NJPW Dominion 2018: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA & EVIL) (c) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) (Bullet Club) – IWGP Tag Team Championships

The Young Bucks are getting their first shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championships as heavyweights (they challenged The Briscoes once before while still officially juniors). Nick Jackson and SANADA start the match with some quick offence, and the Bucks are over to overwhelm them in the early part.

Matt Jackson has continued to sell his back in this match, and it’s now been six months of him selling a back injury he received in the match with RPG 3K at Wrestle Kingdom. This is fantastic stuff. Nick Jackson went for his apron soccer kick, but missed and kicked the ring post. Nick Jackson is probably going to be selling his leg for the rest of the year now. Matt accidentally superkicked Nick, and SANADA and EVIL take advantage. Nick superkicked EVIL, but sold his foot, and couldn’t take advantage.

Matt came running in, having to save his injured brother. Matt and Nick went for a double superplex on SANADA, but EVIL powerbombed the Bucks in a tower of doom spot. All 4 men are down. Nick’s selling of the foot here has been incredible. The Bucks went for the Meltzer Driver, but EVIL pulled Nick off the apron. Matt got caught in the Skull End, but he reversed and went for a sharpshooter. EVIL cut him off, but Matt locked the sharpshooter on EVIL. SANADA locked in the Skull End. Nick managed to hit a dropkick on SANADA breaking all the submissions up.

EVIL and SANADA hit the Magic Killer but Matt kicked out! Nick couldn’t hit the Meltzer Driver. SANADA and EVIL couldn’t finish either man off. SANADA went for a moonsault, but Matt dodged. Matt and Nick hit a series of superkicks before hitting More Bang for Your Buck on SANADA and getting the pinfall! The Young Bucks are the IWGP Tag Team Champions.

Result: The Young Bucks

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

This was an incredible tag match. Matt and Nick have proven themselves as heavyweights, and they are the best tag team alive today. They are now 8 time tag team champions in New Japan – 7-time Junior Tag champs and 1-time Heavyweight Tag champs! After the match, The Young Bucks hired Don Callis to be their commentator for All In! That sounds like All In is going to be streamed.

Jushin Thunder Liger, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Bullet Club (Cody, Marty Scurll, & Hangman Page)

The early portions of this match saw all six men exchange tags trying to figure out who to start the match. There was some comedy with Cody and Tanahashi, with the crowd anticipating Rey Mysterio making his impact. Once Mysterio got in the ring alone with Scurll we saw some of Rey’s trademark high flying, and he still looks great, despite being in his 40s.

Tanahashi and Hangman exchanged some hard hitting blows. Rey Mysterio managed to hit a 619 on both Hangman and Marty, then Rey hit a flying hurricanrana onto Marty on the outside, while Tana dove and hit Hangman. Cody hit the Cross Rhodes on Liger for the pinfall victory.

Result: The Bullet Club

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

This was a nice teaser match for some stuff to come as Rey Mysterio attacked Cody after the bell. I’m thinking Rey is going to face Cody at the G1 special.