A living legend’s last night in Korakuen Hall!

Tonight, the legendary Tiger Mask IV says goodbye, not with just one match, but TWO retirement matches in one night!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima VS Toru Yano, Togi Makabe & Taisei Nakahara; Shota, Nagata & Kojima win.
• 10 Man Tag: Bishamon, YOH, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Aaron Wolf, Boltin Oleg & Jado VS OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Gedo; Wolf, Oleg & Jado win.
• 10 Man Tag: Taichi, Yuya Uemura, Master Wato, El Desperado & Masatora Yasuda VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Unbound Company VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• Tiger Mask VS Tommy Billington; Time Limit Draw.
• Tiger Mask VS Black Tiger; Tiger Mask wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tiger Mask VS Tommy Billington!

The original Tiger Mask and the original Dynamite Kid were indeed great legends and great rivals. So it is only fitting that the Fourth Tiger Mask and the Second Dynamite Kid finally have a match. Though, there is a caveat that there is a very short time limit on it. One career is ending while another is still just beginning, who walks away the winner of this first-ever/last-ever showdown?

In quite the nice surprise, Jushin Thunder Liger returns to join commentary! And to make the introductions for the match, Kero Tanaka returns to NJPW! The two shake hands, the bell rings, and the fans rally as they circle. Obviously, everyone is on Tiger’s side as he and Tommy tie up. Tommy powers Tiger to the ropes, but he lets off slowly. The fans applaud the clean break and the two reset. They tie up again, and Tiger powers Tommy to the ropes. Tiger backs away and the fans applaud again. The two knuckle lock, Tommy kicks low, and Tommy wrenches to wristlock. Tiger rolls, handsprings, and wrenches through to wristlock back.

The fans applaud, but Tommy rolls, kips up, and handsprings to then wrench and BACKDROP! The fans applaud the show of strength, then Tommy covers, ONE! Tiger is tougher than that, but Tommy whips him and ELBOWS him down! Then Tommy runs, but Tiger avoids the elbow drop! The fans applaud as the two reset. They knuckle lock again, but now Tiger kicks low. Tiger ROCKS Tommy, SOBATS, but Tommy fires body shots and forearms. Tommy HEADBUTTS Tiger, then stalks him to a corner. Tommy bumps Tiger off buckles, then whips him to ropes. Tiger blocks the hip toss to arm-drag!

The fans cheer as Tommy staggers up, and he dodges Tiger to SNAP GERMAN! Tiger staggers to his feet, Tommy runs up, but Tiger TOSSES Tommy up and out! The fans rally as Tiger then goes to the apron, and AX HANDLES Tommy down. Tommy kicks in return, then CLUBS Tiger. Tommy whips, Tiger reverses, and Tommy hits railing! The fans rally as Tommy hobbles back over, but Tiger goes to the apron. Tommy CLUBS Tiger, then reels him in! Snap suplex to the floor! Tiger is down but Tommy stomps him around. Red Shoes reprimands, but Tommy ENZIGIRIS Tiger down! Tiger stumbles into railing while Tommy rolls into the ring.

The ring count starts, the fans rally up for Tiger, and he hurries into the ring at 7 of 20. But Tommy is up top for the MISSILE DROPKICK! Tommy fires up, the fans rally for Tiger, but Tommy drags Tiger around. Tommy reels Tiger in, and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Time is running out, but Tiger is still in this fight! Tommy drags Tiger up, gut wrenches, but Tiger fights through to gut wrench Tommy! But TIME UP!

Time Limit Draw

Tommy shows respect to Tiger, that was a strong five minutes. But wait! Rocky R- Er, Black Tiger is rushing out here! He’s not giving Tiger any time to rest! Is the legend’s career going to end in the blink of an eye?!

Tiger Mask VS Black Tiger!

The fans boo as Black Tiger CLOBBERS Tommy while also going after Tiger! Black Tiger rains down forearms on Tiger, stomps away on Tommy, then talks a lot of trash as he throws off his jacket. The fans still rally for Tiger Mask, but Black Tiger whips and scoops! Tiger slips free, SOBATS, and then Tommy LARIATS Black Tiger down! The fans cheer and Tommy says go get him! The bell rings, Tiger fires off on Black Tiger, and then KNEES low! Tiger Mask CLUBS Black Tiger, but Black Tiger CHOPS! Tiger Mask SLAPS Black Tiger down! The fans rally as Tiger whips, but Black Tiger grabs ropes! Black Tiger UPPERCUTS, then SLAPS Tiger Mask down!

Black Tiger drops a KNEE, then covers, TWO! The fans rally as hard as they can for Tiger Mask but Black Tiger stands him up. Black Tiger hoists Tiger Mask onto the top rope, then climbs up to go after the mask itself! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Black Tiger wants to add insult to injury on Tiger’s final night! The mask is almost off, but Red Shoes counts! Black Tiger stops at 4, Tiger Mask climbs down, but Black Tiger CHOPS! And CHOPS! Black Tiger talks trash, “Is that all you got?!” Then he SLAPS Tiger Mask, runs the ropes, but Tiger Mask DUMPS him out! The fans fire up as Tiger Mask builds speed!

