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

from njpw1972.com

IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Chris Jericho(c) vs EVIL

EVIL charges Jericho before the bell and fires away with strikes. Y2J retreats at the first opening, and EVIL follows him into the crowd where they brawl.

The King of Darkness sets up a table at ringside. Powerbomb attempt is reversed into a backdrop, and Jericho takes advantage with a DDT on top of the announce table followed by a top rope crossbody.

Back in the ring, EVIL tries to fight back, but Jericho downs him, hits a picture perfect lionsault, and goes back up the turnbuckle. The flying back elbow gets a near fall. Eventually, EVIL gets some room and nails a big lariat that sends the IC Champ tumbling over the top rope. He follows up by literally breaking a chair on Jericho’s face.

EVIL goes for a suplex off the apron through the table, but Jericho counters and ends up on the apron as well. EVERYTHING IS EVIL out of nowhere through the table. Holy bleep.

Back in, and EVIL connects with the top rope senton. He keeps up the pressure, but the Walls of Jericho reverses the momentum out of nowhere. Rope break, and EVIL responds with a stiff lariat and the prettiest Darkness Falls I’ve ever seen.

Jericho’s up. They trade strikes and Y2J runs the ropes. Misdirection from EVIL, but the codebreaker connects out of nowhere. EVIL KICKS OUT! More back and forth, EVERYTHING IS EVIL. JERICHO KICKS OUT! Darkness falls attempt, but Jericho rolls through and locks in the Walls. Transition to the Liontamer, and EVIL is forced to tap out.

Chris Jericho def EVIL

If Y2J vs Omega/Naito were fantasy matches, this was some weird, trippy fever dream. I really cannot believe we just watched the actual CHRIS JERICHO wrestle the bleeping King of Darkness. 2018 is so weird and awesome.

Admittedly, this was quite sloppy and botchy at times. To be frank, Jericho looked like a 47 year old man that just got off a booze cruise. Still, I loved every second of it. EVIL brought a level of intensity that I’ve never seen from him before and Jericho was his usual rockstar self.

****1/4

After the match, Jericho puts the Walls back on and Naito’s out to make the save. Y2J retreats as Mr. LIJ gets on the mic and says he wants his rematch. Backstage, Jericho says there will be no rematch.

It’ll be interesting to see where they go from here. Jericho vs Naito seems inevitable for the Dome, but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be quite as straightforward as most thought it would be.