NJPW Dominion 2019: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables de Japon) vs. Kota Ibushi (c) – IWGP Intercontinental Championship

Both men started this match fast, but Ibushi nailed a kick to Naito’s chest, sending him crashing to the mat. Naito hit an enziguri and locked on a submission over Ibushi’s neck. Ibushi made the ropes and Naito started stomping on Ibushi’s head. The Osaka crowd booed Naito, and his history there continues. Naito, of course, got even more heelish in response, reading the reaction of the crowd perfectly.

Ibushi tried to engage in strikes, but Naito gouged the eyes and hit an inverted atomic drop before going for a dropkick to the knees. Ibushi leaped into the air and hit a flying double stomp, dodging the dropkick. Ibushi hit a series of strikes, and then hit a hurricanrana that sent Naito to the floor. Ibushi hit a corkscrew plancha, nailing Naito.

Naito broke out of a waistlock, went for a German, but Ibushi blocked. Naito hit an enziguri, but Ibushi managed to hit a German suplex. Naito got up and hit a tornado DDT, driving Ibushi to the mat, and both men were down. The fans now started chanting for Naito, showing that the boos are really boos of love, and Naito hit a shotgun dropkick, but Ibushi kicked out.

Ibushi slipped off the top rope and hit a pele kick on Naito before going for his deadlift German suplex. Naito fought out and went for a tombstone to the floor, but Ibushi fought out and went for German to the floor.

Naito elbowed his way out and went for a German suplex to the floor of his own. Naito hit a German suplex off the apron, but Ibushi hit his head right off the apron. Oh my goodness, that was horrifying. Ibushi managed to make his way back into the ring before the 20-count.

Naito put Ibushi on the top rope and hit a reverse hurricanrana off the top rope and Ibushi somehow kicked out. Ibushi blocked destino and spiked Naito’s head into the mat with a modified tombstone. That looked way worse than it was, but goodness. Ibushi and Naito started to exchange strikes while on their knees, with Ibushi saying “Come on!” Ibushi and Naito bot got to their feet and started with the forearms.

Naito hit a big headbutt to the neck of Ibushi and followed up with several to the back of the head of Ibushi. Ibushi responded with a massive lariat that turned Naito inside out. Ibushi went for the Boma Ye, but Naito dodged and hit a dragon suplex before hitting destino! Ibushi kicked out! Naito went for another destino, but Ibushi countered and hit a knee to the chest of Naito before hitting the Golden Star Powerbomb. Naito kicked out.

Ibushi exposed his knee and went for Kamigoye, but Naito countered with a huge DDT. Naito managed to hit an inverted tornado DDT, but Ibushi kicked out. Naito picked Ibushi up and went for destino again, but Ibushi blocked and went for what looked like the One Winged Angel! Naito reversed and hit an inverted hurricanrana and Valentia! Ibushi kicked out. Naito killed him with another destino and scored the pinfall! We have a new champion!

Result: Tetsuya Naito

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

Naito defeated Ibushi clean here, becoming a 4-time IWGP Intercontinetal Champion. Now, for his goal of being the first man in NJPW to hold the IC title and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. NJPW has done a very good job setting up great stories heading into the G1.