Tiger Mask DIVES and direct hit into Black Tiger! Black Tiger is sent tumbling up and over the railing! The fans rally for Tiger Mask again as he rolls into the ring. Black Tiger drags himself back to ringside, then to the apron. Tiger Mask runs up, but Black Tiger RAMS low! Black Tiger ROCKS Tiger Mask, then goes up, but Tiger Mask SMACKS him first! Tiger Mask climbs up to the very top! The fans rally as Tiger Mask underhooks the arms! SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! The fans fire up as Tiger then crawls to the cover, TWO! Black Tiger is tougher than that, and the time is running out again! Tiger Mask hurries to chicken wing the arms!

Black Tiger RAMS Tiger Mask into a corner, then he runs to LARIAT! ONE-EVER! TWO-EVER! THREE- NO, Tiger Mask slips around, ghost pins, TWO! Black Tiger escapes but Tiger Mask reels him back in! Black Tiger fights the lift, wrenches free, then waistlocks. Tiger switches, but Black Tiger grabs at Red Shoes. This is so he can LOW BLOW unseen! The fans boo and Tommy protests on Tiger’s behalf, but the damage is done. Black Tiger covers, TWO! Tiger Mask survives and the fans fire up again! Black Tiger stalks Tiger Mask as the fans rally as hard as they can. Black Tiger KICKS, and KICKS, and KICKS as the clock ticks away!

Black Tiger SMACKS Tiger Mask, but Tiger Mask kicks from below! Black Tiger vows to end this, and he reels Tiger Mask in. TIME’S UP, but Black Tiger still hits the T T D!

Time Limit Draw

Black Tiger is upset that he didn’t get even a two count! He grabs the mic to shout, “Choto matte kudasai! Tiger, I’ve been in your shoulder for the last twenty YEARS, and tonight, it’s not about you, it’s about Black Tiger! I want five more minutes!” The fans like the sound of that! Tiger Mask says why not! The fans cheer as the match continues, and Black Tiger fires a flurry of forearms! Then the scoop, but Tiger Mask slips free! Tiger Mask wrenches and chicken wings, TIGER PLEX! Bridging cover, TIGER MASK WINS!!

Winner: Tiger Mask, by pinfall

Incredible! Two matches, maybe two and a half, in one night, and Tiger Mask can say he went out with a win! Tommy raises Tiger’s mask in victory while Black Tiger snarls in frustration. But then Black Tiger steps up, and removes his mask! Rocky Romero gets to shake Tiger Mask’s hand and hug it out one last time. Rocky raises Tiger’s hand in victory, and even hands over the Black Tiger mask. All three men stand together with hands and heads held high. A great moment for all as perhaps the legends of both Tiger Mask and Black Tiger now ride off into the sunset. Tiger Mask puts on one of the commemorative T-shirts before the closing ceremony begins.

Tiger Mask waits in the middle of the ring as Gedo and the Unbound Company go to the ring. Gedo personally hands Tiger Mask a bouquet of flowers, and they all shake Tiger’s hand to show appreciation to the living legend. They even get a final photo op! TMDK take their turn, Kosei Fujita having the honor of handing over the bouquet. They also get their photo op and a chance to shake hands with Tiger Mask. And of course, Hontai is represented as Jado leads the way for Hontai, and it’s pretty much everyone on the team. Hiroshi Tanahashi joins them all in the ring, and Jado is given the honor of handing over the bouquet.

Jado hugs it out with Tiger Mask as the fans applaud, and we get a very big photo op here. The members of Hontai even have special farewell cards to hold up at the same time. Tiger Mask shakes hands with everyone, and then President Tanahashi has one final bouquet. They have their last photo op together, two legends now both in retirement. The flowers are put aside, but turns out, there is more thing! Members of the pop idol group, AKB48, are here to hand over some bouquet of their own! Tomu and Orin Muto are clearly big fans of Tiger Mask and he is honored they came to the show. They all pose together, putting up their fingers to show Tiger Mask is number one!

But wait, there’s more! J-Rock star Love Psychedelico is also a fan and he is here to present yet another bouquet. Then, three-time K-1 World Grand Prix winner, Takeru Segawa, is also here to present a bouquet. Then Michinoku Pro’s Great Sasuke is here! The fans cheer as one legend is here to honor the other with a bouquet and a lovely gift bag. But speaking of great legends, Jinse Shinzaki is also here! He offers a gift of his own, seems to be an envelope with perhaps some money. The three legends have their photo op, and even a selfie! But the legends keep on coming, as we also have Kazuo Yamazaki here to present his own bouquet.

