It’s now or NEVER for the Dream Trio!

Kazuchika Okada may be leaving NJPW, but he’s on the Road to New Beginning with his team, defending the NEVER Openweight Six Man Championships! Will the Rainmaker still reign?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Toru Yano & Katsuya Murashima VS Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato; Oleg & Kato win.
• Tiger Mask VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins.
• Six Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Tama Tonga, El Desperado, YOH & Tomoaki Honma VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• 10 Man Tag: The United Empire VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Bullet Club War Dogs win.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Just5Guys; LIJ wins.
• Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS SANADA & DOUKI; Sanada & Douki win.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS TMDK; Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii win and retain the titles.
• Shota Umino VS Ren Narita; Shota wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS TMDK!

The Rainmaker may be on his way out of NJPW, but he still has to stand by The Ace and the Stone Pitbull to defend these titles! Will the reign continue even as Okada walks away? Or will Hysterical Shane Haste, Mad Mikey Nicholls & “Ichiban Sweet Boy” Kosei Fujita prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The fans are already thunderous for Okada, given this very well could be the last time he’s in Korakuen Hall. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Mighty wash away the reign!

The trios sort out and we of course start with Okada. Fujita steps up for TMDK and the bell rings. The fans continue to rally for Okada as he stares Fujita down. They circle, feel things out, and clinch. Okada gets Fujita’s arm but Fujita puts him on ropes. The ref counts, Fujita lets off, but Okada sticks his neck out, daring Fujita to do something. So Fujita fires off forearms! Fujita CLUBS away on Okada, then CHOPS him! Fans fire up, Fujita whips, but Okada avoids the dropkick! Okada TOSSES Fujita out, goes out after him, and Ishii BLASTS Shane & Mikey while Okada scoops and SLAMS Fujita to the floor!

Fans rally behind Okada while he paces around. Okada drags Fujita up, brings him around the way, and puts him in the ring. Okada then steps inside to drag Fujita up, and CHOPS him on the back! Tag to Tanahashi while Fujita fires forearms on Ishii! Ishii doesn’t budge! Then Ishii DECKS Fujita! Fans fire up while Tanahashi brings Fujita around. Tanahashi fires body shots, then scoops to SLAM Fujita into a drop zone. Tanahashi goes up the corner to SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, but Shane breaks it! Fans rally, Tanahashi is annoyed so he DROPKICKS Shane & Mikey down! Fans cheer the air guitar!

Tanahashi brings Fujita over, bumps him off buckles, and he tags in Ishii. Ishii CHOPS Fujita, and CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Ishii eggs Fujita on, slaps him around, so Fujita fires forearms! Ishii eggs Fujita on so Fujita CHOPS! Fans fire up as Fujita fires more forearms, but then Ishii gets in his face. Ishii backs Fujita down even while Fujita throws forearms and chops! Fujita fights from in the corner but Ishii CHOPS! And CHOPS! Those are a bit high so the ref reprimands but Ishii just pushes him away to CHOP Fujita more! Ishii then snapmares Fujita to get the legs, BOSTON CRAB! Okada intercepts Shane, Tanahashi intercepts Mikey!

Fujita endures and the fans rally up! Fujita fights up, powers his way forward, but Ishii drags him back! Ishii sits deep on the hold, but Shane & Mikey shout for him! The fans rally for Fujita, and he gets to the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer as Ishii lets him go. Ishii drags Fujita up, bumps him off buckles and tags in Okada. Okada stares down Mikey, then storms up on Fujita. Okada brings Fujita around to bump off buckles in the open corner. Okada elbows Fujita, elbows him again, and then brings him out to snapmare. Okada runs side to side, to basement dropkick! Fans fire up while Okada cocky covers, ONE!!

Tag to Tanahashi and Ishii talks some smack on Fujita. Tanahashi storms up to bring Fujita around, but Fujita fires forearms! Tanahashi throws body shots in return, then whips. Fujita reverses and CHOPS! Tanahashi kicks low, throws more body shots, then whips. Fujita reverses again, CHOPS again, then dodges Tanahashi to run and WHEEL KICK! Fans fire up while both men are down! Fujita and Tanahashi stir, crawl, and Tanahashi anchors Fujita’s leg! Fujita kicks and kicks but Tanahashi brings him up. Tanahashi has a leg but Fujita forearms free! Fujtia then gets Tanahashi’s leg, to DRAGON SCREW!

