Date: January 4th, 2015
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 36,000
It’s time for the annual Tokyo Dome show! There are very few certainties in life, but one of those certainties is that if it is January 4th, in Japan there is a wrestling event at the Tokyo Dome. As usual this is a unique event, as it was also being shown on PPV here in the United States for the first time ever. So that is exciting as well. I watched the Japanese stream via the awesome NJPW World personally, but if you are new to puroresu, it may be easier for you to get into with Striker and JR on commentary. Anyway, this event had its usual invaders, this time Jeff Jarrett and the Bullet Club, but the top of the card was actually very focused on New Japan wrestlers. I’ve already watched the event so I can promise that some of these matches are simply fantastic. Here is the full card:
– IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Timesplitters vs. Romero and Koslov vs. Young Bucks
– Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Kojima, and Honma vs. Jeff Jarrett, Yujiro Takahashi, and Fale
– Lance Archer, Smith Jr., Benjamin, and Iizuka vs. Toru Yano, Marufuji, Haste, and Nicholls
– Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Minoru Suzuki
– NEVER Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makabe
– IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kenny Omega
– IWGP Tag Team Championship: Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows vs. Hirooki Goto and Shibata
– AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
– IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi
– IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
No further delay, let’s get right to it.
(c) Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Shelley and KUSHIDA vs. Romero and Koslov vs. Young Bucks
This match is for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Fish and KUSHIDA start things off as at least for now we are pretending to follow normal tag team rules (it is not a tornado match so in theory there are only two legal men at a time). Tie-up, wristlock by Fish but KUSHIDA rolls out of it and reverses the hold. Front facelock by KUSHIDA into a side headlock takedown, Fish gets out of it and hits a side headlock takedown of his own but KUSHIDA gets out of it as well and dropkicks Fish. O’Reilly attacks KUSHIDA from behind, Irish whip by O’Reilly as Shelley tags himself in, and KUSHIDA knees O’Reilly. The Young Bucks come in the ring but KUSHIDA and Shelley drop them with back bodydrops and they roll out of the ring. Shelley picks up Fish, wristlock by Shelley and he tags in KUSHIDA. They trade wristlocks and tags until Fish knocks Shelley off the apron, Irish whip by Fish to KUSHIDA but Koslov tags himself in. Koslov goes off the ropes and hits a tilt-a-whirl headscissors on Fish. Koslov puts his hat on as he sits up Fish and kicks him repeatedly in the back of the head. Running doublestomp to the face by Koslov, cover, but it gets a two count. Koslov picks up Fish but Fish drives him back and tags in O’Reilly. Fish trips Koslov and O’Reilly delivers a sliding kick. O’Reilly picks up Koslov, snapmare, and he kicks Koslov in the back. O’Reilly tags in Fish, Fish goes off the ropes and hits an elbow. Cover, but it gets a two count. Koslov punches Fish back as Matt is tagged in, and Nick comes in the ring as well. Shelley is kicked off the apron, they then grab Koslov but Koslov gets away and throws Matt out of the ring. Koslov uppercuts Nick, he goes off the ropes but Matt trips him from the floor. Nick hops out to the apron and tries to kick Koslov, but Koslov moves and Nick kicks Matt by accident. Koslov gets back in the ring but Nick stops him before he can make a tag. Koslov ducks a Nick kick but Nick connects with the elbow. Jumping kick by Koslov and he makes the tag to Romero. O’Reilly and Fish run in the ring but Romero knocks them both back, Romero then hits lariats on everyone in the four corners. Double lariat to Fish and O’Reilly and then to the Young Bucks, then Koslov and Romero both lariat Nick in the corner. Uppercut by Romero and with Koslov they go for a double suplex, but Nick elbows out of it. KUSHIDA is tagged in and he clears the ring, hitting a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Nick.
KUSHIDA kicks back Romero, then pulls down the rope so Romero falls out of the ring so Shelley can hit a jumping knee off the apron. Shelley and KUSHIDA kick Matt out of the ring, they set up Nick but Shelley is knocked out of the ring. Shelley kicks O’Reilly as he jumps off the apron and then sends Fish into the guard rail. Romero gets a running start and sails out onto Shelley with a tope suicida. Koslov then follows suit over the top rope, followed by the Young Bucks. KUSHIDA then comes off the top turnbuckle with a plancha onto everyone, he slides Matt back into the ring and Shelley hits a lariat in the corner. Outatime by KUSHIDA and Shelley, cover, but Nick breaks it up. KUSHIDA and Shelley double team Nick and he rolls out of the ring, double Irish whip to Matt in the corner and Shelley and KUSHIDA both deliver kicks. KUSHIDA puts Matt onto his shoulders but Koslov breaks up the festivities. Matt kicks back Koslov as O’Reilly comes in the ring, but Nick superkicks O’Reilly and then Koslov as well. Nick goes for a jumping knee on Koslov but Koslov catches him, but Matt runs in the ring to help Nick down. Shelley kicks Matt and puts Matt on his shoulders while Koslov puts Nick on his shoulders, and Romero comes off the top turnbuckle with a double lariat on both of them, but Matt and Nick land on their feet and superkick Shelley and Koslov. Double superkick to Romero, Matt picks up Romero and with Nick they nail the Meltzer Driver. Cover by Matt, but it is broken up. Fish and O’Reilly are in the ring with KUSHIDA, double Irish whip to KUSHIDA but KUSHIDA hits a double handspring elbow strike. Matt and Nick both superkick KUSHIDA, then Matt powerbombs Koslov into the turnbuckles while Nick kicks him from the apron. Matt and Nick go for the More Bang for Your Buck but Fish stops him and O’Reilly tags himself in (a real tag!). Shelley grabs Fish from behind but O’Reilly runs in and elbows Shelley. O’Reilly and Fish take turns attacking Shelley in the corner and they hit the Decapitation. Matt runs in the ring but Fish hits a wheelbarrow suplex on him, Fish then gets up top with Nick and hits a modified superplex. O’Reilly grabs Koslov (who is still legal all this time) but O’Reilly hits a schoolboy for a two count. O’Reilly kicks Koslov, then Fish grabs him and hits a suplex. O’Reilly picks up Koslov and with Fish they deliver the Chasing The Dragon, cover by O’Reilly and he picks up the three count. Your winners and still champions: Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly
Match Thoughts: I may have mixed up Matt and Nick sometimes in my play by play and I don’t feel bad about it, everything was happening quite fast. But for the record I do know which one is which. I love that through all the madness, that Koslov was the legal man for the bulk of the match and they remembered that, even with all the interference it looked like they kept track of who was legal. Anyway this was really just a spotfest but it was a fun spotfest, some of these guys have some fun moves. The Young Bucks are ridiculous but they are ridiculous by design (you don’t name a move after Dave Meltzer unless you have some humor about your match style) and needless to say the action stayed moving throughout the match. A good way to open the event and get the crowd into it even if it wasn’t overly substanceful. Score: 6.5
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Kojima, and Honma vs. Jeff Jarrett, Yujiro Takahashi, and Bad Luck Fale
Karen Jarrett pushes Honma to start the match as he looks confused, and a brawl starts with Jarrett and company getting the advantage. Kojima and Tenzan get the upper hand and hit a double vertical suplex onto Fale. Fale and Honma battle at ringside while in the ring Kojima slams Takahashi and hits a slingshot elbow drop while Tenzan delivers a headbutt. Kojima chops Takahashi in the corner, Irish whip, and he hits the jumping elbow smash. Fale runs in the ring and lariats Kojima, stomp by Fale and Jarrett is tagged in. Kicks by Jarrett to Kojima and he hits a lariat, but Kojima doesn’t go down. A second lariat does the trick, cover, but it gets a two count. Jarrett tags in Fale, and Fale punches Kojima in the ribs. Fale punches Tenzan too, chops by Kojima to Fale but Fale elbows him to the mat. Fale tags in Takahashi, and Takahashi stomps Kojima. Takahashi elbows Kojima in the back of the head, elbow by Kojima but Takahashi rakes him in the eyes. Takahashi covers Kojima with one foot but it gets a two count. Takahashi picks up Kojima but Kojima snaps off a Koji Cutter and tags in Honma. Elbow by Honma to Takahashi and he elbows Jarrett and Fale as well. Honma picks up Takahashi and chops him into the corner, Irish whip, and he hits a jumping elbow followed by a face crusher. Honma goes off the ropes but Takahashi rolls out of the way of the falling headbutt. Takahashi picks up Honma and hits a fisherman buster, cover, but it gets a two count. Takahashi picks up Honma and gets him on his shoulders, but Honma slides off. Boot by Takahashi and he goes off the ropes but Honma catches him with a headbutt. Jarrett gets his guitar but Honma kicks him before he can use it. Takahashi attacks Honma from behind and holds him for Jarrett, but Honma ducks and Jarrett hits Takahashi with the guitar by accident. Tenzan runs in and with Kojima they hit a double backdrop suplex onto Jarrett. Fale comes in but Tenzan hits him with a heel kick, then Kojima lariats him out of the ring. Tenzan and Kojima pick up Takahashi, double Irish whip and they hit the 3D. Honma goes up to the top turnbuckle and nails the diving headbutt, cover, and Honma picks up the three count. Your winners: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, and Tomoaki Honma
Match Thoughts: Fan service, but that isn’t generally a bad thing. I am surprised that Jarrett and company were defeated so quickly and so thoroughly… I mean Jarrett and Fale were dispatched so all three of the good guys could have their way with and easily defeat Takahashi with little push back. I enjoyed it, I just thought since this was advertised in the States as being presented by GFW that Jarrett would have more of a presence. But the action was fine, and it was super neat-o seeing Honma pick up the pin here, he deserves it. Short, but it popped the crowd and was a fine match for the undercard. Score: 6.0
Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Shelton Benjamin, and Takashi Iizuka vs. Toru Yano, Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste, and Mikey Nicholls
Iizuka and company attack their opponents before the match can start, with Iizuka and Yano staying in the ring. Yano fights Iizuka off but Iizuka attacks him from behind while he poses to the crowd. Yano grabs Iizuka by the goatee but the referee makes him stop, then the referee takes Iizuka’s chain while Yano unties the turnbuckle pad. Iizuka hits Yano with the turnbuckle pad and tags in Benjamin. Benjamin picks up Yano, punches by Benjamin and he hits the swinging kick. Benjamin tags in Archer, and Archer knocks everyone off the apron. Smith holds Yano for Archer and Archer hits a lariat. Archer picks up Yano, Irish whip, reversed, and Yano pulls down Archer by his hair. Archer is back up however and pushes him into the exposed corner. Archer charges Yano but Yano moves and Archer goes into the exposed steel. Yano tags in Haste and he catches Archer with a dropkick. Nicholls comes in to help when Smith enters the ring, they throw Archer into the corner and then Nicholls slams Smith in front of Archer. Nicholls stays covered on Smith, and Haste catapults off his back with a cannonball onto Archer. Nicholls picks up Archer with Haste and they get him in a double press, but Smith breaks it up. Nicholls goes off the ropes but Smith kicks him in the chest. Smith picks up Nicholls and hits the powerbomb, but Haste drops Smith with a jumping heel kick. Archer grabs Haste but Haste pushes him away, Archer grabs him again and he hits a monster chokeslam. Marufuji and Iizuka are tagged in, Irish whip by Marufuji, reversed, Marufuji kicks Iizuka back and he hits a kick combination. Cover by Marufuji, but it gets a two count. Marufuji picks up Iizuka and goes for the Shiranui, but Iizuka blocks it and puts Marufuji on the top turnbuckle. Marufuji pushes Iizuka off but Benjamin jumps up to the top turnbuckle and hits a suplex. Marufuji is hit from the floor while Iizuka gets his Iron Claw, but Marufuji ducks it and hits a superkick. Atomic drop by Iizuka and he wraps a rope around Marufuji’s neck, but Yano breaks it up. Haste and Nicholls come in the ring and drop Iizuka with the double press slam, they pick up Marufuji and Marufuji hit the Koo. Cover, and Marufuji picks up the three count. Your winners: Toru Yano, Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste, and Mikey Nicholls
