NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 1: Results, Grades, and Analysis

Will Ospreay (c) (CHAOS) vs. Hiromu Takahashi (Los Ingobernables de Japon) – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship

Ospreay started with some takedowns and amateur wrestling, before slapping Hiromu on the back of the head. Ospreay then laid down on the top rope, showing his confidence. Both men started exchanging forearms and then both ran all over the ring until Hiromu finally hit a hurricanrana on Ospreay. This segment was incredible. Hiromu tried to hit the sunset slip powerbomb to the floor, but Ospreay blocked it.

Ospreay went for a rana, but Hiromu powerbombed Ospreay onto the apron and then hit a shotgun dropkick off the apron, sending Ospreay into the guardrail. Hiromu hit two hard chops back in the ring, but Ospreay stood up and hit two hard forearms. Hiromnu raked the eyes and then went for a suplex, but Ospreay blocked.

Hiromu slipped out the back and choked Ospreay with his legs, hanging backwards over the ropes. Hiromu went for a sunset flip, but Ospreay hit a double stomp on Hiromu before hitting a draping DDT, which was super scary. Hiromu kicked out at 2. Ospreay drove Hiromu into the guardrail and then started to work over Hiromu’s neck.

Ospreay hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Hiromu kicked out at one back in the ring. Ospreay hit a snapmare and then kicked Hiromu in the back. Ospreay locked on the Koji Clutch, continuing to work over Hiromu’s neck. Hiromu made it to the ropes, and you could hear the relief in the crowd. The exchanged strikes and then Hiromu did a wheelbarrow into a flatliner on Ospreay.

Hiromu hit a dropkick and a falcon arrow for a 2 count. Hiromu hit two hard chops and tried to Irish Whip Ospreay but ended up chopping him instead. Hiromu kicked the second rope into Ospreay’s throat and Ospreay responded with a handspring spinning koppo kick that sent Hiromu to the floor. Ospreay went for the Sasuke Special, but Hiromu caught him and went for a German Suplex on the floor.

Ospreay landed on his feet and charged, but Hiromu countered into a belly-to-belly towards the ring, which sent Ospreay floating through the bottom rope and back into the ring. Ospreay responded with the Sasuke Special again, and this time he nailed it. Ospreay went for a springboard but missed, so Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick in the corner.

Ospreay ate a clothesline in the corner, but Ospreay hit a top rope 619 on Hiromu before hitting a double stomp to the back of Hiromu’s head on the apron. Ospreay then hit a missile dropkick to the back of Hiromu’s head for a 2 count. Ospreay called for the Hidden Blade, but Hiromu collapsed. Ospreay setup Hiromu on the middle rope and hit the Cheeky Nandos kick before standing on the middle rope with Hiromu on his shoulders.

Hiromu fought out and went up to the top rope and went for a wheelbarrow into the ring, but Ospreay picked him up, but Ospreay countered into the wheelbarrow pinfall, but Ospreay kicked out. Hiromu’s nose was bleeding everywhere, but he hit the Dynamite Plunger for a 2 count. Hiromu picked up Ospreay and went for a Death Valley Driver into the corner, but Ospreay countered with an enziguri and then hit the Robinson special.

Ospreay went for the OsCuttter, but Hiromu blocked it and went for the Time Bomb. Ospreay countered and hit Made in Japan on Hiromu for a 2 count! Ospreay went to the top rope and hit a shooting star press to the back of Hiromu, but Hiromu kicked out and Ospreay hit the OsCutter, but Hiromu just kicked out!

Ospreay couldn’t believe it, so he hit Hiromu with a hook kick and went for a Hidden Blade, but Hiromu ducked and hit a pop-up powerbomb on Ospreay! Both men were down. Ospreay and Hiromu exchanged strikes as they got back to their feet, but Ospreay kicked Hiromu right in the face. Ospreay went for a handspring kick again, but Hiromu caught him and hit a German suplex.

Hiromu went for a lariat, but Ospreay backflipped onto his feet and went for a last ride powerbomb! Hiromu countered that into a Canadian Destroyer, but Ospreay kicked out! Hiromu hit a Death Valley Driver on Ospreay into the corner and then called for the Time Bomb. Ospreay countered out, but Hiromu hit two superkicks that sent Ospreay to his knees. Hiromu went for Time Bomb again, but Ospreay countered with a hook kick and went for Storm Breaker.

Hiromu countered, but Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a 2 count. Ospreay then hit the Hidden Blade, killing Hiromu. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker, but Hiromu countered again into a Code Red for a 2 count! Hiromu yelled “OSPREAY!” and clotheslined him before hitting a Time Bomb, but Ospreay kicked out! This match is madness. The building is going absolutely insane, like this was the main event.

Hiromu hit a giant forearm smash, and then he hit a new finisher that looked like a cradle Time Bomb! Hiromu got the 1-2-3! We have a new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion! Good luck to Naito and White having to follow this. Holy crap, this was insane. The crowd exploded as Hiromu got the pinfall. This match was an instant classic and will absolutely be in the conversation for match of the year.

Result: Hiromu Takahashi

Rating: ****** (6 stars)

I cannot say enough about this match. The story being told, revolving around Hiromu’s neck injury, and Ospreay becoming arrogant, thinking that he was beyond Hiromu now, was just brilliant. Every spot worked towards these things. This match was very hard to follow, and it is easily one of the best Jr. Heavyweight matches I’ve ever seen. NJPW has something so special with Hiromu Takahashi and Will Ospreay. This is a feud for the ages, and NJPW knows it.