Fans fire up while Fujita crawls, rolls, hot tag to Shane! Shane DROPKICKS Tanahashi! Shane BLASTS Okada & Ishii, UPPERCUTS Tanahashi, then baits Okada in to send him into Tanahashi! Shane then runs in to CALF KICK SANDWICH! Shane keeps going, CANNONBALL SANDWICH! Fans fire up and Shane covers Tanahashi, TWO! The fans rally behind Shane and he drags Tanahashi up. Shane reels Tanahashi in but Tanahashi fires body shots and fast hands! Mikey runs in, he gets those fast hands! Tanahashi blocks Shane’s kick, but Shane KICKS again! Shane suplexes, Tanahashi fights it, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!

Fans fire up while both men are down! Tanahashi crawls, hot tag to Ishii! Ishii runs but Shane BOOTS him! Ishii still runs, Shane BOOTS again! Ishii ducks the roundhouse to SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while Ishii looms over Shane. Ishii sits Shane up to KICK him in the back! Shane gets mad and stands up, but Ishii fires forearms! Shane UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS! Ishii roars to ROCK Shane! Okada joins in, he BLASTS Mikey! Okada goes out after Mikey while Ishii hoists Shane up. Shane fights that and he puts Ishii up top! Shane ROCKS Ishii, then climbs up after him!

Shane brings Ishii up but Ishii fires body shots! Shane hops back, but Mikey hurries in! Mikey goes up but Ishii throws body shots! Mikey hops down but Shane runs in, Mikey gives him a boost! SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO!! Mikey drags Shane to the cover, TWO!! Ishii survives but Shane crawls to tag Mikey in. Mikey goes corner to corner at Ishii, to clothesline int he corner! Then a whip back into the corner, for another clothesline! Mikey snapmares, runs, and SLIDING- NO, Ishii dodges! But then Mikey fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Mikey keeps moving, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up as Ishii stays in this for the team! Mikey drags Ishii up, reels him in, and suplexes, only for Ishii to fight it! Ishii wrenches, whips, and Okada is there to kick Mikey low! Shane runs in, but Okada kicks him, too! DOUBLE DDT! Fujita runs in to fire off forearm sand CHOPS! Fujita runs, into the FLAPJACK! The fans fire up as Mikey stands, into Okada’s BOOT! Ishii & Tanahashi DOUBLE LOW DROPKICK! They take Mikey’s legs out, and then the Dream Trio powers up together! Okada BOOTS, Tanahashi SHOTEIS and Ishii LARIATS! They get Mikey up, TRIPLE DDT!! Ishii then loads up, runs the ropes, and LARIATS Mikey down! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous as Mikey survives! Okada & Tanahashi brawl with Shane & Fujita on the outside while Ishii hauls Mikey up. Ishii suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey wrenches, but Ishii HEADBUTTS! Ishii suplexes again but Mikey slips free! Fujita ROUNDHOUSES Ishii, DROPKICKS Okada, then dodges Tanahashi to RANA Tanahashi out! Fans fire up and Fujita builds speed! Ichiban Sweet Boy FLIES! Direct hit and they almost hit railing! Shane joins Mikey in the ring, they get Ishii up in a fireman’s carry, HIGHWAY TO HELL!! Cover, TWO?!?! Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous again!

The OG TMDK keep on going, standing Ishii back up. Mikey scoops, Shane aims, but Ishii slips free! Ishii sends Mikey into Shane then GERMAN SUPLEXES Mikey! Then he sends Shane to Okada, but Shane slips free to UPPERCUT! Shane whips, Okada reverses, but Shane avoids the dropkick to PENALTY KICK! Shane winds up, runs in, but Ishii catches him and spins him! Ishii suplexes but Shane slips free again, to CLUB Ishii into Mikey’s arms! Scoop and TANK BUSTER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Ishii is still in this and the fans are electric! But TMDK calls for the big one, and Shane goes to a corner!