Match Thoughts: Another short feel-good match. You know if New Japan is going to have short multi-man matches to open the card, maybe this was the best way to go. They get to show off a few moves, the good guys dominate, and they get a quick pin while the crowd cheers. There wasn’t a lot of substance here and not everyone was even legal during the match, but the action was fast and it had some nice spots. Archer’s chokeslam was epic and the turnbuckle pad spot made me laugh, and two memorable spots in a five minute match ain’t half bad. New Japan is starting the show off right, I’m impressed, this was nothing that will stand the test of time but for an undercard tag match it was just what it should be. Score: 6.0
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Minoru Suzuki
This match is under “Full Conclusion” Rules, which basically just means they do more ten counts. Tie-up, waistlock by Sakuraba but Suzuki gets out of it and they jockey for position on the mat with neither having any success. They lock knuckles, Sakuraba goes for Suzuki’s leg and gets him to the mat, Sakuraba goes for a stomp but Suzuki avoids it and goes for the cross kneelock. Sakuraba gets up and goes for a Scorpion Deathlock but Suzuki rolls into the ropes to eventually get the break. Suzuki rolls out to the apron and trades punches with Sakuraba, but Suzuki grabs Sakuraba’s arm and applies an armbar over the top rope. The referee gets him to break and Suzuki brings Sakuraba out of the ring with him. Suzuki takes Sakuraba up the ramp, snapmare on the ramp and Suzuki goes to get a running start, but Sakuraba has gotten up and hits a kick to the midsection. Suzuki and Sakuraba trade punches and kicks on the ramp, Sakuraba gets Suzuki’s arm and he applies a kimura. The referee tries to get him to break the hold and return to the ring, and eventually he does release Suzuki’s arm and gets back to the ring while Suzuki clutches his arm on the ramp. The referee goes to tell Suzuki he has to return and slowly he makes his way back to ringside. Sakuraba slides Suzuki back into the ring, and Sakuraba kicks Suzuki in his injured arm. More kicks by Sakuraba to the arm and the chest, and Suzuki falls to the mat. The referee starts a count but Suzuki gets up in time, kicks by Sakuraba but Suzuki ducks a punch and slaps Sakuraba. Sakuraba and Suzuki trade slaps, Suzuki slaps Sakuraba to the mat and gives him a few more for extra measure. Sakuraba returns early in the count and goes back to kicking Suzuki in the arm, Sakuraba rolls Suzuki to the mat and goes for the cross armbreaker, but Suzuki has it blocked. Sakuraba eventually gets Suzuki’s hands apart and gets the hold locked in, but after struggling for a moment Suzuki is able to get a foot on the ropes. Kicks to the arm by Sakuraba while Suzuki is still on the mat, the referee gets Sakuraba back and starts the ten count, but Suzuki barely gets up in time. Sakuraba continues kicking Suzuki in the arm but Suzuki slaps him back and they trade strikes. Slaps by Suzuki and Suzuki hit a running kick to Sakuraba’s face. Suzuki applies the sleeper hold and takes down Sakuraba so they are back in the middle of the ring. Sakuraba struggles for a moment but eventually goes to sleep and the referee stops the match. Your winner: Minoru Suzuki
Match Thoughts: They get an A for effort but this type of match is just hard to make exciting for me. It was a nice change of pace, the match was located in the right place on the card as it differed from everything before it, and for the style of match it was good. Both these guys are older, if this exact same encounter happened 15 years ago it would have been epic, but on this stage it almost felt out of place. Sakuraba kicked Suzuki’s arm so many times it should have fallen off, but he just didn’t have an answer to the sleeper and its not the first time that Suzuki won a match quickly with that move. I could never watch a card full of matches like this as it does take a certain type of fan to find them entertaining, but for what they were going for I thought it was fine, just a bit repetitive and it didn’t feel as epic as it probably should have. Score: 5.5
(c) Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makabe
This match is for the NEVER Openweight Championship. Ishii lariats Makabe just as the match starts and they trade elbows back and forth. Makabe goes off the ropes but Ishii hit an elbow, Ishii goes off the ropes and they trade shoulderblock attempts. Makabe goes off the ropes again but Ishii hits a powerslam, Makabe quickly returns the favor and both wrestlers are back on their feet, slightly staggered. Chop by Ishii but Makabe elbows him back and they trade blows. A chop by Ishii sends Makabe to the mat and Ishii hits a headbutt. Another headbutt by Ishii and he chops Makabe, but Makabe returns to his feet. Elbows by Ishii and chops but Makabe punches him into the corner. Irish whip by Makabe and he hits a lariat in the corner. Another lariat by Makabe and he hits mounted punches in the corner. Ishii knocks Makabe back and they trade slaps, then punches, but Makabe snaps off a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Makabe picks up Ishii and knocks him into the corner, but Ishii powers back up and absorbs the blows. Ishii knocks Makabe into the corner and hits a lariat. Ishii puts Makabe up on the top turnbuckle and joins him, and Ishii hits the delayed superplex. Ishii picks up Makabe and he delivers a powerbomb for a two count. Ishii goes off the ropes and blocks Makabe’s lariat, but Makabe hits a short-ranged version anyway. Makabe picks up Ishii and hits his own powerbomb, cover, but it gets a two count. Makabe picks up Ishii and applies a waistlock before hitting a German suplex hold for a two count.
