NJPW Hi no Kuni 2018: Review, Grades, and Analysis

BUSHI (Los Ingobernables de Japon) vs. El Desperado (Suzuki-gun)

Desperado was left reeling as BUSHI took it right to Desperado as he entered the ring, dropkicking him to the outside and hitting a flying hurricanrana to the outside. BUSHI then sent him flying over the guardrail and into the crowd before throwing him back in the ring. BUSHI then choked El Desperado with his shirt, before the ref took the shirt away from him.

El Desperado pulled the ref in the way of BUSHI running, then hit a spear after the distraction. The action went back to the outside and Despy threw BUSHI into the guardrail and took him up the entrance ramp. Despy tried to take the mask off BUSHI, but the ref stopped him twice, and he made his way back to the ring. BUSHI made it back before the countout.

Desperado continued the assault in the ring, and tried to take the mask off again. BUSHI is probably not going to let that stand. There might be a poison mist in his future. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and took advantage again. But Desperado kept going back to the mask before being able to lock in a stretch muffler. BUSHI made the ropes, but barely escaped.

BUSHI managed to hit a Canadian Destroyer, which was quite unexpected, and hit a standing MX before going for a standard one off the middle rope. Kanamaru pushed BUSHI off the top rope, leading to a DQ.

Result: BUSHI via DQ.

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

A brawl broke out with Hiromu Takahashi, who came out for the save, and we went immediately to the match with Kanemaru.

Hiromu Takahashi (Los Ingobernables de Japon) vs. Kanemaru (Suzuki-gun)

This one was fun, but it started a bit slow with Kanemaru getting the heat on Hiromu for about 10 minutes. Hiromu eventually turned it around with a belly to belly in the corner that drove Kanemaru into the mat. He fired up and got a great pop from the crowd. The ref was eventually bumped, and Desperado came into the ring. He held Hiromu while Kanemaru went to spit whisky into his face. Hiromu ducked, and BUSHI ran in and spit the poison mist into Kanemaru’s face.

Hiromu then hit the Dynamite Plunger, but Kanemaru kicked out. Takhashi hit the Death Valley Driver into the corner, and followed it with a Time Bomb for the pinfall victory. Good match and payoff to the interference before, as the babyfaces got their revenge.

Result: Hiromu Takahashi

Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5