Mikey hauls Ishii up, Shane climbs, but Tanahashi returns! Tanahashi makes the save and fires off on Mikey! Shane kicks, Tanahashi blocks, to DRAGON SCREW! But then Mikey CLOBBERS Tanahashi! Mikey roars as he rises up, and he drags Tanahashi back up. But Tanahashi fights the lift, so Mikey sends him into a forearm from Shane! Mikey scoops Tanahashi but now Ishii makes the save! TMDK both kick but Ishii & Tanahashi both block! STEREO DRAGON SCREWS! The fans fire up while Shane flops out of the ring! We’re at 15 minutes, the time limit is approaching! Mikey and Ishii crawl, hot tags to Fujita and Okada!

Korakuen erupts, but then Fujita CHOPS Okada! Fujita fires off forearms, whips, but Okada reverses to ROCK him! Okada whips, Fujita wobbles and holds ropes. Okada storms up on Fujita to CLUB him down! Okada has a sinister grin on his face as he kicks Fujita around. Okada whips Fujita corner to corner but Fujita reverses. Fujita runs up to CHOP! Fujita then pushes Okada out, goes to the apron and springboards, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Okada but Fujita scuffs him. And scuffs him again! Okada shakes his head as Fujita keeps scuffing Okada, and even slaps him around.

Okada stands to ROCK Fujita! Okada HAMMERS away, and then he whips. Fujita reverses, drop toeholds, and he ties up the legs! RED INK! Okada endures as Fujita pulls him back! The fans rally, Okada breaks the crossface, and then Tanahashi storms in to stomp Fujita! Fujita fires off on Tanahashi, TOSSES him out, and he goes back for Okada. Fujita waistlocks to deadlift Okada! Okada fights with elbows, but Fujita ducks! Fujita swings, into the MONEY CLIP!! Fujita is fading fast but Shane runs in! Okada lets Fujita go to ROCK Shane! Mikey runs in, he and Shane get Okada for the BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER!

Fujita says this is it! DEADLIFT GERMAN!! Bridging cover, TWO?!?! Okada escapes with nanoseconds to spare, but Fujita won’t let off! Fujita suplexes, Okada fights it, and fans are dueling! Fujita keeps trying, he throws some body shots, then swings, into an UPPERCUT from Okada! Okada BOOTS, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Okada holds on, he ripcords, but Fujita ducks the lariat! Only for the DROPKICK to hit! The fans are thunderous and Okada says he’s doing this for NJPW! Okada drags Fujita up to short arm LARIAT! And then short arm LARIAT again! The fans fire up as Okada roars, and he sits Fujita up.

Okada brings Fujita around for the ripcord, RAIN- NO, Fujita ducks! O’Conner Roll BRIDGE!! TWO!?!? Even Okada is shocked he escaped! We hit 20 minutes, Ishii CLUBS Fujita as he gets in! Tanahashi also joins, ZSJ coaches Fujita from ringside, but the Dream Trio stands Fujita up. Fujita still fights them with forearms and chops! Fujita runs, but into a SLINGBLADE! Ishii SLIDING LARIATS! Ishii & Tanahashi BLAST Shane & Mikey off the apron! Okada drags Fujita up as the fans are thunderously behind him. Okada whips, to DROPKICK! Okada drags Fujita up, scoops him and SLAMS him! Okada goes to the corner and climbs up!

Fans fire up for the formula following through, MACHO ELBOW! And that of course brings the Rainmaker Pose! Okada drags Fujita up, ripcords, RAINMAKER!! Cover, The Dream Trio wins!!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

The Rainmaker may be leaving NJPW, but his reign alongside The Ace & Stone Pitbull is going to continue! TMDK came so close, what will it take for them to get up and over the hump?

Okada shakes hands with Shane, Mikey and even ZSJ to show them respect in this moment. He also commends Fujita on the fight he put up here. Okada then gets the mic while fans chant his name again. “I don’t wanna cry anymore. Even though I cried a lot, it has been a hot 17 years. Thank you all so very much.” Well, he gets emotional now saying all that, and the fans cheer for him. Okada takes a moment, and then says, “Ishii put this belt on me, but today, I vacate it. But this is the only team belt I’ve ever held in my career, and I’m so thankful to Tanahashi and Ishii.” He bows to them in thanks, and even Tanahashi looks emotional.

