Legacy Review
Wrestle Kingdom 8
January 4, 2014 from the Tokyo Dome
This
is the Wrestle Kingdom where the infamous fan vote took place to
determine which of the top two matches would main event the show, the
IWGP Heavyweight Championship match between the still pretty young
Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito, or the IWGP Intercontinental
Championship bout featuring the in their prime legends Hiroshi Tanahashi
and Shinsuke Nakamura. The fans went with the more established stars
over the top title, with the IC title match coming out the winner. Naito
would take that result personally, using it as fuel for his coming
major career transformation. This is also the first WK to take place
since the formation of Bullet Club, and you'll be seeing their members
all over the card tonight.
As usual this is from the New Japan World archives so Japanese commentary only. Like WK7, as of this writing no alternate English commentary has been recorded for any matches on this show.
Preshow:
Captain New Japan, Bushi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma def Jushin
Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Super Strong Machine and Yohei Komatsu
in 8:11- Your typical multi-man tag with one Young Lion
representative preshow match. This time Komatsu is the Young Lion in
question. Unlike previous years' Young Lions he's not about to go on
excursion, he's still fairly new, only a little over a year removed from
his in-ring debut. You know him today as YOH. Capt. NJ looks like he's
wearing velour now. Dude's turning into Zapp Brannigan. And about as
useful. Komatsu's teammates whip him across the ring at their opponents
before the bell! That sets us off. Liger's team clears the ring as
Komatsu hits Honma with a dropkick. Isolated Honma takes shots from
everyone in the corner, topped off with a Liger shotei. Perfectplex from
Komatsu for 2. Four way stomping on Honma as this is starting to look
like a bad police beating. Honma fires back with a back elbow and
lariato on Komatsu as things settle in. Short Kokeshi! Bushi tags in and
goes full lucha dodges mode on Komatsu. Shotgun dropkick off the top
rope. Setup slam and Bushi puts Komatsu in Young Lion Submission Hold
1A, the Boston crab. Komatsu's teammates quickly save him. Liger stomps
on his own teammate Komatsu to try to get a fire under him! Tough love.
Tenzan comes in and hits headbutts and a Mongolian chop for 2. Komatsu
tries to chop back but Tenzan shows him how those work. Low spinning
heel kick from Tenzan. Liger saves the pin and again yells at Komatsu to
get his shit together. Here comes Capt. NJ. He hits a back elbow for 2.
Forget Zapp Brannigan, that outfit looks like he's wrestling in full
body pajamas. Cap hits a slam and goes up top. Komatsu dodges the big
splash. Tag to Nakanishi. Big chops on Cap. Corner lariato. Cap dodges
another one, but Nakanishi is too much meat for him to whip. Cap manages
to hit a flying tackle and tags out to Tenzan. Mongolian chops on
Nakanishi. Nakanishi responds with a very short and pretty ugly spear.
He sets up and hits the big lariato but Tenzan kicks out. Nakanishi says
that's it. He gets Tenzan in the torture rack! Cap tries to break it
up, so Nakanishi tosses Tenzan into him. Honma comes in and back
suplexes Nakanishi. Komatsu makes the mistake of coming back in, but
manages to dodge around Tenzan and hits a running back elbow for 2.
Tenzan tries a suplex but Komatsu counters with a small package for 2,
then cradles Tenzan for 2. Tenzan's had enough and hits a massive
lariato. DONNYBROOK! Komatsu tries to fight off both Cap and Tenzan. Cap
with a goozle, pushing Komatsu down and setting him up for Honma, who's
on the top rope. KOKESHI MAKE YOU HAPPY! It hit! Tenzan goes up top,
hits the headbutt off the top, but everyone breaks the pin up. The rings
clears out again and Tenzan is alone with Komatsu. He puts on a
modified Boston crab and the kid has to give it up. Damn, if Honma had
gotten the pin off the Kokeshi I would have given this five freaking
stars. As it is, it's a fun preshow match and told a good Young Lion in
his early days when his guts were way more than his brains or ability
story. All part of the learning process in Japan. **1/2
As
is tradition now here's the show's opening VTR since it's not on the
World copy, though this one isn't quite as good as other years in my
opinion.
Four
Way Match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: The
Young Bucks (c) (Bullet Club) def Time Splitters, Forever Hooligans
(CHAOS) and Taka Michinoku & Taichi (Suzuki-Gun) in 10:35- The
WK debut of the Bucks is the obvious big headline here. One of these
four teams have been the junior tag champs dating back to mid-'12, with
the Bucks defeating Taichi & Michinoku at Power Struggle in November
for the most recent change and the first of their record seven title
wins. Despite having the same last name Forever Hooligans' Alex
Kozlov is not related to Vladimir Kozlov from WWE. Before the bell
Kozlov channels his inner Nikolai Volkoff and takes the mic to sing the
Russian national anthem. Taichi and Michinoku actually put their hands
on their hearts! OK, that's funny. The Bucks double superkick Romero
from behind. Kozlov sees him down, shouts "What the hell!" and turns
around into a double superkick. And we're off. The Bucks get Time
Splitters isolated in the ring, hitting double teams on both. Matt then
takes a couple of double team shots from Time Splitters. Meanwhile,
Taichi and Michinoku have taken up spots in commentary. Can't fault the
strategery. Nick saves Matt from a double suplex and they take Time
Splitters our again. KUSHIDA hits the handspring back elbow on both
Bucks. Time Splitters go for a double dive but get cut off by Hooligans.
Hooligans
double baseball slide on the Bucks. They get KUSHIDA isolated and
Romero hits a flying headscissors. Kozlov hits a springboard flying
forearm. Shelley then takes some Hooligans double teams. Romero fires up
the forever lariatos on Shelley. With it being a four way match no one
is bothering to give lip service to tags and are constantly double
teaming. Kozlov puts his furry hat on and hits some, er Russian dance
kicks? And a double stomp. The SG team breaks the tag up. Michinoku has
the hat and puts it on! Taichi then gives it a try. Kozlov takes some
shots in the corner and Taichi hits a Greco Roman Nut Kneedrop.
Michinoku had the ref distracted for that, then he gets down and fast
counts 3 himself. This isn't WCW, no one's going to count that as a real
pin. Michinoku calls for the "BRAIN BUSTER!". Romero comes in, and soon
we have ALL EIGHT guys hooked up in a suplex fight! QUADRUPLE SUPLEX!
