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

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom is one of the biggest shows of the year and is comparable to WrestleMania in terms of the scale for NJPW. The show normally takes place on January 4th every year, though this year a bit different with NJPW holding a triple header weekend with two shows in the Tokyo Dome (Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 1 & 2) and NJPW New Year Dash on the 6th.

The stakes in this show couldn’t be higher, with several high-profile matches. The biggest being Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay White for the IWGP Intercontinental championship. The winners of each of those matches move on to night two where a double title match will main event, while the losers will compete against each other as well. This three days of shows will prove historic for NJPW.

Also on the show will be Chris Jericho vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, and if Tanahashi wins, he will get an AEW World title shot. This has led to speculation that a partnership between the two companies might be in the mix, but no official word is out. It’s safe to say that if Tanahashi wins, the two have come to some sort of agreement, but Jericho winning doesn’t mean there can’t be one down the line either. Either way, the stakes are very high in this one too.

Preshow

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Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji, & Great Bash Heel (Tomoaki Honma, & Togi Makabe) vs. Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors, Karl Fredericks, & Toa Henare

This match featured a battle between the NJPW Japan Dojo and the NJPW LA Dojo, with Henare leading the LA Dojo crew, and GBH leading the Japanese dojo. All five young lions got a chance to shine in this one, with Tsuji standing out to me the most. He had a Boston crab on Henare at one point and ate several chops before letting go of the submission. Henare scored the pinfall with a Toa Bomb.

Result: LA Dojo & Henare

Rating: ** (2 stars)

The young lions in this group are a very exciting bunch. Some of them are getting in ridiculous shape, and you can tell they will be ready for excursion soon, meaning that they are going to start developing their characters soon. Very exciting to see them develop.

Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata vs. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Tenzan and Nagata attacked Nakanishi right away, but Nakanishi hit a suplex on both men before continuing to overpower both of them and tagging out to Nagata. After some standard exchanged between all the legends here, Kojima was able to score the pinfall over Nakanishi with a lariat. Solid little opening tag here.

Result: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Kojima was the right guy to get the win in this one, as he has the most mileage left in his career and can easily bounce into a midcard to upper midcard feud, no problem. Plus, if you need a challenger for the tag titles, it’s always helpful to have TenCozy have a few wins under their belt.

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The main card is opening with the first of Liger’s two retirement matches, and I’m not ready to see Jyushin Thunder Liger retire yet. These matches will be very emotional for me, though I don’t expect much in the ring on the first night, as many of the men have been long retired. Nonetheless, this is a perfect way for Liger to sign off, having a tag match with his friends and rivals.

Tiger Mask, Great Sasuke, Tatsumi Fujinami, & Jyushin Thunder Liger w/ El Samurai vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Shinjiro Ootani, & Naoki Sano w/ Kuniaki Kobayashi

I didn’t realize how unprepared I was for Liger’s second last match, as I started tearing up as soon as his music hit. Liger came out to a huge roar from the crowd and he got a massive reaction when the bell rang. Liger started the match with Sano and immediately locked him into a surfboard.

Sano countered with a dropkick when he was on his feet and hit a suicide dive onto Liger on the floor. Ootani tagged in and face washed Liger, showing the world where Samoa Joe got it from. He went for a second one, kicking Liger again, but also hitting Sasuke on the floor. He went for a third, but Liger hit 3 Shotei’s to drop him and he tagged out to Tiger Mask.

Tiger Mask and Takaiwa were in the ring exchanging leg kicks before Takaiwa hit a Death Valley Driver on Tiger Mask before tagging out to Taguchi, who hit Tiger Mask with several hip attacks. Taguchi tagged out to Sano, who hit a sole butt, and then tagged out to Ootani. Sasuka made his wat in but missed a senton on Takaiwa.

Sano tagged in and missed a double stomp. Sasuke took advantage and went to the top rope, but Sano managed to hit a superplex. Both men tagged out, leaving Liger and Taguchi in the ring. Liger hit an atomic drop and hurricanrana for a 2 count. Liger rolled up Taguchi as Sasuke crashed to the floor, missing an attack, for another 2 count. Taguchi hit a running hip attack, but doing Nakamura’s motions. Taguchi then hit the Dodon for the pinfall.