Makabe lariats Ishii in the back of the head, he puts him up on the top turnbuckle and joins him, going for the spider suplex. Elbows by Ishii and he turns around while on the top turnbuckle, he lariats Makabe but Makabe brings himself back up and gets Ishii onto his shoulders. Avalanche Samoan Drop by Makabe, cover, but Ishii barely gets a shoulder up. Lariat by Makabe, but Ishii doesn’t go down. Makabe goes off the ropes and hits another one, Ishii goes for a jumping kick but Makabe blocks it. Makabe levels Ishii with a lariat, cover, but it gets a two count. Makabe picks up Ishii but Ishii knocks him back and hits a release German suplex. Makabe springs to his feet but Ishii knocks him back down with a lariat and picks up a two count cover. Both Ishii and Makabe go for lariats and they trade short range lariats, chop to the head by Makabe but Ishii knocks him to the mat with a headbutt. Ishii picks up Makabe and hits a sliding lariat, cover, but it gets a two count. Ishii picks up Makabe and goes for the brainbuster but Makabe blocks it, jumping kick by Ishii and a cover, but Makabe kicks out at two. Ishii goes off the ropes and lariats Makabe in the back of the head, lariat from the front by Ishii, he goes off the ropes but Makabe catches him with a dragon suplex hold for a two count. Ishii and Makabe trade elbows while kneeling on the mat, they both slowly get up and Ishii hits a headbutt. Makabe headbutts him back and clubs Ishii in the chest, but Makabe clubs Ishii to the mat. Polish Hammer by Makabe, cover, but it gets a two count. Ishii gets back up but Makabe knocks him back down with a lariat. Cover, but Ishii gets a shoulder up. Makabe positions Ishii near the ropes, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and he hits the King Kong Kneedrop. Cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winner and new champion: Togi Makabe
Match Thoughts: This was certainly a man-sized match. I have to mention that New Japan is doing a good job here of mixing up the matches, as this was the first clubberin’ match on the card. And a clubberin’ match it was, if you don’t know what a clubberin’ match is then just watch this one. Lots of lariats, lots of chops, but a few big moves like suplexes and powerbombs so it wasn’t strictly strike based. If anything they overdid it as it got a bit repetitive by the end, but they ended the match before I got the urge to fast forward. Makabe is a bit dull but it worked in a match like this as Ishii was game to just trade blows back and forth for ten minutes. Not Ishii’s best match but a very solid one, these guys both hit hard and don’t mind getting hit hard, they will be sore for awhile after this match. Score: 6.5
(c) Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kenny Omega
This match is for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Tie-up to start, Omega pushes Taguchi into the ropes but Taguchi switches positions with him before giving a clean break. Kick by Taguchi and he applies a side headlock, Omega Irish whips out of it and Taguchi hits an armdrag. Hip attack by Taguchi and he hits another one, Taguchi throws Omega into the corner, Irish whip, but Omega avoids Taguchi’s charge. Omega goes for a hurricanrana but Taguchi catches him and applies an ankle hold. Omega kicks him off, elbows by Taguchi and he lariats Omega out of the ring. Omega gets a spray can and sprays Taguchi in the eyes with it when the referee is distracted. Omega gets back in the ring, he picks up Taguchi and clubs him in the back. Elbow to the back of the head by Omega and he chops Taguchi in the chest. Irish whip by Omega to the corner and he hits a running elbow strike. Cover by Omega, but it gets a two count. Omega picks up Taguchi, punches to the stomach by Taguchi but Omega rakes him in the eyes. Omega kicks Taguchi back into the corner and chokes him with his boot until the referee gets him off. Omega goes for a suplex but Taguchi blocks it, Omega gets Taguchi up anyway and hits a vertical suplex. Omega revs up his arm and then drives his forearm into Taguchi’s head. Omega pushes down the referee which gives Taguchi a chance to recover a bit, punch by Omega and he chops Taguchi into the corner. Irish whip by Omega but Taguchi kicks him when he charges in. Taguchi’s leg is grabbed from the floor, Omega charges in but Taguchi back bodydrops him onto the Young Bucks. Taguchi gets a running start in the ring and sails out onto all three of them with a tope con hilo.
Taguchi slides Omega back into the ring, he gets on the apron and hits a swandive dropkick. Cover, but it gets a two count. Taguchi hits a trio of rolling vertical suplexes onto Taguchi but Omega blocks the last one and slides away. Waistlock by Omega, reversed by Taguchi, Omega goes off the ropes and he kicks Taguchi in the leg. Omega goes off the ropes and he hits the Kotaro Krusher for a two count. Omega picks up Taguchi, he applies a full nelson but Taguchi elbows him off. Clubs to the back by Omega, he picks up Taguchi and goes for a powerbomb, but Taguchi hurricanrana’s Omega into the turnbuckles. Taguchi slams Omega to the mat, cover, but it gets a two count. Taguchi goes up to the top turnbuckle but Omega recovers and joins him. Taguchi elbows Omega off but Omega rejoins him, but Taguchi pushes him off again. Taguchi jumps off but Omega catches him with a dropkick to the face. Omega picks up Taguchi around the waist and then hits a sitdown powerbomb for a two count. Omega picks up Taguchi, he puts him up on his shoulders but Taguchi slides off and goes for the Dodon, but Omega rolls him up for a two count. Jumping knee kick by Taguchi and he hits the Dodon, cover, but it gets a two count. Ankle hold by Taguchi, but he breaks it up when the Young Bucks try to interfere. Taguchi gets rid of them and drops Omega with the Milano-saku Dodon’s Throne, cover, but it gets a two count. Taguchi poses before picking up Omega, he tries to get Omega up on his shoulders but Omega blocks it. Omega goes off the ropes, Taguchi goes for a hip attack but Omega catches him with a rapid German suplex. Running kick by Omega, he gets Taguchi up on his shoulders and nails the Katayoku no Tenshi. Cover, and Omega picks up the three count. Your winner and new champion: Kenny Omega