Okada continues to say, “This is the last match of my contract, but I have three matches to go in Osaka and Sapporo. This isn’t the end, this isn’t goodbye and you still have the main event. Enjoy it. Thank you to NJPW wrestlers, staff, and fans. I promise we will meet again, and I hope you’ll support the Rainmaker.” With that, Okada drops the mic, and he stands side-by-side with Ishii & Tanahashi, hands raised in victory. The NEVER Openweight Six Man titles may be up in the air now, but there will never be a trio quite like this one. Who will pick up the torch and run with it from here?

Shota Umino VS Ren Narita!

The Roughneck has been trying to get revenge on the “Souled Out” traitor for months now, but maybe, just maybe, he finally gets it tonight! Will Shota keep his promise to take Narita to Hell? Or will Narita continue to slither his way out of another bad situation?

Shota returns all the ambushes by giving Narita a SHOTGUN during his introduction! The bell rings and Shota goes outside with Narita to whip him into railing! And then whip him into more railing! And then even more railing! Shota finishes the full lap by having Narita hit the fourth corner of railing! Shota drags Narita up while fans rally behind him. Shota whips Narita hard in railing again, and again, and again! Shota makes Narita do a full second lap! The fans fire up as Shota shakes the railing, then stalks Narita. Shota stands on Narita’s face, drags him back up, and puts him in the ring.

Shota paces around, then he stands Narita up to scoop and DROP! Then basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Shota as he stomps Narita around. Shota drags Narita up, CLUBS him on the neck, then stalks him. Shota drags Narita up, ROCKS him with a forearm, then knees low. Shota CLUBS Narita back down, then stands him back up. Narita swings, Shota blocks and UPPERCUTS! Shota gets the legs, steps through, STF! Narita endures, scrambles around, and has the ROPEBREAK! Shota holds but Red Shoes counts, Shota lets go at 4. Narita flops out of the ring but Shota waits on him. Narita stands up, staggers around, but slides in as Shota slides out!

Narita builds speed as Shota gets on the apron, and Narita JUMP KICKS Shota down! Fans boo as Shota hits railing, but Narita goes out after him. Narita whips Shota into railing now! Narita looks to pay it all back with another whip into railing! And then another whip into railing! Narita finishes the lap with one more whip into railing! Narita then runs to BOOT Shota into the laps of the front row! Narita storms out after Shota, drags him up, and then POSTS him! The fans rally for Shota but Narita SMACKS him off the apron! Narita then goes looking under the ring, and he brings out a chair! Fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands.

Narita slides the chair way into the ring, which Red Shoes fetches, but Narita just brings out another one! Red Shoes sees that, so Narita throws that one away, too. To then use the push-up bar to CHOKE Shota!! Red Shoes sees that, he reprimands and counts, but Narita lets off while telling Red Shoes to shut up. Narita drags Shota up, to APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shota writhes back to the floor, and Narita leaves him behind by going into the ring. The ring count starts and Shota sits up at 5 of 20. Narita laughs while Shota struggles to stand. Shota is up at 12 and slides in at 13, but Narita brings Shota up, to TOSS him back out!

Narita brings Shota around, they go through the gate and into the crowd! Narita sends Shota into the barriers! Narita digs his knees in, then he drags Shota up. They go into the bleachers! Fans move aside as best they can as Narita brings Shota up to the back row, and SMACKS him off the eastside sign! And again! And again! Narita leaves Shota behind while fans boo, but Narita just laughs and soaks up the heat. Fans rally while Shota flounders but the ring count begins again. Shota hobbles his way down the bleachers, but he’s still only at the railing by 10 of 20! Shota hurries around to get through the gate, but he stumbles at 15!