Result: Ryusuke Taguchi, Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Shinjiro Ootani, & Naoki Sano

Rating: **1/2

Liger’s second last match here went exactly as he wanted – getting to showcase his friends before putting someone over. Liger is one of the most unselfish wrestlers of all time, and one of my favourite ever. If you want to read how Liger has been a huge part of my wrestling fandom, you can read something I wrote on Voices of Wrestling about him.

Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, EVIL, & SANADA) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Suzuki-gun immediately attacked LIJ, tying to get the advantage early, but EVIL was able to get Suzuki down in the corner, hitting a running bronco buster for a 2 count. Suzuki was not happy about this, so he grabbed a chair at ringside and hit EVIL with a chair. Suzuki scared Gino on commentary as he beat on EVIL right in front of him.

Back in the ring, Shingo managed to get control, running wild all over Suzuki-gun before eating a kick form Taichi. Taichi ripped his pants off, to the horror of everyone, and hit a few more kicks on Shingo. Shingo and Taichi hit double clotheslines, but Taichi countered another with a kick to the head. Shingo hit a lariat, and Taichi kicked him in the head again and both men were down.

ZSJ and SANADA tagged in and exchanged some very fast offence that ended with SANADA dropkicking ZSJ and then locking on the Paradise Lock on Despy. ZSJ was left in the ring dominating the other members of LIJ before locking on Cremation Lily on BUSHI for the verbal submission to win the match.

Result: Suzuki-gun

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Perfectly acceptable tag match here that helped setup ZSJ/SANADA for tomorrow. The rest was a bit incidental, though I expect the battles between EVIL and Suzuki will play into future bouts. Shingo had a few chances to shine, and I expect that 2020 is going to be a huge year for him, with Shingo stepping up into the main event. BUSHI and Despy need to get back track in the Jr. Tag division, but that will happen eventually, I think. Minoru Suzuki not having a match tomorrow night (yet) seems like a huge oversight.

CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, & Hirooki Goto) vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, Bad Luck Fale, & KENTA)

Yano decided to start the match, but immediately wanted to tag out when he saw Fale was starting the match on the other side. Everyone else refused to tag in, so Yano yelled “OK!” and charged for a shoulder tackle, but Fale no sold it. Yano took off one of the corner pads and then tagged out to YOSHI-HASHI. Chase Owens tagged in and YOSHI-HASHI hit a flipping neckbreaker on Owens.

That didn’t last long though, as Yujiro managed to get a little heat on YOSHI-HASHI before tagging out to Fale who slammed him and then stood on his face and back. Owens joined in and stood on YOSHI-HASHI’s back as well. Bullet Club continued to show good tag team wrestling as Owens and Yujiro hit a few double team moves on YOSHI-HASHI.

Ishii saw enough and ran over Owens and hit a German suplex on Yuijro before trying to suplex Ishii. Fale slammed him, but Yano slapped Fale in the head. Fale turned around and Yano screamed and tried to run, but Fale followed him to the outside and beat on him. KENTA and Goto came into the ring and tried to murder each other. Goto hit a lariat and a few others moves for a 2 count.

KENTA went for Go to Sleep, but Goto fought out. KENTA replied with a DDT and tagged out to Yujiro. After a 3 on one attack, Yujiro managed to get a near fall on Goto, but that didn’t last long. Ishii managed to suplex Fale, which the announcers freaked out about, and then Goto hit a GTR on Yujiro for the 3 count!

Result: CHAOS

Rating: ***

Very solid match here that sets up the NEVER Openweight Six-Man tags and the NEVER Openweight Championship match as well. Bad Luck Fale was not pleased after this match, and KENTA looked like he wanted to murder Goto. Goto looked all business, very confident. Their match is going to be great tomorrow.

Guerillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga) w/ Jado (c) (Bullet Club) vs. David Finlay & Juice Robinson – IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

Finlay and Juice ran right up the ramp and attacked, but it didn’t pay off, as GoD were able to fight back and bring Juice into the ring to start to get the heat on him. Juice did manage to fight back and tag out to Finlay, but Finlay didn’t have much luck, as he was pulled off the top rope and crashed back first into the top turnbuckle. Loa then hit a running powerslam before tagging out to Tama Tonga. Tama and Tanga hit two slingshot sentons on Finlay for a 2 count.

Juice makes it in and hits two big elbows on Tanga Loa, a running clothesline, and then a spine buster on both men. Juice hit a lariat to each man, who were in opposite corners, and then hit a cannonball on both. Juice hit a running leg lariat on both men before tagging Finlay back in, who hit a dive on Tanga Loa. Finlay then hit a dropkick on Tonga, and Juice hit a Russian leg sweep for a 2 count.

Juice went to the top rope while Finlay tried to superplex Tama Tonga, but Tanga Loa came in and dropped him, and then Tama Tonga hit a flying elbow on Finlay. GoD went for the Magic Killer, but Finlay fought out. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa hit a combo back suplex and neckbreaker on Finlay, but he kicked out. They hit Magic Killer on Finlay, but Justice broke it up.

They responded with a Magic Killer on Juice too, and then sent him out of the ring. They crushed Finlay in the corner and setup Finlay for a super powerbomb, but Finlay turned it around and hit a hurricanrana on Tanga Loa before rolling Tama Tonga up! Tama Tonga kicked out and sent Finlay into a kendo stick shot from Jado. Finlay kicked out again.

After an exchange of finisher attempts, GoD was not able to put Finlay and Juice Robinson away. Juice hit a big left hand on Jado, then Tanga Loa. Juice hit the Pulp Friction on Tanga Loa, another left hand on Tama Tonga, and then this sent him into a sliced bread by Finlay who scored the pinfall!

Result: Juice Robinson & David Finlay

Rating: ***1/4

Finlay and Robinson have won their first IWGP Tag Team Championship, with David Finlay getting his first taste of gold in NJPW. This was a very solid match that had a finish the crowd wasn’t expecting. They got a very pleasant reaction from the audience, though it is clear they aren’t as big stars as GoD. However, this will go a long way to making them move up the ranks. Very solid tag match. Will Juice Robinson also end up a double champion after tomorrow night? NJPW clearly has some plans for Juice, but I can’t see him becoming a double champion.

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Lance Archer (c) (Suzuki-gun) vs. Jon Moxley – Texas Death Match for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship

Moxley went right after Archer, but Archer followed up with a crossbody right at the start. Moxley sent Archer to the floor and hit a suicide dive, and then they already spilled into the crowd when Moxley sent Archer into the barricade multiple times. Archer took the advantage with a chair, throwing it into Moxley’s face and then beating on hm with a trash can lid.

Archer continued to beat on Moxley with a kendo stick, leaving him laying in the ring with multiple shots. Archer swung the kendo stick at Moxley’s chest before grabbing him by the wrist and walking across the ropes. Moxley grabbed a kendo stick and beat on Archer with it. Archer saw it coming and fell to the apron.

Moxley smashed Archer with a trash can lid and suplexed Archer into two chairs before hitting a knee to Archer’s head. Mox went to the floor, but Archer hit an apron bomb on Moxley before chokeslamming a young lion off the apron onto Moxley. Archer hit the ropes and hit a giant tope onto a bunch of men on the floor.

Archer setup several chairs in the ring, but Moxley tried to hit a Death Valley Driver into the chairs. Lance fought out and hit the Blackout into the chairs! Moxley wouldn’t stay down, so Archer locked on the EVD claw, but Moxley transitioned into an armbar! Archer fought out and did an overhead throw that almost saw Mox land on his head.

Moxley countered a chokebomb with a Death Rider, leaving Lance on the mat, but Archer was able to get up at the count of 9. Mox went for the Elevated Death Rider, but Archer fought out and hit the Derailer and chokeslammed Mox on a chair. Moxley got back to his feet at 9, but barely. Archer hit a big boot and then locked on the EVD claw with a plastic bag over Mox’s head.