Match Thoughts: This was a weird match. I didn’t really like it. For a title match, for one thing it was just too goofy. I know Omega is goofy and I really don’t mind that, but I think it works better if he has a straight man to pair with and here Taguchi was also goofy. It was like it wasn’t a title match, both were posing and doing moves that were for show and neither were really focused. The ending stretch was good, they finally started acting like they really were trying to hurt each other, but up to that point it felt more like opening Kikutaro shtick instead of TOKYO DOME CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH like you would hope. I liked Omega better as funny DDT wrestler, or if he went more serious in New Japan, but he was just kinda a tweener in this match and it never connected. Some of the action was fine but Taguchi is a bore and Omega didn’t click here. Score: 3.5
(c) Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows vs. Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata
This match is for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Anderson and Goto start things off. Tie-up, side headlock by Goto and he gets Anderson to the mat but Anderson gets out of it, he returns the favor but neither man can get an advantage and they return to their feet. Kick by Anderson and he hits an uppercut, but Goto elbows him back. Irish whip by Goto, reversed, and Gallows kicks Goto from the apron. Uppercut by Anderson, Irish whip, reversed, Shibata holds Anderson for Goto but Anderson moves and Goto hits Shibata by mistake. Gallows then comes in the ring and hits a high kick onto Goto, scoop slam by Anderson on Goto and he hits a senton. Body press by Gallows, cover by Anderson but Goto kicks out. Mounted punches by Anderson and he rubs his arm into Goto’s face. Reverse chinlock by Anderson, Goto struggles back up and elbows out of it, Goto goes off the ropes but Anderson delivers a jumping kick to the head. Cover, but it gets a two count. Anderson knocks Shibata off the apron, he then picks up Goto and makes the tag to Gallows. Headbutt by Gallows to Goto and he chokes him in the ropes. Punches by Gallows in the corner, Irish whip, but Goto kicks Gallows. Gallows goes off the ropes and goes for a lariat but Goto doesn’t go down, Goto goes off the ropes when Gallows tries again and Goto knocks down Gallows with a lariat. Goto tags in Shibata, and Shibata boots Anderson off the apron. Gallows knocks Shibata to the mat but Shibata gets back up and elbows Gallows into the corner. More elbows by Shibata in the corner but Gallows hits a lariat when Shibata charges in. Gallows picks up Shibata, Irish whip, and Shibata delivers a dropkick. Anderson comes in the ring but Shibata puts him in a cobra twist, but Gallows breaks it up. Goto comes in to take care of Gallows, and both Shibata and Goto connect with running strikes in the corner.
Shibata gives Anderson an additional dropkick, Goto picks up Gallows and with Shibata they hit a double backdrop suplex. Cover by Shibata but it gets a two count. Shibata picks up Gallows and holds him for Goto, Goto goes off the ropes but Anderson cuts him off with a big boot. Gallows throws Shibata into the corner, he hits a body avalanche and Anderson follows with a big kick. Backbreaker by Anderson and Gallows hits an elbow drop. Cover by Gallows, but it gets a two count. Gallows puts Goto on his shoulders and Anderson delivers a big kick to the head. Gallows picks up Shibata and with Anderson they hit an assisted neckbreaker, cover, but it gets a two count. They go for the Magic Killer but Goto breaks it up, and Goto knocks Gallows out of the ring. Anderson goes for the Gun Stun, Goto blocks it and goes off the ropes, he blocks it again and hits the fireman’s carry onto his knee. Shibata follows with a quick PK, but Gallows comes in the ring and hits a lariat on both of them. Gallows grabs Shibata and hits a chokebomb, cover, but Shibata gets a shoulder up. Gallows picks up Shibata and slams him in front of the corner, he goes up to the top turnbuckle but Goto punches him before he can jump off. Shibata comes over and together they slam Gallows to the mat. Shibata picks up Gallows, Goto goes off the ropes but Gallows boots him back. Gallows grabs Goto but Goto hits a headbutt, and Goto hits a lariat. Anderson comes up on the apron but Shibata kicks him down to the floor. Goto puts Gallows on his shoulders and throws him off as Shibata kicks Gallows in the ribs. Shibata goes off the ropes and nails the PK, cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winners and new champions: Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata
Match Thoughts: This is what it needed to be, which was a heavyweight sprint. Shibata and Goto are still a newish team and show those signs as sometimes they mess up, but there is no mistrust, they just keep plugging along and in the end they got the win together. Gallows was a mammoth in this match, sometimes in long singles matches he can be a bit dull but here he was able to hit all his big moves while never slowing the match down. I am glad to see Goto and Shibata win it, I think they deserve it as they are both really entertaining to watch. Just a good, wholesome fast paced heavyweight tag match, it didn’t really have that memorable moment like some of the other matches on this card have had but it was very solid and entertaining. Score: 6.5
AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
Styles attacks Naito before the match starts, elbow by Naito and he hits Styles against the ropes. Irish whip, but Styles elbows Naito in the back of the head. Styles goes for the Styles Clash but Naito puts Styles out on the apron. Naito gets a running start but Styles back bodydrops him out to the floor. Styles goes for a moonsault off the apron, Naito moves but Styles lands on his feet. Naito knocks Styles back, he gets up on the apron and hits a missile dropkick down to the floor. Naito slides Styles back into the ring, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits another missile dropkick. Styles lands in the corner, Naito charges him and hits a kick before tripping him, but Styles blocks the slingshot dropkick as he snaps back on Naito’s leg. Elbows to the leg by Styles, he picks up Naito and hits a kneebreaker. Kick to the leg by Styles and he jumps down onto Naito’s leg again. Styles picks up Naito but Naito elbows him off and they trade strikes. Kick to the leg by Styles and he applies a leg submission. Naito slowly crawls to the ropes and he makes it there to force a break. Styles pulls Naito to the middle of the ring but Naito kicks him off, Naito and Styles trade elbows but Styles kicks Naito in the leg. Styles goes off the ropes but Naito ducks the lariat and hits a springboard tornado DDT. Elbows by Naito, Irish whip, and he hits a hip toss followed by a dropkick to the back of the head. Naito picks up Styles, snapmare, and Naito hits a somersault senton. Naito charges Styles, Styles blocks it but Naito swings his legs on the ropes and hits a neckbreaker. Cover by Naito, but it gets a two count.