Total mix of teams that took that too, but as usual the Bucks came out
on top. Michinoku dodges in the corner and Matt runs into a kick from
Nick! Nick low bridges Michinoku out, then hits a springboard faceplant
on Taichi. Romero tope suicida on Nick! Kozlov grabs Matt and tries to
suplex him over the top rope to the floor, but Matt hangs on and they
both tumble over! Michinoku's turn. He milks the moment and hits an asai
moonsault onto the group on the floor. Time Splitters then top it off
with a double senton plancha onto everyone. Oh no, not everyone.
Taichi's still left. But first, THE PANTS ARE OFF! He goes up top, but
Matt cuts him off. Nick comes up to help. They superplex Taichi to the
floor onto EVERYONE! Even the Young Lion attendants! The ref starts a
count since literally everyone's on the floor. At 19 they ALL roll back
into the ring! Michinoku gives KUSHIDA the old Roddy Piper two finger
eye poke, absorbs a forearm and hits a kick. That goes into the rapid
fire "everyone takes a shot" spot. Kozlov gets Nick up and Rocky hits
him with a springboard Doomsday Device for 2. Time Splitters come in and
hit some combination double teams on Hooligans. Shelly big splash off
the top/KUSHIDA standing moonsault combo for 2. Time Splitters
outmaneuver the Bucks in the corner and send them to the floor again.
Double team neckbreaker/moonsault combo on Romero. Cover, but the ref is
distracted by Michinoku trying to bring a chair in. Behind that Taichi
gives KUSHIDA a Greco Roman Nut Punt and the SG team hit double team
Black Mephisto for 2. The Bucks get back in, take Michinoku out, and set
Taichi up. Indietaker! Michinoku just barely breaks the pin up! Double
superkick on Michinoku! Taichi is set up again. MORE. BANG. FOR. YOUR.
BUCK! And that gets the pin to retain! Fun junior tag spotfest, but kind
of a "the whole was less than the sum of the parts" match. The Bucks
already look like stars, though it's perfectly understandable their
antics rubbed some people the wrong way. ***1/4
IWGP
Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
(w/Toma Tonga) (Bullet Club) def Killer Elite Squad (c) (Suzuki-Gun) in
10:27- The future Good Brothers teamed up for the first time in the
2013 World Tag League, and clearly hit it off from the start because
they won the tournament. This is the second straight WK that KES have
come in as tag champs, but it's not the same reign. Tencozy had another
run in the interim. Tama's shirt and the tron remind me, this is during
the early time Bullet Club was using its original logo, before the
iconic skull and guns logo was created. Gallows & Anderson come out
in camo vests and facepaint. Gallows is carrying a super jumbo sized
bazooka on his shoulder, the kind you'd probably go up against as a
early or mid-game boss fight in a Final Fantasy game. Then he blows up
the tron with it. KES ride motorcycles in for their entrance again.
Gallows has a skull with two pistols graphic on his top. A precursor to
the future BC logo? The big guys Archer and Gallows start. They shove,
then big boot each other. Archer hits some forearms, shrugs off a big
boot, and lariatos Gallows 360 to the floor. Anderson comes in but takes
a DBS powerslam. KES hits a couple of double teams on Anderson, then
double flip Tama in when he gets on the apron. They set Tama up for the
Killer Bomb but G&A make the save. Gallows gives Archer a receipt
360 lariato, then big boots him off the apron. Anderson pounds on DBS in
the ring while Gallows knocks Archer around on the floor. Tama gets a
shot in on DBS too. Gallows lays in hard body shots on DBS in the
corner, then hits an avalanche. He tosses DBS out to the floor and Tama
gives him some more shots. DBS snaps Gallows over the top rope coming
back in to try to get some space but Gallows is quickly back on him.
Suplex for 2. Anderson gives DBS some ground and pound. DBS reverses and
hits some shots, but Anderson cuts him off from making a tag. Tama goes
full Buff Bagwell posing for the camera while G&A hit some more
double teams. Gallows lariato/Anderson senton combo, then Gallows hits a
splash and Anderson covers for 2. Anderson goes for Gun Stun. DBS
blocks it and hits a backdropeh suplex! Both sides tag. Archer and
Gallows charge into each other midring with lariatos, then start
slugging it out. Archer ducks a lariato and hits a crossbody. Big
lariato from Archer. Full nelson bomb for 2. He knucklelocks Gallows,
goes up and goes for his version of old school. Tama knocks him off,
drawing HUGE boos from the Tokyo Dome crowd. Anderson gives Archer some
uppercuts. Archer grabs him by the throat and tosses him back. Avalanche
from Archer and he sets Anderson up top. Anderson fights off a
superplex. Archer big boots him and uses the position to get him up and
hit Blackout! Tama pulls the ref out before 3! Yeah, in their early days
Bullet Club was doing some of the crap House of Torture does now. Not
as excessively though, and HOT has been doing it WAY longer without ever
changing. I hate House of Torture matches so much. I won't even watch
them anymore, they're an automatic skip. Anyway, Archer literally lifts
Tama over the top rope into the ring with a full nelson, and KES succeed
in hitting the Killer Bomb on him. KES set Anderson up for the Killer
Bomb. Gallows breaks it up. Then Gallows gets set up and Anderson makes
the save. DBS belly to belly suplex on Gallows. Anderson hits DBS with a
kick but runs into an Archer big boot. Archer calls for a chokeslam and
plants Anderson with it. Anderson kicks out! Archer goes for another
one. Anderson counters midmove into a Gun Stun! Fantastic. DBS just
breaks the pin up. Gallows comes in and drops DBS. Archer fights off a
Gun Stun. Gallows pounds him downa and gets him set up. Magic killer!
Gallows and Anderson win their first tag titles! Far from their last.
They'll have a dominant run too, holding them for exactly one year.
That's 2-0 for Bullet Club in the tag title matches tonight too. Solidly
good match. ***
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Satoshi Kojima (w/Hiroyoshi Tenzan) def Rob Conway (w/Jax Dane) (c) in 8:27- The
NWA World title returns to the Tokyo Dome for the first time since the
early '90s. It's been on quite the ride since then. Most recently the
NWA was aligned with TNA, but after they split in 2007 the NWA title has
been barely staying afloat on the indy scene thanks to its history and
name recognition. The whole Colt Cabana/Adam Pearce incident didn't help
it any either. This is its most high profile spot in a very long time.