Moxley almost went out but got his arm up before the third drop. Archer was not happy with this, so he setup two tables on the floor. Archer grabbed his spiked helmet he wore to the ring and drove it into Moxley’s head before trying to hit the Blackout from the apron to the floor. Moxley fought out and hit the Death Rider from the apron through two tables! Archer and Moxley were both down as the referee began his count. Moxley managed to get to his feet at 7 as the referee counted to 10, and Archer was out! Jon Moxley is the IWGP US Champion!

Result: Jon Moxley

Rating: ****1/4

This was an excellent match from Moxley and Archer. Archer took advantage of a bad situation when he won the title, having replaced Moxley, who couldn’t make it because of the weather. NJPW decided to go with Archer there, and he definitely made the most of it, having the best run of his career in his 40s. Moxley has now reclaimed the title in a great hardcore match that is very different from anything else you will see on a NJPW show.

Moxley grabbed a mic and said “I’m a gambler. I came here to leave with nothing, or everything.” He then said he was going to settle the score with Juice Robinson tomorrow night, once and for all. Simple, but great promo from Moxley here. NJPW is clearly high on Moxley and Archer both, and both have a lot left to offer NJPW. NJPW is also high on Juice, otherwise they wouldn’t have his rematch with Moxley tomorrow night.

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.

Jay White (c) (Bullet Club) w/ Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito – IWGP Intercontinental Championship

White didn’t want to engage Naito right away, so Naito grabbed Gedo on the outside, which drew White out. Naito taunted White with his Tranquilo pose, and Naito decided to hold the ropes open for him. White tried to cheap shot Naito as he got back in the ring, but Naito caught his foot and then hit a neckbreaker from the apron to the floor, which caused the crowd to explode.

The crowd is delighting in the violence committed against White on the floor, as he has done it to so many others. Naito chased Gedo off and threw White into the guardrail before bringing it back into the ring. Gedo got involved and White stomped Naito in the corner in response. White hit a chop and elevated Naito to the apron.

Gedo grabbed Naito’s feet and then White tripped him and pulled Naito crotch first into the ring post. As White distracted the referee, Gedo hit Naito with a chair on Naito’s knee. White attacked Naito with the guardrail, continuing to work over the heavily taped knee of Naito. White hit a Saito suplex in the ring that dropped Naito on his head.

White locked on a Muta Lock, leaving Naito screaming in pain. White pulled Naito’s face into a smile and yelled “Smile for the camera!” Great heel spot. White chopped Naito and drove him back into the corner. Naito got the feet up twice and then hit a hurricanrana, but White did enough damage to the knee to keep Naito down.

Both men got to their feet, and Naito hit a few strikes, a back elbow, and a dropkick on White before hitting a neckbreaker on White again for a 2 count. Naito faked a punch to the face and then spit on White. Naito went for the triangle dropkick, but White got his hands up. Naito paused, and as soon as White lowered his hands, he dropkicked him right in the face. Awesome spot.

Naito locked on a full nelson with his legs, keeping White down on the mat. White dragged himself to the ropes and got out of the submission. Naito went for a German suplex, but White got to the ropes. White countered an attack from Naito and hit a huge spike DDT that made the crowd groan. White hit a Death Valley Driver for a 2 count.

White tried for Blade Runner, but Naito fought out and hit several big elbows on White, sending him to the mat. Naito maintained wrist control, looking like he was going to hold onto for a Destino. Naito hit a forearm smash and went for another, but White countered with a flatliner and then hit a dead lift German suplex.

White put Naito on the top rope and chopped him. White went for a superplex, but Naito fought out and hit a reverse DDT onto his knee before putting White on the top rope and going for a frankensteiner. White pulled his feet out, and Naito crashed face first into the top turnbuckle and crashed to the mat.

White blocked a kick and went back to the knee, and then hit a knee breaker with his shoulder. White spit at Naito and then hit a dragon screw leg whip on Naito. White tried to throw Naito to the ropes, but he fell to the mat. White taunted him, but Naito got back to his feet and hit an elbow. White sent Naito to the ropes again, but he fell again.