Naito puts Styles up on the top turnbuckle, he joins him but Styles pushes him off. Swandive elbow smash by Styles from the apron, he picks up Naito and goes for a suplex, but Naito blocks it. Styles flips Naito over his head and hits a neckbreaker, cover, but it gets a two count. Styles waits for Naito to get up, waistlock by Styles but Naito elbows him off and reverses it. Styles reverses it back and he hits a German suplex, but Naito rolls him up when he goes for his next move. German suplex by Naito, cover, but it gets a two count. Naito picks up Styles, elbows and kick by Styles but Naito hits an enzigieri. Irish whip by Naito and he hits a jumping elbow strike. Scoop slam by Naito, he goes up to the top turnbuckle but Styles is up in time and knocks Naito down to a seated position. Styles joins Naito on the top turnbuckle and goes for an avalanche backdrop suplex, but Naito mostly lands on his feet. Calf Killer by Styles, but Naito makes it to the ropes to force the break. Styles grabs Naito’s leg but Naito elbows him off, Styles grabs it again but Naito hits an enzigieri. Side slam by Naito, he picks up Styles with a waistlock, but Styles muscles out of it. Naito reverts it to a dragon suplex hold, but it only gets a two count. Naito picks up Styles but Styles rakes him in the eyes and hits the Pele Kick. Bloody Sunday by Styles, he picks up Naito and goes for the Styles Clash, but Naito blocks it by picking up Styles and dumping him over the top rope to the floor. Styles returns to the ring after a moment and sits in the corner, Naito approaches but Styles grabs him by the tights and puts him out on the apron. Naito trips Styles from the apron and hits a slingshot dropkick. Naito puts Styles up on the top turnbuckle, he joins him and goes for a Frankensteiner, but Styles catches him and nails the avalanche Styles Clash. Cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winner: AJ Styles
Match Thoughts: This was a really good match as both of these guys have great chemistry with each other. The story here is that after Styles legitimately injured Yamamoto with the Styles Clash, it is now seen as even more dangerous. So you can imagine an avalanche style version is certainly the kiss of death, and I liked how it was setup…. if Styles had put Naito up on the top turnbuckle with that intention the setup would have been really contrived. Styles’s leg work on Naito was good, leading to the attempted Calf Killer finisher, and Naito remembered later in the match to limp around a bit so it wasn’t forgotten. Some big moments here and it felt like it went about the right amount of time. Entertaining match overall. Score: 7.0
(c) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi
This match is for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Nakamura and Ibushi circle each other to start, Nakamura kicks Ibushi in the leg but Ibushi kicks back at Nakamura. They trade strikes with neither connecting, Nakamura pushes Ibushi into the ropes but he gives a clean break. Irish whip by Nakamura, reversed, but Nakamura avoids the dropkick. Nakamura asks for a handshake and then knees Ibushi before hitting a scissors kick. Nakamura goes for a Boma Ye but Ibushi avoids it and dropkicks Nakamura in the back of the head. Ibushi kicks Nakamura down in the corner but Nakamura gets up and knees Ibushi in the chest. Nakamura kicks Ibushi in the corner, he then lays him across the turnbuckle and hits a running kneelift. Nakamura gets out of the ring, he drapes Ibushi’s head over the apron and hits another kneelift. Kneedrop on the apron by Nakamura, and Ibushi falls down to the floor. Ibushi returns to the ring after a moment, Nakamura picks him up and apples a neck crank, snapmare, and Nakamura hits a kneedrop. Cover, but it gets a two count. Nakamura picks up Ibushi and he applies a reverse chinlock with a bodyscissors, he then applies a stretch hold into a cover for a two count. Ibushi finally gets a foot on the ropes to get out of the situation, Nakamura picks him up and Ibushi elbows Nakamura in the chest. Another elbow as Nakamura absorbs the blows, and Nakamura elbows Ibushi back. Slaps by Nakamura, he goes for a kick but Ibushi ducks it and slaps Nakamura. Backstabber by Nakamura, he picks up Ibushi and goes for an inverted powerslam but Ibushi lands on his feet and hits a hurricanrana. Nakamura lands out on the apron, and Ibushi dropkicks him out to the floor. Ibushi then jumps up to the top turnbuckle and hits a moonsault down to the floor. Ibushi picks up Nakamura and throws him onto the apron before sliding him back into the ring. Ibushi gets on the apron and he hits a swandive missile dropkick. Waistlock by Ibushi and he hits a kick combination. Standing shooting star press by Ibushi, cover, but it gets a two count.