Conway, who came up in the WWE system through OVW and was a former WWE
tag champ in La Resistance, won the title in March '13. The great Harley
Race is in the ring after entrances, nice touch having him there. He's
having to use a cane now but doesn't look too bad for his age. A guy I
assume is Conway's manager gets in Race's face and Race gives him as
good a punch as he was capable of anymore. The crowd loves it. Conway's
playing the full on arrogant foreigner heel for the crowd. This Jax Dane
guy looks almost exactly like Bubba/Bully Ray. The bell rings and the
crowd goes bonkers for Kojima. First lockup of the night and we get a
rough but clean break. Conway hits a back elbow and gives Kojima some
punches on the mat. He hits a couple of elbow drops, then telegraphs a
third and Kojima dodges it. Punches and shoulderblock from Kojima and he
lets the pecs talk a bit. Back suplex. Conway dodges a 360 lariato
attempt and crotches Kojima on the ropes, then dropkicks him down.
Kojima hits a DDT on the apron! Hardest part of the ring, even in Japan.
Back in Conway recovers to hit forearms and chops in the corner, then
does some strutting as if he could get the crowd any more against him.
Kojima reverses in the corner. Machine gun chops! For. Ev. Er. A little
extra for the Tokyo Dome. On the other side Kojima hits the corner
forearm and goes up top for the elbow drop. Dane cuts him off. Kojima
punches him back down and goes up again, but Conway knocks him down to
the floor. Guardrail shot and lariato on the floor for Kojima. Back in
Conway demands Kojima get up. Kojima tries to fight it but Conway hits a
sit out uranage for 2. Conway hits some shots around Kojima's chest and
a running boot to the face. Running elbow drop for 2. Mongolian chop
from Conway! As if he could get the crowd any more against him. Again.
Talk about playing with fire with Tenzan right there. It definitely
pisses him off but he stays out of it. Kojima hits the Kojicutter! Brain
buster! Conway kicks out! The elbow pad is....not off. Dane gets on the
apron to distract before it can be torn off. He puts Kojima in a
sleeper. Tenzan's had enough, pulling Dane down and giving him some
Mongolian chops, then suplexes Dane on the floor. Now the elbow pad is
off! Conway ducks the Cozy Lariato and hits a spear! Kojima fights off
what looks like a rope assisted magic killer (I'm not familiar with
Conway's moveset) and NAILS him with a lariato in the back of the head!
COZY LARIATO! Kojima gets the pin to bring the NWA World title back to
New Japan for the first time in over 20 years! Perfectly fine match.
Conway did a superb job heeling it up for the Japanese audience. **1/2
The
NWA World title would stay in New Japan's orbit for the next couple of
years. Conway would win it back in the US in June, then Kojima's Tencozy
partner Tenzan got a turn with it in the first half of '15. After he
dropped it in August (to Jax Dane) the NWA ended their short New Japan
partnership. By that time much more change was coming for the NWA. In
May 2017 all of its assets were purchased by Billy Corgan in an attempt
to fully revitalize the company. Like with everything else involving the
NWA since around 1990, the results have been mixed at best.
Yuji Nagata & Kazushi Sakuraba def Daniel & Rolles Gracie by DQ in 9:50- We've
got another throwback here, and not a good throwback. A throwback to
those "classic" Inokism era work/shoot hybrids that never managed to
satisfy anyone. And, as tradition dictates, Nagata's been drug into it.
Every damn time. Teaming with him is Sakuraba, a legit MMA legend who
came into New Japan a bit over a year ago and had a phenomenal match
with Nakamura for the IC title at WK 7 that brilliantly toed the line of
being more shoot style but still clearly a proper wrestling match. He's
stuck around since and
proven himself pretty well versed in the pro wrestling game. I'm not
unhappy to see him again. The Gracies
are a couple of Brazilian MMAers, part of a large Brazilian MMA family
that's almost as sprawling as a Samoan wrestling family. Too sprawling
for me to bother to sort out just for this match. Sakuraba and one of
the Gracies start. I have no idea which is which and frankly couldn't
care less. After some jockeying they get into some grappling. Gracie 1
(beard) puts on some kind of reverse choke hold and Sakuraba takes a
rope break. It might be my memory but he looks way smaller than when he
wrestled Nakamura last year. Gracie 1 gets a leg takedown and wraps
Sakuraba up in a triangle. Sakuraba gets free and swings some kicks
while Gracie lays on the mat like a turtle. That gets him an opening for
another takedown. Nagata's had enough and comes in to break it up. Wish
he'd walk out and walk himself into a proper match somewhere else. Tags
on both sides. Gracie 2 (no beard) again gets the first takedown.
Nagata is able to reverse position on the mat. Another hookup and Nagata
gets a straight takedown and tries for some kind of arm hold. Gracie 2
takes another rope break. Nagata cranks things up a notch with some
stiff hammy kicks. He slaps Gracie 2 across the head and (I assume)
shouts at him to fucking bring it. They get shoving. Gracie 2 ducks a
swing and puts a choke on. Ref Marty Asami gives him a warning for
something besides being in the ropes. Gracie 2 tags in and tries some
ground and pound with Nagata covered up. Asami forces him off because
he's using closed fists in a wrestling ring. Nagata gets trapped in the
wrong corner and takes some knees. Nagata and Gracie 2 kind of hug in
the middle of the ring and Nagata gets a takedown into an armbar
attempt. Gracie 2 reverses and tries for the same. He gets it on, but
Sakuraba comes in and rakes his eyes with his feet. Gracie 1 tags in and
Nagata puts his ass down with one kick across the chest, then tags out.
Sakuraba comes in fists flying and gets a fireman's carry takedown.
Gracie 1 lifts tiny Sakuraba up and drags him across the ring to his
corner. He takes some knees from Gracie 2 that are clearly worked,
they're so soft. Sakuraba gets on top of Gracie 2 and hits some
Mongolian style chops. Commentary agrees with me, I can make that much
out. Sakuraba and Nagata give Gracie 2 some war drums across the back
and pummel him with back and forth chest kicks. Nagata backdropeh
suplex! That, somehow, only gets 2. Nagata Lock! The eyes roll back!
Gracie 2 barely manages a foot on the rope. Nagata tries another
backdropeh but Gracie 2 reverses it into a takedown. He takes his gi,
wraps it around Nagata's throat and chokes him with it. Asami gives him a
chance to break, then calls for the DQ when he doesn't. Weak ass
finish. Were these posers too good to job in a worked wrestling match?