Every time Naito tried to walk or run, he fell, and this time he fell right into a uranage from White for a 2 count. White hit a Saito suplex on Naito over the top rope to the floor, and Naito crashed into the apron back first. Thank God it wasn’t headfirst. White went for the Kiwi Crusher, but Naito blocked it twice.

White hit the Blade Buster, and then the Kiwi Crusher on his third try, but Naito kicked out. White hit a chop block on Naito and then hit an inverted dragon screw before locking on an inverted figure four. White two sweeted the cameras he was so confident that this was it. Naito barely made it to the ropes, to Gedo’s great rage.

White kept hammering on the knee and tried to lock on the submission again, but Naito spit in his eye. White was infuriated, but Naito caught him with a kick to the face. Natio stood up and a hit a koppo kick. After a few counters, Naito was able to hit a pop-up spinebuster and both men were down. Naito tried to hit Gloria, but White fought out with elbows.

As Naito was hammering White elbows, Gedo got into the ring and tried to distract the ref. Naito spit on Gedo then hit an enziguri and a tornado DDT on White. Naito hit the Frankensteiner and Gloria! White kicked out. Naito went for Destino, but White sat right down, so Naito dropkicked him. Naito went for it again, but White drove Naito into the referee.

Gedo came in with a chair and tried to hit Naito with a chair, but Naito countered. White low blowed Naito, but Naito was able to hit a suplex. Naito then low blowed Gedo and as he turned around, White hit Naito with a chair and a sleeper suplex. White went for a Blade Runner and spit on Naito’s face. Naito countered into a Destino and both men were down!

Both men got up and White went for Blade Runner again, but Naito fought out. White blocked a Destino, but Naito managed to hit a poison rana! Naito hit Desino, but White kicked out! Naito tried to hit Destino again, but White countered. Naito countered and hit a side brainbuster and then Destino again! Naito got the pinfall! Naito is the IWGP Intercontinental Champion!

Result: Tetsuya Naito

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

This wasn’t as good as the last match, but it was still a very, very good match. Naito and White were smart to rely on more traditional storytelling in this match, with White being more of a traditional heel. NJPW knew the right choice was having Naito win here, and the logical story is having him win tomorrow too, taking both belts.

However, Naito is clearly hurting. If there was ever a time to do it, it has to be now, because Naito is very much so suffering several injuries. NJPW knows what they have here, and I can’t see anyone but him walking out with both titles. Who will NJPW have Naito face at night 2? Read on for the main event.

Kazuchika Okada (c) (CHAOS) vs. Kota Ibushi – IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Okada had one of the best entrances I’ve ever seen for this match. There is no one like him in wrestling today. He carries himself like no other, and he is truly the greatest wrestler in the world, if not of all time. Ibushi is right there with him. Both men started the match with a slower pace, working with hammerlocks and wristlocks.

Both men spent the first few minutes trying to see who could get the advantage. Okada hit a shoulder block, and Ibushi immediately kicked up and both men started exchanging forearms. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Ibushi ducked under and hit several kicks before hitting a standing moonsault for a 2 count.

Ibushi broke the stalemate and locked on a chin lock, trying to wear Okada down. Both men are in this one for the long term and are pacing as such. Okada made the ropes, and then tried to hit forearms when they stood up, so Ibushi kicked the living crap out of him to drop him. Okada hit the ropes and hit a running elbow to knock Ibushi down.

Okada hit a DDT for a 2 count. Okada asked Ibushi to hit him, and he did, but he hit Ibushi with another DDT. Okada yelled “Ask him ref!” while he had a chin lock on, but as they got to their feet, Ibushi hit a dropkick that saw both men down. Ibushi was up first and hit several strikes and then a running kick.

Ibushi ended up on the top rope but Okada dropkicked him to the floor and then booted Ibushi over the guardrail. Okada ran and hit his diving crossbody on Ibushi, as both men crashed to the floor. Okada played to the crowd and they popped huge. Okada locked on a type of Red Ink submission but Ibushi made the ropes. Okada hit a flying elbow drop on Ibushi and then called for the Rainmaker.

Okada went for it, but Ibushi ducked and went for the Pele. He fell a little short, and landed directly on his head, but Okada sort of caught him, saving him from more trauma from it. Okada went for the tombstone, but Ibushi floated out and hit the Bastard Driver, as Chris Charlton called it, for a 2 count.