Nakamura drops Ibushi out on the apron, Nakamura grabs him but Ibushi elbows out of it. Ibushi goes for a swandive move but Nakamura delivers a jumping kick to Ibushi’s shoulder. Nakamura waits for Ibushi to get up and hits a heel kick followed by a front suplex and grounded knees to the head. Nakamura charges Ibushi but Ibushi moves out of the way, knee to the stomach by Nakamura and Nakamura gets up on the top turnbuckle. Ibushi joins him but Nakamura knocks him out to the apron. With Nakamura still up top, Ibushi hits a springboard Frankensteiner for a two count cover. Ibushi picks up Nakamura but Nakamura elbows him off, but Ibushi snaps off a dragon suplex. Standing corkscrew moonsault by Ibushi, cover, but it gets a two count. Ibushi picks up Nakamura but Nakamura blocks the powerbomb attempt, kick by Ibushi and he tries again, but he settles for a sunset flip for a two count. High kick by Ibushi, he picks up Nakamura and he hits the sit-down Last Ride for a two count. Ibushi goes up to the top turnbuckle and goes for the Phoenix Splash, but Nakamura rolls out of the way and hits the Boma Ye to the back of the head. Nakamura kicks Ibushi into the ropes and kicks him repeatedly in the head. Slap by Ibushi and he punches Nakamura into the ropes. Nakamura pushes the referee into Ibushi and delivers a hard right of his own, and Nakamura snaps off the cross armbreaker takedown. Ibushi blocks him from fully locking in the cross armbreaker and stomps his way out of the hold. Ibushi picks up Nakamura and applies the sleeper before hitting a sleeper suplex. Ibushi goes for the Boma Ye and nails it, cover, but Nakamura kicks out at one. Ibushi punches Nakamura in the back of the head but Nakamura gets back up and kicks Ibushi back into the corner. Repeated kicks by Nakamura and he steps on Ibushi’s face. Ibushi catches a Nakamura kick and slaps him, knee to the stomach by Nakamura and he hits Ibushi to a seated position, but Ibushi stomps on Nakamura’s stomach when he goes for the Boma Ye. Nakamura rolls out to the apron, but Ibushi springs up to the top rope and suplexes Nakamura over the top rope back into the ring. Cover, but it gets a two count. Ibushi picks up Nakamura and goes for the package suplex, but Nakamura elbows out of it. Mounted elbows by Nakamura, he goes up to the second turnbuckle and hits a Boma Ye. Ibushi gets back up and both wrestlers knee each other, but Nakamura gets Ibushi on his shoulders and hits the Landslide. Boma Ye by Nakamura, and he picks up the three count. Your winner and still champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
Match Thoughts: I’m not sure at what point in this match it went from “normal match” to “I hate you and wish you were dead”, but when that switch was hit the magic started. I’ve never seen Ibushi be so dickish before, he just got tired halfway through the match of Nakamura toying with him and started returning the favor. Nakamura didn’t stop either of course so it ended with two wrestlers not only trying to win but also trying to embarrass and hurt each other at the same time. Ibushi hitting the Boma Ye, later he no-sold one, hitting that insane suplex off the ropes I’ve never seen before…. Ibushi came to fight. Even beyond that it was a good hard hitting match, but it was after they went to the ‘next level’ that business really picked up. I just enjoyed everything about it, it had the swagger and emotion you want combined with precise strikes and WOW moments. A great, great match between these two, Ibushi proved that he belongs wherever the hell he wants to be, no one can ever doubt him again after a match like this. Score: 9.0
(c) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
This match is for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Tanahashi and Okada circle each other, tie-up, waistlock by Okada, reversed by Tanahashi but Okada applies a wristlock. Tanahashi trips Okada and applies a side headlock, Okada slips out of it and applies a side headlock of his own, but Tanahashi eventually Irish whips out of it but Okada shoulderblocks him down. Okada goes off the ropes but Tanahashi trips him and applies a side headlock. Irish whip by Okada but Tanahashi shoulderblocks him down. Side headlock takedown by Tanahashi but Okada quickly gets out of it and both men are back on their feet. Tie-up, Okada pushes Tanahashi into the corner but Tanahashi switches positions with him, Okada pushes Tanahashi into the ropes and they roll down the ropes into a different corner. Hard elbow by Okada but Tanahashi returns the favor, elbows by Tanahashi and they go back and forth in the corner elbowing each other. Uppercut by Okada but Tanahashi hits his own uppercut, scoop slam by Tanahashi and he goes up to the second turnbuckle but Okada runs over and uppercuts him over the top rope down to the floor. Okada goes outside as well and he throws Tanahashi into the guardrail before delivering a big boot. Okada picks up Tanahashi, he drapes his legs over the guardrail and hits a DDT to the floor. Okada returns to the ring but after a moment he goes back out and takes Tanahashi up the ramp. Okada goes for a tombstone but Tanahashi blocks it and they trade elbows. Jawbreaker by Tanahashi, he runs up the ramp and then comes back to Okada, but Okada gets him on his shoulders and the Heavy Rain onto the ramp. Okada picks up Tanahashi and takes him back towards the ring and slides him in, Okada gets in the ring as well, snapmare by Okada and he hits a sliding kick. Okada picks up Tanahashi and throws him into the corner, elbow by Tanahashi in the corner and he hits a second one. Irish whip by Okada but Tanahashi moves when he charges in, Okada kicks Tanahashi back however and hits a scoop slam. Tanahashi rolls out of the way of the senton, Irish whip by Tanahashi, reversed, but Tanahashi hits a jumping elbow smash.
Tanahashi picks up Okada, scoop slam in front of the corner and he hits a somersault senton off the second turnbuckle for a two count. Tanahashi goes off the ropes but Okada catches him with a flapjack. Okada charges Tanahashi but Tanahashi knocks him back, Tanahashi goes for a rebound crossbody but Okada moves out of the way. Okada applies a modified chinlock but Tanahashi gets a foot on the ropes to force a break. Okada picks up Tanahashi and hits a scoop slam, he goes out to the apron and hits the slingshot senton. Cover, but it gets a two count. Tanahashi slowly gets back up, elbows by Tanahashi but Okada shrugs them off and hits a hard elbow of his own. Tanahashi and Okada trade elbows, uppercuts by Okada, Irish whip, reversed, Okada goes for a kick but Tanahashi catches it and elbows Okada in the leg. Okada elbows Tanahashi as he charges in and dropkicks Tanahashi to the mat. Okada picks up Tanahashi, he puts him on his shoulders but Tanahashi reverses it with a Sling Blade. Cover, but it gets a two count. Tanahashi charges Okada but Okada picks him up and puts him on the top turnbuckle. Tanahashi knocks Okada back but Okada jumps up and joins him. Okada tries to get Tanahashi on his shoulders but Tanahashi elbows out of it, headbutts by Tanahashi and he knocks Okada to the mat. Tanahashi goes for the High Fly Flow but Okada rolls out of the way and hits a running uppercut. Cover, but it gets a two count. Okada picks up Tanahashi and he hits the Reverse Neckbreaker, cover, but it gets a two count. Okada picks up Tanahashi and hits a scoop slam, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits the diving elbow drop. Okada picks up Tanahashi and goes for the Rain Maker but Tanahashi ducks it and rolls up Okada for a two count. Elbow by Okada and they trade big boot attempts, but Tanahashi catches one and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Tanahashi kicks Okada in the leg in the corner, Irish whip, reversed, but Tanahashi dropkicks Okada in the knee as he charges in. Okada rolls out of the ring to re-group but Tanahashi goes out after him, Irish whip by Tanahashi, reversed, but Tanahashi moves when Okada charges in and Okada goes sailing over the guard rail. Tanahashi goes up to the top turnbuckle and he dives off with a plancha over the railing onto Okada.