It was amusing how Nagata was stiffing the shit out of them every chance
he got, I'm curious if that was just him working normally or some kind
of deliberate message. Regardless, this kind of shit should have stayed
dead and buried with Inokism and had no place on a modern Wrestle
Kingdom. DUD
The Great Muta & Toru Yano def Minoru Suzuki & Shelton X Benjamin (w/Taka Michinoku and Taichi) (Suzuki-Gun) in 12:04- Yano
defeated Suzuki on the last block night of the G1 Climax to cost Suzuki
a
shot at a block win, and they've been butting heads ever since. Things
intensified in World Tag League, when again Yano (and Iizuka) defeated
Suzuki & Benjamin to again cost the Suzuki-Gun members a shot at
advancing. Keiji Mutoh had been making semi-regular appearances at WK
since WK 2, but this would be his last proper New Japan appearance for
nearly a decade. He's also bringing the Great Muta back for this match
as he fits in better to this craziness. As I mentioned in the WK 7
review Mutoh has left All Japan and is now running his own promotion
called WRESTLE-1. Muta and Yano get an absolutely awesome special
entrance. Lots of dragons. We're now in the period where Mutoh was using
a mask for the Muta character instead of facepaint. I really like this
one, there's an almost cyborg element to it. Muta and Suzuki start. A
singles match I'd love to see. Muta fires off some green mist to get us
going. Cautious leaning in leads to some great rapid fire counters and
stalemate. Benjamin tags in for a go. WWE's Shelton Benjamin in the ring
with these Japanese legends is so freaking cool. He works Muta down
with a waistlock into a chinlock. Muta takes a rope break and goes all
the way to the floor. He seems to be looking for something under the
ring. It's....scaffolding of some kind. Asami cuts him off and gets him
back in the ring before it's out any more. Yano tags in and unloads
forearms on Benjamin. Suzuki knees him in the back from the apron, then
puts on the draping armbar! Everything goes to the floor, where both
Yano and Suzuki love to work. Benjamin and Muta are sort of going at it
on the other side too but it's clear where the energy is. Benjamin takes
Muta all the way behind the barricade near the ringside seating. Taichi
works Yano over with a chair. Benjamin slams Yano on the floor. Back in
Benjamin covers but Asami is still cleaning up the SG's seconds' mess
and can't count. Double underhook suplex from Benjamin for 2. Suzuki
hits a running kick in the corner. Snap mare/PK combo for 2. Benjamin
cranks back a hammerlock on Yano. Yano gets in the ropes to escape.
Taichi chokes him there while Asami is distracted some more. Muta tries
to come in with Yano's red chair, which allows the SG team to torture
Yano even more. Running knee on the apron from Benjamin for 2. Yano
fires up and tries a suplex, but Benjamin reverses and hits it. Behind
Benjamin's back Yano pops right back up and gets a corner pad off.
Benjamin dives right into it! Muta tags in and whips Benjamin into the
exposed corner. Dragon screw! He tosses Benjamin to the floor and hits
him with the red chair, then Suzuki. Classic snap mare/elbow drop combo
back in. Benjamin spins around, hits a kick to Muta's head, and tags
out. Yano also tags in. Suzuki whips Yano into the corner he exposed. He
charges. Yano moves out of the way, thinking Suzuki will run into the
corner. But Suzuki hits the brakes, smiles, turns around, and kicks Yano
right in the back. Fantastic. And then Yano falls for it a second time!
Yano grabs Suzuki by the hair he's got sticking out on the back of his
head and pulls him down. Benjamin comes in with a lariato on Yano.
Stinger splash. Suzuki charges in, stops, and slaps Yano. Benjamin
spinebuster into a Suzuki armbar. Muta comes in and breaks it up.
Superkick from Benjamin on Muta. Suzuki does the misdirection slide
under and hooks a sleeper on Yano. He tries for the Gotch style
piledriver. Yano fights it, and Muta comes in with a shining wizardo!
Dragon screw on Benjamin. Michinoku takes a dragon screw. Shining
wizardo on Benjamin. Suzuki is trying to take a chair from Taichi but
Asami is stopping him. Muta gets behind him. Suzuki ducks and Taichi
takes the red mist! Sleeper on Muta! Yano comes behind with the red
chair. Suzuki ducks under him and gets a sleeper on. Muta sees and
contemplates the situation. Yano hits a classic low blow to get free,
then shoves Muta! Yano ducks and Muta green mists Suzuki! Classic Yano
cradle, and that gets the pin. It's OK, but kind of sloppy and pretty
slow paced. If you can get Muta you get Muta, but a Yano/Suzuki singles
match might have been better. Especially if they were allowed to go full
on hardcore. **
King of Destroyer Match: Togi Makabe def Bad Luck Fale (Bullet Club) in 15:05- Fale's
riding the wave of Bullet Club's initial push to what would be his only
singles WK match. So what is a King of Destroyer match? Well, I'm
honestly not sure, there's never been one before. Obviously commentary
won't help me, so I guess we'll figure it out as we go. This is back
when Fale was young and svelte and could actually move a bit. As usual
with Makabe in the Dome it's chain off and right to it. He and Fale
trade forearms. Makabe staggers Fale with shots across the top of his
head and Fale tumbles out to the floor. Makabe follows. Fale reverses a
whip and Makabe crashes into the guardrail. Poor Honma is out there with
Makabe and takes a shot. Fale slams Makabe on the floor, then goes and
gets Makabe's chain. He puts it around Makabe's neck and drags him
across the floor with it! Back in Fale hits a Samoan (Tongan?) drop. Ref
Kenta Santo starts a count, so I'm thinking this is the same as a Last
Man Standing match. Big Fale elbow drops to Makabe's back, then Fale
stands on him Andre the Giant style. Partial camel clutch from Fale.
Santo asks for a submission so I guess those are legal in this match
too. Fale gives Makabe some body shots in the corner. Makabe asks for
more, and gets it. Makabe dodges a corner avalanche, but takes another
body shot. He manages to put Fale down with a lariato. Now it's Makabe's
turn to hit shots in the corner. Corner lariatos and mounted punches.
Another lariato. Air raid crash from Makabe and he goes up top. Fale
dodges the King Kong kneedrop. A Fale kick sends Makabe to the floor
again. Fale again takes Makabe's chain, this time wrapping it around his
fist. Makabe takes it away, wraps it around his fist and hits Fale with
it. Then he wraps it around his arm and lariatos Fale with the chain.
Makabe goes and gets one of the tables from the ringside area. He hits
Fale with it, then sets it up and sets Fale on it. Makabe goes up top.