Shota staggers back to his feet at 18, and he slides in at 19! Fans cheer but Narita is annoyed. Narita drags Shota up, underhooks, and hits the HALF HATCH BRIDGE! Cover, TWO! Narita argues the count but then clamps on with a chinlock. Shota endures as Narita grinds him down. Shota fights up, throws body shots and elbows, but Narita CLUBS him down! Narita stomps away on Shota, then brings him back up. Shota fires forearms in return! Narita claws the eyes! Narita whips Shota but Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Narita! Fans fire up with Shota while Narita goes to a corner.

Shota storms up on Narita and whips him corner to corner. Shota runs in, UPPERCUTS, then fisherman for the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t worry about it. The fans continue to rally as Shota circles around Narita. Shota drags Narita up, clinches, but Narita fights it with elbows! Shota kicks low, reels Narita in, but Narita fights off the tornado DDT! Narita kicks low, runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! Fans fire up again as Shota drags Narita in for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Shota has learned well from Moxley, and he mixes in some CLUBBING forearms, too!

Shota CLUBS away on Narita, then fires another ELBOW! Narita flops over but Shota won’t let him rest. Shota sits Narita up so he can run and- NO, Narita avoids the basement dropkick! Narita claws the eyes again, swings, but into Shota’s dragon sleeper! TRI- NO, Narita slips free! Narita waistlocks but Shota elbows free. Shota whips, Narita reverses and kitchen sink knees! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Shota and Narita stir, but Narita is the one to crawl over and sit Shota up. Narita brings Shota around, whips him to a corner, then runs corner to corner to JUMP KICK! Narita then GRINDS Shota’s face into the ropes!

Red Shoes reprimands but Narita lets off to get the legs. ROPE GUILLOTINE! Shota sputters and fans boo but Narita looms over Shota. Narita stands on Shota’s neck, demands a count, but Red Shoes refuses. Narita grabs Red Shoes by the shirt but also scuffs Shota at the same time! Fans boo more but Narita mockingly asks Shota what’s wrong. Where’s the fight from earlier, idiot? Narita kicks and slaps Shota around, but Shota just glares up at him. Narita gives more taunting kicks, but now Shota has a wild grin on his face. Narita eggs Shota on more, slaps him around, then fires off forearms!

Narita backs Shota down into a corner, stomps a mudhole in, but then lets off as Red Shoes reprimands. Narita continues to ask what’s up. Narita digs his boot in, but Shota stands up! Narita fires a forearm but Shota ignores it. Narita throws another forearm, and another, but Shota is unlocking that scary side like Okada and Ibushi before him! Shota grabs Narita by the neck, but Narita ROCKS him first! Shota staggers back to a corner, Narita puts Shota up top, but then Shota slips out and under! Shota tucks Narita in, to CHEEKY NANDOS! Fans fire up and Shota storms back up. Shota holds Narita’s arms so he can BOOT away on Narita’s face!

The fans fire up more, but Red Shoes reprimands and counts. Shota lets off and Narita flops down. Shota grins as he gets the wrists to DRAGON STOMP like Bryan Danielson! Shota digs his boot in at the corner but lets off as Red Shoes reprimands. Shota still stomps Narita, but then Red Shoes has him back off again. Narita flounders along ropes, but Shota slingshots to APRON DDT! Fans fire up while Narita flops to the floor! Shota stalks Narita, brings him up, and whips him into railing again! Shota then SHOTGUNS Narita up and over into the front row! The fans fire up as Shota storms out after Narita, and it’s back to the crowd we go!

Shota RAMS Narita into barriers, then opens the gateway! Shota grabs an open chair and brings it along with him as he drags Narita up into the iconic orange bleachers! Fans fire up as Shota sets his chair down, ROCKS Narita, then SMACKS Narita off the chair! And off it again! And again! Shota makes Narita take a seat, and Young Lions have fans move aside while Shota gets space. Shota runs back in and he SHOTGUNS Narita! Narita and the chair go sliding along! But then Shota goes back to ringside? Shota goes right to the timekeeper’s area and he takes the table! Abe-san is without a table now as Shota brings that over!

Shota sets this table up among the orange bleachers?! Fans have to be careful, and Red Shoes tells Shota not to. Shota runs up to RAM Narita with the wood! Shota then sets this table up as a bridge across the stairway!? Fans fire up as Shota storms up on Narita and drags him over. Fans freak out as Shota aims, and he POWERBOMBS Narita through the table!! And then Narita tumbles down the stairs!! Shota grins and fans are thunderous while Red Shoes hurries to check Narita. Narita is banged up, a bloody scrape on his shoulder, but is somehow okay to continue! Shota says okay, and he brings Narita back into the arena.

