NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Will Ospreay (CHAOS) vs. Kota Ibushi (Golden Elite) (c) – NEVER Openweight Championship

Ibushi and Ospreay started very fast, going for finisher attempts right away. Ibushi went for the Golden Triangle Moonsault to the outside, but Ospreay countered and kicked Ibushi in the face while he was upside down in midair. Ospreay then hit a Space Flying Tiger Drop, rolled Ibushi in, and Ibushi kicked out. Ospreay worked over Ibushi’s back for a little bit, and then started exchanging forearms with Ibushi.

Ospreay hit the ropes, and Ibushi hit a snap hurricanrana. Ibushi then hit a springboard corckscrew moonsault on Ospreay. Back in the ring, Ibushi rolled through and hit a German suplex, driving Ospreay to the mat. Ospreay hit a handspring kick, and both men are down. Ospreay hit a Cheeky Nandos kick, and went back to the forearms, sending Ibushi down to the mat. Ibushi fired up and ate a few shots before hitting a kick and a chop. After a wild exchange of counters, Ibushi hit a Boma Ye, honouring Shinsuke Nakamura.

Ibushi hit the Golden Star Powerbomb, and Ospreay kicked out. Ibushi went for a phoenix splash, but Ospreay cut him off, and he landed in the tree of woe. Ospreay and Ibushi started to exchange slaps with Ibushi upside down, and Ospreay killed him with some kicks to the head. Ibushi hit Ospreay with double stomp while Ospreay was sat on the middle rope, and Ibushi was on the top, sending Ospreay crashing to the apron. Ibushi went for his deadlift German suplex into the ring, but Ospreay landed on his feet! Ospreay hit a kick, went for the Os Cutter, but Ibushi caught him and hit a straight jacket suplex!

Ospreay avoided the Kamigoye and Ibushi hit a series of strikes before Ospreay destroyed him with a lariat. Ospreay went for Storm Breaker, but there was a series of counters that ended with Ibushi hitting an inverted cradle piledriver, but Ospreay kicked out. Ospreay dodged another Kamigoye, hit an elbow to the back of Ibushi’s head, and then picked up the unconscious Ibushi and hit the Storm Breaker for the 1-2-3. Will Ospreay wins.

Result: Will Ospreay 

Rating: ****1/2 (4.5 stars out of 5)

Kota Ibushi was carried out on a stretcher after this, and he may have suffered a concussion in the final sequence. We hope he is OK.

Roppongi 3k (SHO & YOH) w/ Rocky Romero (CHAOS) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Despeardo & Kanemaru) (c) – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

The match opened with RPG 3k taking it to the other four men, hitting stereo tope con giros. Suzuki-gun cut them off, but the action was fast and furious, seeing Shingo and SHO facing off and exchanging a series moves. BUSHI and Kanemaru both went for the poison mist and a spray of whisky, but SHO and YOH superkicked them, sending both sprays up in the air. Shingo then took out both men, and threw both SHO and YOH around the ring. Shingo hit Last of the Dragon on SHO and got the 1-2-3! We have new champions.

Result: LIJ 

Rating: ***1/4 (3.25 stars out of 5)