NJPW Dominion 2019: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Tomohiro Ishii (CHAOS) vs. Taichi (Suzuki-gun) (c) w/ Miho Abe – NEVER Openweight Championship

Taichi went to the outside of the ring, and Ishii laid on the mat, begging him to come in. Taichi stomped him, and Ishii no sold it all. Ishii slowly got to his feet, looking angrier and angrier before killing him with a well-placed forearm. Taichi tried to gouge Ishii’s eyes, but Ishii gouged back and hit a shoulder block and a big kick to the back. Ishii grabbed Taichi’s microphone and Izuka’s claw and threw it up the ramp saying, “Let’s have a fight without these things.”

Ishii chopped Taichi hard, as Taichi tried a series of kicks, but Ishii kept no selling them and hitting Taichi back. Ishii eventually cracked and showed pain in his leg before Taichi slapped him and kicked him to the mat. Taichi kicked Ishii in the chest and dropped him to the mat. Ishii fought back with a series of hard headbutts, but Taichi hit a spinning middle kick, hit the ropes, and Ishii hit a powerslam.

Ishii started to go to work with chops and forearms, but Taichi dodged a corner dodge and hit a kick to Ishii’s head. Taichi removed his pants to reveal his tights. Oh no. Taichi hit an enziguri and dropped Ishii to the mat. Taichi hit a clothesline to the back and then another kick to the back of Ishii’s head. Taichi hit a huge back suplex, dropping Ishii on his head. Ishii stood up and hit a back suplex of his own, though it was far safer than Taichi’s.

Ishii hit a German suplex and went for a lariat, but Taichi threw the referee into Ishii. Taichi went for a low blow twice, but Ishii blocked both and hit a headbutt. Ishii went for another lariat, but Taichi blocked it, but Ishii spun and hit him with his other arm instead, hit the ropes, and hit another one but only got a 2 count. Ishii went for the Sliding D, but Taichi dodged, hit a kick, and went for the Gedo Clutch, but Ishii kicked out.

Both men hit the ropes, and Taichi nailed a lariat before locking in a version of the dragon sleeper. Ishii fought out, went for an enziguri, but Taichi blocked it and hit a kick a kick to Ishii’s head. Ishii went for a powerbomb, but Taichi powered out and kicked Ishii in the head before hitting a Last Ride Powerbomb. Ishii kicked out. Taichi went for a superkick, but Ishii caught it, and Ishii hit an enziguri.

Ishii hit a series of hard forearms, but Taichi hit an enziguri, but Ishii just no sold it and killed Taichi with a lariat! Ishii hit a brainbuster, and then a Sliding D, and another brainbuster to get the pinfall over Taichi! We have a new NEVER Openweight Champion, and Ishii now holds the record for most title reigns with that title.

Result: Tomohiro Ishii

Rating **** (4 stars out of 5)

I’m not sure why NJPW keeps giving Taichi singles pushes towards midcard titles, but I am always happen when Ishii kills him. Ishii remains one of the best parts of NJPW and consistently puts on great matches, with this one being no exception. Ishii is good enough to get a decent match out of Taichi, which is saying something.