Fans cheer as Shota stomps over the broken table and brings Narita back down to ringside. Shota pushes Narita down, then goes looking under the ring. Shota brings out another table! Shota props that up against railing, but he sees Narita scramble into the ring. So Shota goes to the corner to MISSILE DROPKICK! Then dragon sleeper, CROSS RHODES! And then TRIDENT! Cover, TWO! Narita survives but Shota goes right to a corner. Narita rises up, into IGNITION! Cover, TWO! Narita survives again but fans rally behind Shota. Shota stalks Narita, kicks him low, but Narita escapes the underhooks!

Narita goes out, Shota runs in, but Narita OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Shota onto the table!! Narita is down, but he still laughs at how he lured Shota into his own hazard! Red Shoes checks both men while the fans rally up, and somehow, they’re both okay to continue. The ring count begins, but both men are still down at 10 of 20. Narita sputters as he rolls away, and we’re at 15 of 20 as Narita claws his way into the ring! Shota is still down at 17! But he springs to life at 19 and slides in!! Fans fire up but Narita aims from a corner. Shota stands, into Narita’s RUNNING KNEE DROP! Narita then goes up a corner as we pass 25 minutes!

Narita reaches the top, Shota stands, FLYING KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and Narita is furious! Narita goes out and gets his push-up bar! Red Shoes reprimands and fans boo, but Narita still aims at Shota. Red Shoes insists, so Narita gives him the bar. So he can LOW BLOW Shota! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shota survives, Narita is furious, but Narita stands Shota up for the COBRA TWIST! Shota endures as Narita twists and stretches him! Fans rally, Shota reaches out, but Narita thrashes him around! Shota still fights, so Narita spins him around to clinch, BLIZZARD PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!

Narita slashes his throat, vowing to end this! Double wrist for the NORTHERN LIGHTS, and then Narita sits Shota up. But Narita turns kami-goye into SATELLITE DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Shota and Narita stir, and Shota roars with “OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in, Shota runs up, BLINDSIDE KNEE in the corner! Then TORNADO DDT, roll through, and DEATH RIDER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Narita survives but Shota fires up again! Fans are with him, but wait! Here comes Evil & Dick Togo!! Fans boo, Narita shoves Shota into Red Shoes! Dick & Evil, and now Sho, Kanemaru & Yujiro, all beat up on Shota!

Fans boo as hard as they can, but the House drags Shota to a corner. They double whip corner to corner, then Dick runs in to elbow! Sho runs in to forearm! Kanemaru runs in to elbow! Yujiro runs in to BOOT! Evil runs in to clothesline! Then Evil snapmares Shota so that he and Kanemaru can hold him up. Dick climbs the corner, for the DICK CHOP! Fans boo more but now Sho has the “Torture Tool!” Yujiro stands Shota up, but the lights go out?! The House of Torture’s already here, so who is pulling this trick? The lights come up, and it’s TAMA TONGA! The Good Bad Guy rallies on The House!

Kanemaru grabs Tama and Evil runs in, but Tama dodges, Evil LARIATS Kanemaru! Tama then GUN- NO, Evil fights that off to LOW BLOW! Fans boo as Sho gets back up! But here comes DESPERADO! LOCO MONO! Tama LOW BLOWS Evil!! Fans fire up as Rogue Luchador drags Sho up, and Tama GUN STUNS Evil! PINCHE LOCO for Sho! Tama & Desperado clear the ring of the House, leaving Narita and Shota. Fans fire up and Shota grins. Narita freaks out, grabs for anything he can, but Shota reels him in! GERMAN SUPLEX! Narita flounders away but Shota drags him back! Desperado is there to taunt Narita!