Fale gets off the table onto the apron and tosses Makabe off the top
into the ring. Corner avalanche from Makabe. Big splash. Santo starts a
count but Makabe's up easily. Fale pulls the pin and hits the Grenade!
Makabe drags himself up at 8. Fale gets Makabe up, literally walks
around with him, and hits the Bad Luck Fall! Again Makabe uses the ropes
to barely get up in time. Setup slam from Fale and he goes up top. He's
getting desperate. He barely balances himself, then Makabe dodges a
splash. 360 lariato from Makabe sending Fale to the floor. We still have
an unbroken table out there. Fale fights back and puts Makabe on the
table. He gets on the apron. Makabe grabs him and powerbombs him through
the table! Back in Makabe pummels Fale with lariatos in the corner.
Nice flop out from Fale. Makabe goes up top. King Kong kneedrop to the
back of Fale's head! One more time. King Kong kneedrop! Fale can't
answer the 10 count and it's over. Eh. As much as you'd expect from Fale
and Makabe, really. Another match that would have benefited from New
Japan getting outside their comfort zone a bit and embracing a little
more hardcore. **1/4
Hirooki Goto def Katsuyori Shibata in 15:33- Goto
is making his return from a broken jaw that he suffered during the G1
and forced him to be pulled from the tournament. There's some serious
personal history here, as these two were actually high school
classmates. Goto gets a special live performance entrance. The drums are
fine on their own, but they keep going during all of Goto's entrance.
Perfect highlight of a major modern problem in film/TV music- take an
awesome old piece of music, add some percussion lines under it and call
it "modernized". Hate it so much. Sorry, another passion of mine
bleeding through there. And Goto's music absolutely counts as awesome.
Cauious feeling out into a lockup. Shibata chops Goto across the jaw and
chest in lieu of breaking clean. On another rope break Goto tries to
hit a shot but Shibata beats him to it! Goto ducks a PK swing. More
cautious leaning in and Shibata works around into a full nelson, then
snap mares Goto and hits a PK to his back. He wraps Goto up in a quick
figure four. Perfect example of no frills Shibata, just hook a figure
four on out of nowhere. Goto tries to slap free then takes a rope break.
Big forearms from Shibata in the corner. He goes to the other side, but
Goto chases and hits a heel kick. Shibata is barely fazed, stomping on
Goto again when he's down. HUGE PK to Goto's jaw! More corner forearms
that fire Goto up. That leads to a full on forearm exchange. A big
uppercut puts Goto down again and Shibata lays into him with more
forearms. Hard hitting barely does this match justice so far. I'm almost
hurting. Shibata hits the leaping corner dropkick. Goto tries to escape
to the floor for some space, but Shibata says "fuck that", chasing him
and throwing him right back in! Chest kicks from Shibata. Another one
across Goto's jaw. I hope it healed fully. Goto does a misdirection rope
hit and hits a lariato. Chest kicks on Shibata. Corner lariato. Elbow
off the top rope for 2. Another forearm exchange. Lariatos from Goto,
big boots from Shibata, and both guys refuse to go down. Goto suckers
Shibata in by going to his knees, blocks a kick and hits a discus
lariato for 2. Backdropeh from Goto for 2. He tries for a German.
Shibata blocks it, standing switch, and Shibata puts on a cobra twist.
When Goto gets a rope break Shibata Germans him! Another Goto
backdropeh! Shibata backdropeh! Goto pops right back up and hits another
backdropeh! So does Shibata! Goto leans back and hits a lariato to the
back of Shibata's head. Another German attempt. Shibata fights free and
hits a pele kick. Shibata charges into another lariato. Cover for ONE.
Big Shibata chest kick. Another barely one count. Shibata lariato and
another one. Goto PK for one. Both guys collapse in opposite corners!
Absolutely fantastic sequence. Goto gets Shibata up for the ushigiroshi.
Shibata slips free and puts on a sleeper. Goto fades down. Shibata gets
Goto up and hits an ushigiroshi. Full running PK for 2. Shibata tosses
his mouthguard away! Shit's serious now. He tries to lift Goto again but
Goto fights it. He gutwrenches Shibata up into a reverse ushigiroshi!
Regular ushigiroshi. Neckbreaker for 2. Reverse blue thunder bomb for 2.
Goto hooks Shibata up. Shibata reverses and hits his own shoten!
Shibata gets up and says he's going to snap something. He gets Goto up
for Go2Sleep. Goto fights and fights and finally gets free. Goto
headbutt! Shibata response headbutt! Both guys need time after that.
When they get to their knees the forearms start flying again. Goto
blocks a PK and hits a lariato for another one count. More lariatos
wobble Shibata but he refuses to go down. One more lariato gives him no
choice, turning him inside out. Goto hits shoten, and gets the pin! What
beautiful violence. Strong style is the freaking best, man.
Unquestionably my favorite wrestling style. After the bell both guys
share a moment, clearly very emotional about what they just did in there
in all the best ways. Shibata even goes back for Goto after starting to
leave and they walk out arm in arm. ****1/4
To
set up the next match, the most high profile junior title match ever in
the Tokyo Dome to this point: Over the past year Prince Devitt has had
the most dominant junior division run
since the heyday of Jushin Thunder Liger. He won the title in November
'12 and has held it since,
now at 419 days, the second longest junior title reign ever. If that
wasn't enough, he also tore through the '13 edition of Best of the Super
Juniors, winning it as champion with a clean sheet undefeated record.
Now I'm sure Bullet Club interference can be thanked for a good portion
of that but still, no one has been
able to touch him, at least in the junior ranks. His old foe Ibushi is
here one more time to try. Ibushi actually signed his first ever
contract with New Japan in the fall of '13, which was a joint contract
with both New Japan and DDT. Both these guys have also been dabbling
with a move up to heavyweight. Both were entrants in the '13 G1 Climax,
and both did very well as official juniors (10 points for Devitt and 8
for Ibushi).
