NJPW Power Struggle 2018 Review and Results: Chris Jericho vs EVIL

from njpw1972.com

Tetsuya Naito vs Zack Sabre Jr

They lock up to start, and Zack takes control. Naito’s grounded, but he remains tranquilo and shifts the pressure to ZSJ. Stalemate, tranquilo pose, and they lock back up after a short respite from Naito.

El Ingobernable nails a dropkick. He taunts, and Zack makes him pay with a triangle out of nowhere. The Technical Wizard proceeds to work Naito’s left arm for a bit. Back to their feet. Naito lays in some big strikes, so Zack takes it to the outside and grounds his opponent on the ramp. Naito recovers and makes it back in the ring just before the 20 count.

Submission attempt, but the rope break comes quick. Naito fights back with forearms. Headscissors, basement dropkick, and ZSJ tries to slow things down as he absorbs a barrage of offense. Top rope frankensteiner is somehow reversed into an STF, and Naito is saved by the ropes again. Middle of the ring, they trade strikes and Sabre gets the worst of it.

Tornado DDT, Gloria, and ZSJ is in real trouble for the first time in the match as the timekeeper announces the fifteen minute mark. Flying forearm attempt, but it’s turned into an octopus stretch. Submission transitions as Naito fights his way to the ropes for a third time.

Short European uppercuts and a PK gets a near fall. Zack Driver attempt is countered but Zack goes from submission to submission until Naito explodes back with a high German. Destino, but Zack kicks out. Two more Destino attempts are countered, but the third connects and that’s all she wrote.

Tetsuya Naito def Zack Sabre Jr.

****

It was obvious that Naito couldn’t afford to lose here, and that predictability limited the match’s potential to a degree. Still, both guys worked hard to put together a fun match with an interesting story. Zack dominated the majority of the match, so even though Naito found a way to win, it still feels like Sabre has his number if NJPW ever wants to revisit this matchup in the future.