Shota reels Narita in, HALF ‘N’ HALF BRIDGE! TWO!! Narita survives but the fans are thunderous as Shota underhooks! Narita slips around, SLEEPER! Shota rolls but Narita holds on! Narita leans on the hold, but Shota fights up. Narita shoves Shota, for the OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY BRIDGE!! TWO!!! Shota escapes but Narita clamps on with the SLEEPER! Fans rally as Shota fights up again, even with a bloody nose. Narita spins Shota around but Shota shoves him away! POP-UP UPPERCUT! Then ripcord and ROLLING ELBOW! Narita wobbles, Shota underhooks, SWINGING DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?

Fans can’t believe Narita survives again, but Desperado and Tama pound the apron. The fans join in, Shota aims from a corner, and Narita rises up into BLAZE BLADE!!! Then underhooks and PARADIGM SHIFT!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!

Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall

Vengeance is sweet! Tama and Desperado celebrate with Shota as he finally brings down the Son of Strong Style turned son of a b*tch! Will the House of Torture think twice before messing with the main unit?

As for Shota, well, Desperado actually gets the mic first. Desperado knows that as the main event winner, Shota’s meant to close this, but he wants a turn with the mic first. Desperado tells Sho, “That mask you took off me isn’t like that toy you carry around. You want a title match against me? … No!” Fans cheer that decision. Desperado continues, “People go around asking for matches and getting shots, and champions are too soft. I say no. I’ll give you a special singles match, and I want that mask back. You aren’t worthy of a title shot.” And then Desperado says Tama can have some time to say something, too.

Fans cheer as Tama takes the mic, and Tama takes a moment so as not to be too emotional. The fans cheer him more, and Tama then says, “Thank you so, so much. Thank you. Shota. I’m proud of you. But I want you, before I go, I want you to do something for me. I want you to kick Evil’s ass!” Fans like the sound of that! Tama wants Shota to take the NEVER Openweight Championship! Fans really like the sound of that! Tama tells Shota and NJPW fans, “I love you.” Tama then steps back to let Shota finally say his piece. Shota starts by telling Tama, “Yes, sir.”

Shota then tells both Tama and Desperado, “Arigato gozaimasu.” Shota then says it’s a shame Narita and those House of Torture scumbags disappeared. Shota says he is no longer wrestling alone, he is carrying Tama’s feelings now. “I won’t be sent to Hell so easily, idiot! Tama’s love for NJPW is real, and his feelings for the fans are real, too. People who truly love this place still leave it. I think some fans aren’t sure whether we’ll be okay without these guys. But I’ll keep Tama’s spirit in my heart and bring us forward. I’ll continue to support NJPW, I will continue to make it more exciting, make it louder, and make it loud throughout Japan and the world!”

Fans applaud, and Shota continues by saying, “Soon the Rain will stop. The clouds will clear, and there’ll be nothing but clear skies. If it’s dark, don’t worry, I will be the light and I will be the guide to lead the way. So, ‘thank you for your hard work’. This is a new generation. And in a crowded Korakuen Hall, I will make a declaration I could not during World Tag League: in New Japan’s new generation, I am the New Ace. Don’t take your eyes off me. I will create a Paradigm Shift!” Fans cheer as #SHOOTER declares he will lead the way, will that start when he takes away the King of Darkness’ crown?

My Thoughts:

A great event for NJPW to keep the momentum going in the New Beginning series, though maybe with head-scratching choices in the end. I suppose if anyone deserves to still win in his last match in Korakuen Hall as he’s on his way out, it’s Okada. 17 YEARS in this place, he deserves going out on top. The Dream Trio retains the titles, only to now vacate them because he’s leaving, so it kinda sucks doubly for TMDK since they don’t get to win the belts here and now have to hope they win a Six Man Tag tournament or something like that.

And then really good stuff in Shota VS Narita, though I would’ve maybe flipped things so that Okada’s goodbye is the closing promo. But at the same time, Shota’s moment is for the overall story of NJPW. Tama helps him counter The House of Torture, and now Shota is going after the NEVER Openweight title. It’d be pretty awesome if Shota won, though he’ll have to worry about the House trying to cheat again. And I suppose he’ll make as good a “New Ace” as any with Tanahashi now president, Okada, Ospreay and Tama on their way out, and even Naito as an older world champion than most others in wrestling today.

My Score: 8.7/10