NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega (c) (The Elite) – IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Hiroshi Tanahashi came out looking like the Ace of old, and Kenny Omega came out with new music, from the video game Undertale and dressed as a Final Fantasy type character. Truly awesome stuff from both guys. Tanahashi is here to win his belt back, and Omega wants to prove that he really is the best in the world. The stakes do not get higher in pro wrestling, and the you can feel the buzz in the crowd as the bell rang.

Omega and Tana started exchanging strikes quickly, and Omega went for the One Winged Angle, but Tanahashi countered into a cobra twist. Omega hit a hip toss to escape, but Tanahashi rolled him up, but Omega kicked out. Tanahashi attacked Omega’s knee and begin to try and tear it apart to break down the champion. Omega won’t stay down for long though, and soon there after he’s kicking the life out of Tanahashi.

Omega hit a backbreaker and drove Tanahashi to the mat. Omega continued to work over the back, and Omega’s assault was relentless. Omega hit a back suplex on apron, and both men ended up on the outside. Omega sent Tanahashi crashing into the guardrail and then Tanahashi responded with a dropkick! Omega drove Tanahashi into the apron and slammed Tanahashi over the guardrail onto the Japanese announce table! It took out Milano Collection AT, and Omega then hit a moonsault off the guardrail onto Tanahashi.

Omega mocked Milano and Tanahashi, and worked very much so as a heel here. Omega brought out a table and set it up outside of the ring. Tanahashi took control back in the ring, and hit a big dragon screw leg whip. Tanahashi slammed Omega and hit his somersault senton, but Omega kicked out. Omega hit a big chop and a Kotaro Krusher. Omega went for Rise of the Terminator, but Tanahashi countered. Omega hit a hurricanrana and Tanahashi rolled to the outside.

Omega hit Rise of the Terminator, and hit the ramp so hard, crushing Tanahashi too. Omega hit a big V-Trigger and Tanahashi went to the mat. Omega went for One Winged Angel, but Tanahashi rolled out and went for a Twist and Shout, but Omega countered and went for You Can’t Escape, but as he flipped through, he tweaked his knee, and Tanahashi immediately countered and hit a brutal dragon screw driving Omega’s knee to the mat.

Tanahashi hit a Twist and Shout and locked on the Texas Cloverleaf, making Kenny Omega scream in pain. Omega rolled over, but Tanahashi pulled Omega up and hit a Styles Clash! Tanahashi was sending a message from AJ Styles, the man Omega kicked out of the Bullet Club! Tanahashi went for the High Fly Flow, but Omega got his knees up and just killed Tanahashi.

Tanahashi managed to get up and hit a slingblade on the apron on Omega after another dragon screw. Omega was placed on the table by Tanahashi, and Tanahashi went for a High Fly Flow from the turnbuckle to the outside! Omega dodged, and Tanahashi crashed through the table! That was so brutal. Omega picked up Tanahashi instead of taking the count out and rolled him into the ring. This might come back to haunt him later. Omega hit a huge kick, draping Tanahashi over the middle rope, and he hit a flying double stomp to drive Tanahashi to the mat again.

Omega went for a powerbomb, but Tanahashi kicked out. Omega hit a second powerbomb, but Tanahashi kicked out again. Omega deadlifted him into a third powerbomb, but Tanahashi kicked out again. Omega went for another V-Trigger, but Tanahashi countered with a slingblade! Omega and Tanhashi stood up and both men started exchanging hard strikes, and Omega just started hitting massive knees to Tanahashi’s ribcage. Omega hit a deadlift German suplex, but Tanahashi shrugged it off and Omega hit a slingblade of his own!

Omega went to the top rope and went for the High Fly Flow and nailed Tanahashi! Tanahashi kicked out at 1! Omega nailed another V-Trigger, and both men were on their knees in the middle of the ring. Omega hit another killer knee, and Tana collapsed to the mat. Omega hit another V-Trigger, and went for another, but Tanahashi caught his leg and dropkicked Omega’s knee! Omega went for a dragon suplex, but Tanahashi fought out, and Omega hit a reverse hurricanrana on Tanahashi!

Tanahashi hit another V-Trigger, and went for a One Winged Angel, but Tana fought out, Omega hit a knee and went for the One Winged Angel again. Tanahashi hit a reverse rana on Omega, driving him into the mat! Tanahashi hit a dragon suplex, but Omega kicked out. Tanahashi hit a High Fly Flow, then went for a second and nailed it, but Omega kicked out again!

Tanahashi went to the top rope, but Omega hit another V-Trigger, and tried to hit a dragon suplex off the top rope! Omega sent Tanahashi crashing to the mat! Tanahashi is down, but Omega can’t quite get to him. Kenny hit another V-Trigger and went for One Winged Angel again, but Tanahashi countered and hit a slingblade! Tanahashi hit a High Fly Flow and was finally able to pin Omega! The Ace is back! However, Kenny Omega was never able to hit One Winged Angel. It feels like Tanahashi just barely won. Both men laid in the middle of the ring, completely out. Wow.

Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi 

Rating: ******1/2 (5+ stars out of 5) Unbelievable match. NJPW has seen the Ace reclaim his top position in the company. This was a very emotionally satisfying end to the story being told by NJPW here, as Kenny Omega insisted that Tanahashi was washed up (in class heel fashion). NJPW gave us a great story, and delivered huge. This was a perfect payoff to Tanahashi starting last year looking like he would have to retire due to injury, when in reality, Gedo had us believing exactly what he wanted while he planned for Tanahashi to start 2019 off being on top of NJPW again. They aren’t afraid to have more than one top star, and it benefits the whole company.

Final Thoughts

Show Rating: ***** (5/5)

Absolutely entertaining show from top to bottom. NJPW had done it again, with big announcements, major title changes, and putting over a ton of new stars. To those that complain about Okada losing, understand that they are telling a longer story here. Okada will overcome the heel eventually. NJPW is patient with their booking, and they take their time to build stars. Jay White will be the top heel going forward, and Okada will eventually be on the chase. Okada will eventually dethrone White, probably for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

What’s next for Kenny Omega? Time will tell. However, I wouldn’t rule out him resigning with NJPW or signing with AEW and continuing to work with NJPW. NJPW protected the One Winged Angel in this main event for a reason. I don’t think he’s quite done there yet. There’s still a lot of stories they could tell going forward.

The Ace has returned to his position as the top babyface in NJPW… for now. We’ll see how long it lasts, because you can be sure Jay White, and others like Chris Jericho, are going to be gunning for him and that title. There will be no rest for Tanahashi, as NJPW moves into the new year, and their New Beginning tour. Who is next for Tanahashi I’m sure NJPW has a lot set.

How everything plays out will be very interesting, and we know for sure that NJPW will be taking us on a wild ride in 2019. The next huge show is the G1 Supercard as NJPW and ROH team up in April 2019, but we still have a few other shows before then. 2019 is going to be a big year for NJPW – and many others – and it starts here.