Naturally, Jushin Thunder Liger hops off commentary so that he can join his friend and rival in the ring. And then, The Dragon, Tatsumi Fujinami, joins them in the ring, followed by some Japanese baseball legends, Daisuke Miura and Tatsunori Hara. Hara has the honor of sharing a few words now. “Just a few!” He introduces himself, though the fans here all know him. Hara knows there’s “another contest happening just next door, but for me, this is the one that matters today!” The fans applaud that! Hara says Tiger Mask has been blessed, and he thanks Tiger Mask for his long service.

They both met while on the road, though he’s pretty sure his Yomiuri Giants lost that day. But after the game, in the lobby, he saw Tiger Mask and Red Shoes, and a Tokyo Sports reporter. Hara took his shower, then they all went out to eat. He already loved pro-wrestling, but that experience made him love it more. The baseball fans in the Tokyo Dome are great, but the pro-wrestling fans are truly amazing! The fans applaud that, and Hara says for over 30 YEARS, Tiger Mask showed courage and strength in this ring. And kindness, too, which will remain in these fans’ hearts forever.

Hara hopes Tiger Mask enjoys this second chapter in his life, and it is full of smiles. Then they can enjoy pro-wrestling and even a ball game together. Thank you for everything! The fans applaud, everyone takes one last bow and handshake with Tiger Mask, then our special guests take their exit. Oh, but wait! One more extra surprise! The ORIGINAL Tiger Mask is here! Tiger Mask IV is very honored that his sensei is here to present one more bouquet. Tiger Mask IV gets the mic to thank Satoru Sayama-sensei for being here, and has one favor to ask. Sayama taught him everything, so he really wants to have one last lock-up with him.

The fans applaud as the shirt comes off, and Tanaka gets to introduce them one last time! Red Shoes even steps forward, we get a bell, and Tiger Mask 1 shows he can still move around. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and the fans cheer. The bell rings, the two hug, and Tiger Mask 4 is very thankful for this moment. Tiger Mask Sayama-sensei is helped out of the ring, and now Tiger Mask 4 addresses the crowd. “Thank you all so much for coming to my retirement match today. At first, I was determined to become a baseball player. Then I saw Sayama-sensei as Tiger Mask on TV, became hooked, and devoted myself to wrestling.

“I became Sayama’s apprentice and debuted here in Korakuen Hall on July 15th, 31 years ago. I learned pro-wrestling through Michinoku Pro, and eventually I came to NJPW, a ring I admired, to compete as Tiger Mask. Day in and day out, I worked to emulate Sayama-sensei to ensure I’d uphold the legacy. Sayama told me, ‘Don’t emulate me, you’re not me. Be your own Tiger Mask.’ Those words set me free to express my own version of Tiger Mask.” The fans applaud that, and Tiger Mask says that clearly, he has a smaller frame. His parents told him he couldn’t be a wrestler. “But I wanted to show everyone throw my own body that I could make my dreams come true.”

Tiger hopes that none of you give up and continue to reach for your dreams. Retiring from wrestling, to be honest, he hoped this day wouldn’t come. He used to joke, “Oh, do I really have to retire?” Deep down, he dreaded this day. However, his body has reached its limit. If he had kept going, Tiger Mask’s image would be tarnished. He could no longer embody the persona he created together with Sayama-sensei. Even so, whenever he came home, his family told him it wasn’t true. His colleagues always encouraged him.

“The saddest thing about retiring is not being able to go on tour with these great people anymore. As Hara said earlier, I am truly blessed. I met Sayama-sensei and wanted to wrestle. Somehow, I got to become Tiger Mask. ‘Many people can become a wrestler, but only one can become Tiger Mask.’ Hearing that, I truly feels blessed. I want to thank the fans here, and around the world, including the ones from my recent trip to Mexico. I can’t thank you enough. I’m retiring, but NJPW marches on. I believe the wrestlers here will deliver even hotter matches than they did today.  Please continue to support NJPW in the future.”

The fans applaud and Tiger Mask says that at times over these past 31 years, he seemed sloppy or undisciplined, but he is truly grateful for the passionate support the fans have always given, so he thanks the fans for these past 31 years. The fans applaud while Tiger Mask takes a bow. Tiger sets the mic down, then stands at center while we get the ten bell salute. The fans stand and the spotlight is truly on Tiger Mask IV one last time. Even the bell seems reluctant to ring on that tenth time. Tanaka finishes with one last announcement, and the fans cheer once more. So long to Tiger Mask, and thank you for everything!

My Thoughts:

A great night for NJPW, though not so much because of match quality but because of the moment. Both retirement matches having only five minutes was a little surprising, and then I’m not sure what happened with the second match. Did they take longer to set things up than they meant to? And perhaps even more surprising is that Tiger Mask won out in the end, not what I’d expect from NJPW and keeping with tradition. It was fun seeing all these different celebrities being here as fans of Tiger Mask, and a very nice speech from Tatsunori Hara. Very good parting promo from Tiger Mask, as well, and who knows, maybe he pops up on commentary every once in awhile, just like Liger does.

My Score: 8.5/10