, but ZSJ pulls on the arm! Goto fights around, but ends up in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Goto keeps moving, tries to stack ZSJ, but ZSJ keeps his shoulders up! So Goto deadlifts, but ZSJ wrangles him into an omoplata! ZSJ grabs the other arm, Goto resists, but ZSJ powers it into a roll and CLARKY CAT!
Goto keeps fighting and the fans rally as hard as they can! Goto refuses to get caught, but ZSJ grabs the leg! CLARKY CAT, BAD BALLOON MIX! Goto still fights, even with just the one free leg! Goto kicks and his arm slips free, ROPEBREAK!! Even ZSJ is surprised, but he lets go of Goto. The fans continue to rally for Goto as he slowly rises. ZSJ KICKS him in the chest and Goto falls over! ZSJ paces, Hashi coaches Goto, and Goto rises up. ZSJ KICKS him in the chest again! ZSJ eggs Goto on, then KCIKS, KICKS, KICKS! Goto blocks one! Goto stands, and he fires forearm after forearm! ZSJ rebounds, but Goto DECKS him!
The fans are thunderous and Goto roars! Goto runs, but into a SLEEPER! ZSJ squeezes tight as Goto reaches out, and Goto is fading! Red Shoes checks on Goto, but he drops to his knees! ZSJ sits Goto down, but the fans rally even harder! ZSJ lets go to run and PENALTY KCIK! But Goto’s right up!? LARIAT!! Goto knows Shibata well, so he knew how to fight that combo! The fans are thunderous again as Goto rises! Goto roars, then takes aim, BUZZSAW! ZSJ falls right down! Goto drags him right up! Fireman’s carry and G T W!! Cover, TWO!!! ZSJ survives, the damage he did to Goto’s arms being what weakened that attack!
Goto still dragon sleepers, but ZSJ fires shots! Goto grabs that arm, but ZSJ grabs Goto’s arm! They fight for control, so Goto ripcords and HEADBUTTS ZSJ! The fans fire up as ZSJ drops back! But Goto holds onto ZSJ’s wrist! Goto drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ SLAPS him! And SLAPS him again! And again! Goto just stands ZSJ up, so ZSJ fires a flurry of SLAPS! Goto HEADBUTTS again! Goto snarls, the fans are thunderous, and Goto HEADBUTTS ZSJ again! But Goto isn’t done! He HEADBUTTS AGAIN AND AGAIN! Goto roars, winds up, and LARIATS!! The fans are thunderous once more as Goto suplexes, for SHOUTEN KAI!!
The fans erupt as Goto brings out one of the classics! And then Goto hauls ZSJ up, dragon sleepers, but ZSJ victory rolls! EURO CLUTCH, TWO!?!?! Goto escapes, but ZSJ snatches an arm! ZSJ wrenches to PELE the arm, but Goto LARIATS with the other! Goto leans on the ropes, Osaka erupts once again, and Goto drags ZSJ up! Dragon sleeper, but ZSJ hooks the arms! Goto fights the backslide, dragon sleepers, G T R!!! But Goto doesn’t cover?!? Goto wants to end this, and he straitjackets ZSJ’s arms, for ULTIMATE G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
Osaka is practically lifting off into space as finally, after 22 YEARS of hard work, of blood, sweat and tears, of always being the proverbial bridesmaid but never the bride, the Fierce Warrior has his world title breakthrough!! It was a generational battle to be sure, and while The Mighty Don’t Kneel, ZSJ could not #GetBackUp! Will TMDK have to take a page out of Chaos’ book and find a way to #TurnItAllAround?
As for Goto, it finally sinks in with the official announcement! “Perennial Challenger” no longer, Hirooki Goto is FINALLY the top champion in NJPW! Goto finally gets to hold this belt, and Hashi is there by his side to help put it on. After Goto catches his breath and gathers himself, he grabs the mic. “I know my dad was watching, and this is for him.” Goto points to the sky and the fans cheer. Goto stands, and he says, “A lot of you probably know this, but I’m an idiot. I’ve been an idiot as I’ve pursued this pro-wrestling life. But this idiot stuck with it, and now this idiot is a champion.” The fans cheer that, and they cheer as Goto tells his dad, “I DID IT!”