Tanahashi picks up Okada and drags him back to ringside, sliding him into the ring. Tanahashi goes up to the top turnbuckle, he waits for Okada to get up but Okada charges in. Tanahashi aborts his dive and he hits the Sling Blade. Tanahashi quickly goes back up top and he hits a diving crossbody, but Okada rolls through it and goes for the tombstone. Tanahashi reverses it and hits a tombstone of his own, he goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a High Fly Flow to Okada’s back. Tanahashi goes up top again and hits another High Fly Flow, cover, but Okada gets a shoulder up. Tanahashi goes for the Cloverleaf but Okada kicks him off. Tanahashi picks up Okada and he delivers an uppercut followed by a Sling Blade. Waistlock by Tanahashi and he goes for a Rainmaker but Okada ducks it and hits a Rainmaker of his own. Cover but Okada, but Tanahashi barely gets a shoulder up. Okada picks up Tanahashi and elbows him, but Tanahashi elbows him back. They keep trading elbows as they get up, Okada gets up Tanahashi in the tombstone but Tanahashi reverses it with a victory roll for a two count. Dropkick by Tanahashi and he slaps Okada to the mat. Okada ducks one however and he slips in a backslide for a two count. Trapped German by Tanahashi, but it gets a two count as well. Tanahashi grabs Okada from behind and goes for the dragon suplex but Okada gets out of it and hits a German suplex hold for a two count. Okada goes for the Rainmaker but Tanahashi ducks it and hits the dragon suplex hold for a two count. Tanahashi goes off the ropes but Okada levels him with a dropkick. Okada picks up Tanahashi but Tanahashi again ducks the Rainmaker, Tanahashi rolls out to the apron and pulls Okada’s leg through it so he could hit a dragon screw leg whip. High Fly Flow by Tanahashi while Okada is twisted in the ropes, and Tanahashi hits a dragon screw while Okada is lying on the mat. Tanahashi goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a High Fly Flow as Okada is sitting up, he goes up top again and hits another High Fly Flow. Cover, and he picks up the three count. Your winner and still champion: Hiroshi Tanahashi
Match Thoughts: A great main event, but not up to the level of the previous match as there were some little things here and there that I didn’t really like. For example, Tanahashi is the first person ever to kick out of the Rainmaker, which with the way the match was structured made sense, but they immediately went into a trading elbows spot. Tanahashi didn’t act dead like it was a desperate kickout, it just set the match back to even again and it made it seem like it would be much much harder for Okada to win the match. I also wish Tanahashi had a better variety of ‘near the end’ moves as winning the match with three High Fly Flows just seems excessive, he hit at least five in the match, depending on if you count the crossbodies. As for the things I liked, these two have great chemistry, and the time just really flew by as none was wasted. They work together as well as any two wrestlers in New Japan and couldn’t have a bad match if they tried, their matches are almost art at this point. It also had some memorable spots, like Tanahashi diving off the turnbuckle over the guardrail, not bad for a 38 year old. This made Okada a more sympathetic character as he was crying as he left the ring, as he still has issues beating the company ace, so it also set the stage going forward as any major main event should do. So overall more good than bad, it just wasn’t quite as good as some of their other matches in recent memory. Score: 8.0
Final Thoughts:
Best Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi. This match had it all. It had the brutality, the drama, the emotion, the awesome moves, just everything. The funny thing is I think the rematch could be even better which is why I didn’t go even higher with my score, since it took half the match to establish that Ibushi could be just as mean and brutal as Nakamura was. But it worked within the story of the match, Ibushi was his normal self and then the mean streak came out and I was on the edge of my seat in awe. A must see match for any fans of any wrestling ever.
MVP: Kota Ibushi. I’ve seen a lot of Ibushi matches and I’ve always liked him. The ‘knock’ on him was that he was too lanky to be credible to go against the heavyweights of the world, which is why he mostly did Jr. Heavyweight stuff even though he is tall and quite strong. Well New Japan finally saw the light last year and this match established what his fans already knew – Ibushi can stand up to anyone. He was just as tough, just as brutal, just as deserving of a win against Shinsuke Nakamura, one of the most respected wrestlers in New Japan. Ibushi took it to him, held is own, and in the end out-shined him as well. Henceforth Ibushi can go toe to toe with anyone he wants, I am not saying he has a IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his near future but there is no match he would go into that he could be seen as an underdog. Great showing and proof that a wrestler can start as a flippy indy wrestler and end up stealing the show at the Tokyo Dome.
Overall: From top to bottom this is one of the best cards I have seen in a long time. Every match accomplished what it set out to do, with the only letdown being the Taguchi/Omega match. There was also great variety here as you had heavyweight sprints, regular heavyweight matches, clubberin’ matches, a Pancrase style match, a spotfest, storylines, drama… you name it, it was here. Then to top it off you have two matches that will be on most people’s Top 20 lists when the year ends, and maybe more as I know some people liked Ishii/Makabe and Suzuki/Sakuraba more than I did. So whether you see the Japanese version of the American version with good ‘ol JR, you need to see this event, it was just awesome fun from start to finish.
Grade: A+
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