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Kota Ibushi def Prince Devitt (c) (Bullet Club) in 16:22- Another
awesome special entrance here, as a coffin is carried out to start
Devitt's entrance and he comes out of it. In full Demon paint! The Demon
is here! This is actually the Demon's debut, first appearance ever, and
it really is creepy as hell with his crooked walk and dead eyes stare. A
totally different character. All of Bullet Club is out with Devitt for
this major match. Cautious lean in and Ibushi swings a kick that's
easily dodged. Lockup and Devitt initially breaks clean, but then kicks
Ibushi down. Speed run and Ibushi catches Devitt with a kick across the
chest. Nick Jackson gets on the ropes and yells at Ibushi, letting
Devitt catch him from behind. Ibushi puts him back down with a dropkick
and Devitt rolls out. Now Gallows distracts. Devitt tries to take
advantage but Ibushi pushes him into Gallows. Another speed run and
Gallows trips Ibushi, pulls him out and the BC guys go nuts on him with
stomps to huge boos from the crowd. Back in Devitt stays in control. He
hits a baseball slide to Ibushi's gut in the corner. He puts Ibushi in
the tree of woe, then distracts Red Shoes so the other BC guys can
stretch him out. Devitt pulls him down and covers. Red Shoes refuses to
count! He's consistent about that, he won't DQ but he won't reward bad
behavior with a pin attempt. Devitt puts Ibushi in a cobra twst. Well,
it's really a proper abdominal stretch but we're in Japan. Gutbuster
from Devitt for 2. Big chop in the corner. Ibushi gets a boot up in the
corner and goes to the second rope, but Devitt hits another chop that
sends him tumbling to the floor! And again into the waiting boots of the
other BC guys. Anderson lifts Ibushi up and drops him on the ring
apron. Holy FUCK Ibushi hit horrible, back of the head right on the damn
edge. This is why people thought for years as great as he was he was
going to kill himself in a match at some point. Setup slam back in from
Devitt and he goes up top. Ibushi dodges the double stomp and hits
another dropkick that sends Devitt out. He goes for a dive. The Bucks
come in to cut it off and Ibushi takes them out. Ibushi top rope asai
corkscrew moonsault onto all the other BC guys! Springboard missile
dropkick back in for 2. Rapid fire strike combo that puts Devitt down.
Standing moonsault/second rope moonsault combo for 2. Devitt ducks a
kick swing and hooks up for Bloody Sunday. Ibushi fights that off and
rolls Devitt up for 2. The kickout sends Ibushi into the ropes and one
of the BC guys throws a chair into his head! Roll up from Devitt for 2.
Ibushi hits a spear and freaking deadlifts Devitt into a German with a
bridge for 2. Ibushi setup slam and he goes up top. Gallows grabs his
foot and Devitt pushes him off all the way down into the barricade. The
BC guys lay into him again on the floor, but for some reason it's all
off camera, all we see is Devitt laying in the ring. Whatever happened,
Red Shoes finally has enough and gets all the other refs out to kick
them out! Devitt picks Ibushi's carcass up and drapes him across the
barricade. Running dropkick on Ibushi against the barricade! Back in
Devitt goes up top and hits a double stomp to the back of Ibushi's head
for 2. Ibushi's comeback is cut off with another dropkick. Another
corner chop from Devitt. Ibushi runs into a chop. Devitt hops up top but
Ibushi hits him with an enzuguri! Ibushi sets up for some crazy
springboard move. Devitt grabs him on the top rope! He's set up for an
avalanche Bloody Sunday, which is what finished Ibushi off in the three
way match last year. Ibushi fights it off. Hurricanrana! Devitt kicks
out! Ibushi goes up top again. Devitt dodges the phoenix splash, Ibushi
sees and lands on his feet, but Devitt hits him with a lariato. Bloody
Sunday! Ibushi just kicks out! Devitt goes up top again. Coupe de
Gracie! Even if it wasn't called that yet. Ibushi kicks out again!
Devitt sets up for another Bloody Sunday as the crowd is really going
nuts for Ibushi now. Ibushi flips free midmove and hits a pele kick.
Counters and Ibushi hits a kick to Devitt's head. Snap German! Lariato!
Last Ride powerbomb! Devitt just kicks out! Ibushi goes up again. The
phoenix splash hits, and Ibushi has done it! Devitt's historic title
reign is over. It's Ibushi's third junior title win, and would be his
last one. After this reign he'd go back to freelancing for a while,
including dipping his toes in WWE/NXT for the Cruiserweight Classic and
that year's Dusty Classic tag team tournament, and when he went back to
New Japan full time he moved up to heavyweight. After the bell a masked
man interrupts Ibushi's celebration and gives him some black flowers. No
one knew at the time, but it's El Desperado, coming back from
excursion. The match was very good, but before the home stretch not
quite up to the usual Ibushi/Devitt level. All the BC interference
didn't help, though I understand the long term story being told there.
***1/2
The
next night at the first ever New Year Dash, Devitt was attacked by a
returning from injury Ryuske Taguchi, Devitt's former Apollo 55 partner
that he turned on to kick off the formation of Bullet Club. The two
finally had their one on one blowoff match at Invasion Attack in April,
the one year anniversary of Devitt's turn. Taguchi won the match, then
afterward Devitt was attacked by the Young Bucks, kicking him out of
Bullet Club. That was done because it was Devitt's last New Japan match.
A few months later he would become one of the first major signings by
WWE for the NXT brand that was suddenly getting much more prominence
thanks to the new WWE Network and was being transformed by showrunner
Triple H into a kind of "super-indy" under the WWE umbrella. When
arriving in NXT Devitt changed his name to Finn Balor. That same
Invasion Attack show also saw the debut of AJ Styles in New Japan
following his TNA departure. He quickly assumed the mantle of Bullet
Club leader.
Tetsuya
Naito suffered one of his many career knee injuries during the '12 G1
Climax but, being Naito, he tried to push through it and kept on
wrestling, finishing the tournament and keeping up his regular schedule
afterward. A couple of months later it was determined he medically
couldn't continue, so an injury angle was done during a loss to his
former No Limit partner Yujiro Takahashi to write him off. He'd miss the
next 8 months after reconstructive knee surgery, including WK 7. When
he came back in June '13 he got the full on returning from injury
babyface push. First he got his win back from Yujiro, tried to win the
NEVER Openweight championship but failed, but then took the win in the
'13 G1 Climax for his first of three career G1 wins, which also extended
the streak of first time G1 winners to seven straight years, by far the
record. As was the new tradition set by Okada the previous year, that
got him a shot at the Heavyweight title at the next Wrestle Kingdom. In
the interim he continued the other end of the new tradition by
successfully defending the title shot briefcase against guys he lost to
in the G1. He also succeeded in his goal of winning the NEVER title,
taking it from Masato Tanaka in a title vs briefcase match.
Unfortunately there was a downside to all this. The fans still weren't
sure about Naito in his Stardust Genius persona, and this mega push only
caused them to turn against him even more. That's part of the reason
this match lost the fan vote and will only be the semi-main tonight
instead of the main event. As I said earlier, Naito took it personally
and it's one reason big changes will be coming for him before long. As
for Okada, after several tries he finally wrested the title back from
Tanahashi in April '13 for his second reign.
IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) (w/Gedo) (CHAOS) def NEVER Openweight Champion Tetsuya Naito in 30:58- Okada's walking into the Tokyo Dome as champion for the first
time, but definitely not for the last. This is also the first of several
WK main events, or close to, for these two against each other. They go
nose to nose for a moment after Okada makes his entrance and before he hands the belt over. The bell rings and neither guy is in a hurry.
Lockup and Naito starts in on some basic arm work.
Headlock/headscissors exchange and stalemate. Naito eases into an arm
wringer. Okada rolls over and reverses into a hammerlock. Naito takes a
rope break and Okada does his clean break tease, but then grabs Naito
for a whip. Long speed run and Naito gets a deep armdrag, then a
dropkick. Snap mare into a chinlock, then Naito puts on a headscissors.
Another snap mare and Naito hits a senton for 2. Neckbreaker and Naito
wraps up Okada's arms with his legs in a unique looking hold. Okada
fights over for a rope break. Naito goes for his classic sweep
kick/springboard dropkick combo in the corner. Okada cuts off the
dropkick and dropkicks him out to the floor! He takes Naito up the aisle
and stretches him out a bit. Okada goes up the ramp more, gets a head
of steam and hits a basement dropkick to Naito's back. Back in Okada
hits a hangman's neckbreaker for 2. Naito tries to fire back with chops.
Okada gets him back down and hits a slingshot senton. Snap mare and
Okada wraps Naito up in his Mr. Salty, that hold he should have bought
back later instead of that stupid Money Clip. Naito leans back and gets a
foot on the rope. Naito dodges a running elbow in the corner, then hits
the corner kick combo. Running forearm from Naito. Hiptoss into a
sliding dropkick. He dropkicks Okada into the corner, then pounds him down in the corner, ignoring Red Shoes and drawing some boos. That's the
Naito we'll get to know better in a couple of years. They go to the
floor. Okada scoops for a tombstone out there! Naito fights free and
hits a tornado DDT! Got so much distance he planted Okada past the floor mats on the bottom
of the ramp. Back in Naito hits a top rope shotgun dropkick to Okada's
back. He rolls Okada around into Pluma Blanca, his submission hold at
the time. Okada uses his long legs to get a rope break. Naito hits
forearms and Okada demands more, firing up. Wild headbutts from Naito!
Looks just like an angry Klingon after too much blood wine. Okada spins
Naito around onto the top rope and dropkicks him down! Nice job by Naito
dangling himself off before falling. I'm assuming it was intentional.
He's holding the leg that caught the turnbuckle on the floor after and Red Shoes checks
on him. Naito takes his time so Okada goes out and attacks him. Draping
DDT off the apron to the floor from Okada! So that's one floor DDT each
in this match. Okada gets back in the ring and lets the count happen.
He pulls off his elbow pad and angrily tosses it down onto Naito! He'll
take the countout, but he's not done with the fight if Naito's got the
testes. Naito slowly rolls back in at 18 but looks done. Setup slam from
Okada and he hits the elbow off the top rope. GIVE ME MY WIDE SHOT!
Naito back elbows free of a Rainmaker attempt. Okada grabs a kick and
lifts Naito up for his neckbreaker, but Naito uses that to hit another
DDT! Getting into deep water now as both guys are slow to get up. Naito
hits his rolling kick. He tries for a dragon or German suplex with Okada
fighting off both. Okada tries his usual dropkick counter but Naito
sees it coming, hits the brakes, and rolls Okada around into Pluma
Blanca again! Okada heavily teases tapping, then starts to go out, and
gets one last burst for a foot on the ropes. Enzuguri from Naito. German
suplex for 2. Setup slam and Naito goes up top to finish it. Okada gets
up, grabs his leg and drags him down. Flapjack from Okada. DDT and
Okada goes for some kind of STF style submission hold. Naito tries to
fight it but Okada gets it on. They stay in there a while, then Naito
gets a burst for a rope break. Okada goes for the tombstone. Naito
refuses to be turned over, fights free and hits another headbutt. Flying
forearm from Naito. He puts Okada up top and hits a hurricanrana.
Dragon suplex! Okada kicks out! Naito hits Gloria for 2. As soon as
Okada kicks out he goes up top. The Stardust Press misses! As it always
will in the Tokyo Dome. Okada lifts Naito up in the corner and hits the
neckbreaker. Heavy Rain hits for 2. Okada goes for the Rainmaker. Naito
ducks it and rolls up a cradle for a LONG 2! Uranage from Naito. On
knees forearm exchange that turns into a stand up forearm exchange.
Another headbutt from Naito. Uppercuts in response from Okada. Naito
tries another flying forearm. Okada ducks that and hooks up for the
Rainmaker. Naito ducks again and straight up slaps Okada! Okada hits the
dropkick. Another Rainmaker dodges into a cradle for 2. Dropkick to the
back of Naito's head! Tombstone! ANOTHER Rainmaker counter! Okada hits
another tombstone. RAINMAKER! Naito couldn't dodge that one. Okada gets
the pin to retain. Very good match, though nowhere near what they'd do
in the future. I loved how Naito kept dodging the Rainmaker, and how it pissed off Okada more and more, but he still stuck to his gameplan. I do have some criticisms. Naito's lack of big match
experience showed, and that plus Okada's usual penchant for slow starts
meant the first half drug a bit. Then, as good as that closing
stretch was, it really felt like the match fully peaked at the 25 minute
call (when the Stardust Press missed), but they kept going for 6 more minutes after and it just didn't
feel fully necessary. Naito's really missing not having Destino in his arsenal yet too. ***3/4
Okada's
reign would end up lasting 391 days. It wouldn't be his last to go over
a full year. I mentioned earlier AJ Styles making his New Japan debut
at Invasion Attack in April. When he came into the company Okada and the
Heavyweight title were his #1 target, and he would be the one to take
Okada down in May at Wrestling Dontaku for his first Heavyweight title
win and the first foreigner to win the title since Brock Lesnar in 2005,
raising Bullet Club's profile even higher.
When
Tanahashi lost the Heavyweight title to Okada it ended his sixth reign,
which had tied the record for most ever held by Tatsumi Fujinami.
Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Tanahashi got #7 to
set a new record. But in the meantime, when he failed to win the G1 to
get another Heavyweight title shot, he turned his attention to his old
foe and fellow New Three Musketeer Nakamura and his Intercontinental
title. Tanahashi/Okada is the feud that really solidified New Japan's
return to being the clear #1 company in Japan and set them up for the
coming international explosion, but it was Tanahashi/Nakamura that was
the feud that pulled the company out of life support following the
failures of the Inokism era and got it back on solid ground again. Their
main event at WK 2 can be thanked more than anything else for making
sure the tradition of January 4th Tokyo Dome shows survived. This is
actually their third main event in the Dome, they also main evented in
2005 under the old Wrestling World name. So far Nakamura is 2-0 in those
encounters. This would end up being their final match in the
Tokyo Dome.
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi def Shinsuke Nakamura (c) (CHAOS) in 23:24- Nakamura has some, er, lovely ladies pole dancing during his entrance. I'm not joking. 100% pure Swagske. Somehow it's still only Nakamura's second best WK entrance ever. Stan Hansen is here again for the belt presentation. Very cautious start while someone in the crowd loudly shouts "SHINSUKE!". I promise it wasn't me, though I would be that guy. Lockup and Nakamura gives us a clean break. Some literal feeling out and Nakamura gets a leg takedown, kicking off some mat grappling that Nakamura keeps the edge on and Tanahashi takes a rope break. On that Nakamura does the head waggle, tells Tanahashi to bring it and hits a kick. Tanahashi dodges a kneedrop, Nakamura dodges a basement dropkick, Tanahashi escapes a leg grab and another stalemate. Next lockup Nakamura hits a couple of knees to the gut and puts on a front facelock. Tanahashi escapes with a kneebreaker, then starts targeting Nakamura's knee. It is his most dangerous weapon. Tanahashi tries the springboard reverse crossbody but Nakamura drops him into a gutbuster! Snap mare and the kneedrop hits for 2. Another knee to the gut and Nakamura tosses Tanahashi to the floor. Rock style guardrail drop for Tanahashi. Back in Nakamura draps his leg over Tanhashi's midsection for an arrogant cover. Then he starts kicking at Tanahashi in a "get your shit together and fight back" way. Tanahashi does, and is put back down with another knee to the gut. Tanahashi gets his boots up in the corner but a chest kick puts him down again. Good vibrations! No, Tanahashi blocks it! He grabs a Nakamura kick and hits a dragon screw! Flying forearm. Setup slam and the second rope senton hits for 2. He continues targeting Nakamura's knee. Chop block! Tanahashi goes for the cloverleaf but Nakamura grabs the ropes before it's on. Nakamura tries the misdirection kicks but Tanahashi dodges both of them and kicks the bad knee again. Nakamura tries again and this time catches Tanahashi with a misdirection kick. Quick knee to the gut to put Tanahashi down again. Nakamura puts on a guillotine, then lets go and lays in his classic knees on the mat. Front drop suplex for 2. Hard knee to Tanahashi's gut. Good vibrations pulled off in full this time. Nakamura struts away and charges. Tanahashi dodges, but then Nakamura dodges his charge and Tanahashi ends up draped over the top rope, right in position. Running kneelift! A second! Tanahashi dodges a third. He goes for a dragon screw in the ropes but Nakamura hits a leaping kick to get free. On the floor Tanahashi gets whipped into the guardrail then takes a knee in the back. The running apron knee hits. Tanahashi dodges an apron kneedrop and Nakamura lands knee first on the floor! Tanahashi goes up top. Aces High to the floor! Again, Tanahashi hits that perfectly every damn time. Tanahashi hits the dragon screw in the ropes! That never, ever looks anything but incredibly nasty. But when Tanahashi gets close Nakamura is able to get him in a triangle choke! Tanhashi reverses onto the cloverleaf! Nakamura gets to the ropes. Tanahashi tries for both a dragon suplex and a straitjacket German, with Nakamura fighting out of both. Another go and the straitjacket German hits for 2. Setup slam and Tanahashi goes up top. Nakamura gets up and kicks him down. Tanahashi hangs on and skins the cat! When he lands Nakamura gives him a vertebreaker! Forearm slugfest. Tanahashi kicks the knee and hits an uppercut. Nakamura responds with a strike combo. Tanahashi paintbrushes him across the face! Twice! That sets Nakamura off, kicking Tanahashi into the ropes and laying in stomps like crazy. Short Bomaye to the back of Tanahashi's head! Ushigiroshi from Nakamura. Reverse exploder suplex! Nakamura sets up in the corner to finish it. Tanahashi dodges, but Nakamura gets him up on his shoulders, maybe for Landslide. Tanahashi does a short slingblade to get free. Tanahashi drags himself up top. Nakamura catches him and goes up too. Nakamura looks like he's going for an avalanche landslide, but Tanahashi fights it off. He goes for a sunset bomb. Nakamura blocks that, so Tanahashi pulls him off the ropes into powerbomb position. Nakamura grabs the ropes again and hits a codebreaker! Tanahashi ducks a swing and hits a dragon suplex! That gets a 2 count. Tanahashi quickly goes up top. High Fly Flow! Nakamura just kicks out! Nakamura cuts off a slingblade with a high knee. Second rope Bomaye! Full BOMAYE! Tanahashi kicks out! Nakamura sets up for one more. Tanahashi dropkicks the knee. Back and forth strikes. Tanahashi ducks another Bomaye and hits a mat dragon screw. The cloverleaf is on again! Tanahashi pulls Nakamura back in and cranks back! Nakamura slides under to escape, but Tanahashi gets it back on and slams Nakamura's legs into the mat. Aces High with Nakamura on his knees! Another spring up. HIGH FLY FLOWWWWW! Tanahashi gets the pin to win the title! Great match, but not quite on the level of their WK2 match. One fair criticism of Nakamura is be he could be spotty about limb selling. ****1/4
You know, it's a good thing so many people just happend to come to these shows with their air guitars. Hope they don't mind Tanahashi breaking them all though. Maybe they get an autographed towel or something as compensation.
Tanahashi's
reign was short as Nakamura would win the title back at Invasion Attack
in April, but that wouldn't bother Tanahashi in the slightest. At King
of Pro Wrestling in October, he defeated Styles to win his record
seventh IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- A
bit of a comedown after last year's stellar show. After a pretty bumpy
undercard the last four matches finally delivered, but still not quite
as highly as last year's did. Other than the fan vote controversy this
show will pretty quickly be somewhat forgotten and lost in the sea of
consistent awesomeness that came after it for many years.
OVERALL SHOW GRADE: B