Goto now thanks everyone for coming and packing the house. “Actually, my son and daughter are here, as well.” The fans cheer, knowing the little Gotos are here. Goto asks if it’s okay to invite them into the ring. The fans cheer more, and Goto calls to them. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Goto’s son and daughter hurry from their seats, take off their shoes, and then step into the ring to stand alongside their father. The fans cheer, and Goto says they’re doing well in school. And his girl is doing well in her dance class. The fans cheer, Goto says he wants them to get a good look at this sight. “This is what Papa’s been working for.” The fans cheer that, too!
Goto says thanks to his kids, he was able to do this. And of course, “Yo-chan” for always being in his corner. And most of all, it is thanks to the people here today! The fans applaud again, and Goto says that he’s been at this for 22 YEARS, so he is thankful to his own body for making it this far. “The Goto Revolution has just begun.” The fans like that! Goto hopes they’ll be part of it until the end. “And finally… It’s about Goto’s G! Do you know what the G stands for?” Do the kids know? His son and daughter are excited. It is for the G in IWGP! That’s right! Now, here goes! The fans fire up with Goto, and he says the G in IWGP now stands for GOTO!
Goto hugs his kids, and the confetti flies! It may be decades into his career, but this is truly Goto’s New Beginning! Will there be no stopping the Fierce Warrior that overcame The Mighty Front Man?
My Thoughts:
An awesome New Beginning event, and fittingly, we got a lot of new stuff going on from this point. Drilla beating Takagi was wild, I did not think that’d happen. Khan beating Shota was also wild, and so was Shota voluntarily shaving his own head. As I’ve said before, Shota is the one out of the Reiwa Three Musketeers that isn’t working as far as crowd reaction. Fans love Yota as a Face, they love to hate Narita as a Heel, but they haven’t quite accepted Shota as a Face. Maybe shaving his head and ditching this Roughneck hero character could help Shota. Sanada beating Taichi with more cheating made sense, it just adds more Heel heat on him.
Roppongi ReVICE looked great against the Ichiban Sweet Boys, but I figured Eagles & Fujita would win. Taiji making the challenge on behalf of himself and Robbie X, that’ll be a great feud. And then holy crap, Konosuke VS Oleg was awesome. Not only does it show how great Konosuke is, but it shows how awesome Oleg already is for being this early in his career. But I feel like it’s a shame the KOPW Championship is gone, because I felt like the NEVER Openweight title was the one Oleg could get at this point. Oiwa challenging Konosuke is cool, can’t wait to see how that one goes.
LIJ VS The Bucks was great stuff, and I’m actually a little surprised LIJ won. I suppose The Bucks could (and maybe should) go back to AEW now, maybe do something about the Death Riders or whatever. But this is big for LIJ, and they have quite the lineup to defend these titles against. Yota VS Gabe was also awesome, and it was brilliant to have it end in a draw. But then, are we seriously getting Bullet Club: Civil War now? With House of Torture VS David Finlay & The War Dogs? Well, it isn’t about the quality of the wrestlers, since the War Dogs are all good, but it’s more we could’ve gotten even better stuff when it was Jay White’s Bullet Club.
And then, the main event was amazing, especially because of the story going into it. ZSJ has fought hard to become top champion, but Goto has fought hard and long for the same thing, to where maybe people were thinking it’d never happen. This is an inspirational story on top of an awesome match, because it shows if you keep at it, your dream will come true, and/or people will see your dedication, and they will appreciate and maybe even reward it. You deserve it, Goto, and what a great moment for him and his kids. I can’t wait to see where this is going, especially with the Anniversary Show in under a month.
My Score: 9.3/10
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