Ibushi ran at Okada, but Okada sent him backwards and went for the shotgun dropkick, but Ibushi leapt into the air and crushed Okada with a double stomp. Ibushi ran at the ropes and hit the Golden Triangle moonsault on Okada to the floor! After an exchange in the middle of the ring, Ibushi hit the Last Ride for a 2 count.

Ibushi called for the Bomaye, and ran for it, but Okada, hearing the chant of “Yeaoh!” popped up and dropkicked the crap out of Ibushi. Okada wouldn’t let Ibushi use his best friend’s move, as Nakamura, despite being in WWE, is still CHAOS through and through. Okada went for a tombstone, but Ibushi fought out. Okada hit an uppercut that sent Ibushi to the mat, and then he followed with another.

Ibushi didn’t go down and looked angry. Okada tried two more, and then slapped Ibushi. Ibushi chopped the crap out of Okada, but Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. Ibushi just got right up and he punched Okada in the face. The referee told him not to used the closed fist, as Ibushi stood over him and started kicking and beating on Okada with brutal strikes.

The crowd actually started to boo Ibushi here, as he ignored the ref and beat on Okada. Ibushi went for the deadlift German suplex into the ring, but Okada countered into trying the tombstone. Ibushi countered out and tried to lawn dart Okada into the metal ring post, but Okada avoided death and tombstoned Ibushi on the apron.

Ibushi barely made it in, so Okada hit a neckbreaker and a got a 2 count before he hit Heavy Rain for a 2 count. Okada hit a German suplex, and Ibushi crashed onto his head. Okada grabbed he wrist, setting up for the Rainmaker. Okada tried to do the rolling Rainmaker, but Ibushi responded with a lariat of his own.

Ibushi managed to hit the deadlift German suplex from the apron into the ring, causing Okada to crash onto the mat. Okada kicked out at 2. Okada countered another lawn dart and hit a tombstone and went for the Rainmaker, but Ibushi responded with a Rainmaker of his own, smashing Okada right in the head.

Ibushi hit a Bomaye, but Okada kicked out at 1! Ibushi hit another, and Okada kicked out at 2! Ibushi kicked Okada right in the head hit the Kamigoye! Okada kicked out! Ibushi went for one more, but as he pulled Okada in, Okada nailed him with a dropkick! Okada and Ibushi got to their knees and started exchanging forearms.

As they got back to their feet they continued striking, neither man giving an inch. Ibushi got the better of it and kicked Okada right in the head twice to drop him, and then a sole butt, but both men were down again. Ibushi got up first and put Okada on the top rope. Ibushi went for either Bloody Sunday or a Tiger Driver from the top rope. Okada fought out.

Okada went for a dropkick off the top rope, but Ibushi caught him in a powerbomb for a 2 count! Ibushi set Okada on the mat and went for a Phoenix Splash, but Okada dodged and hit a spinning Rainmaker! Okada picked him up and hit the Rainmaker! Ibushi kicked out at 2! Okada was still holding the wrist and pulled Ibushi to his feet and hit another Rainmaker!

Okada held on and pulled him back up one more time and hit one more! Okada posed with the Rainmaker pose and went again, but Ibushi ducked and kicked Okada and hit a V-Trigger! Okada responded with a sit-out tombstone piledriver! Okada picked up Ibushi and hit one more Rainmaker and finally got the pinfall!

Result: Kazuchika Okada

Rating: ******1/2 (6.5 stars)

Well, that match was everything and more. Holy crap, that was incredible. Ibushi and Okada tore the house down, and now we know what the main event of night 2 is going to be. I hope Ibushi is okay, as he took several hard bumps. This is going to be hard to beat as the match of the year, and I don’t think anyone will come close to topping it, unless it’s Okada and Naito tomorrow night.

Naito came out and cut a promo, asking if Okada remembered what he said a few years ago when him and Naito were in the main event. Okada said that he and Naito would meet in the main event of the Toyko Dome again, and Naito said that the time had come. Naito promised that he was going to beat Okada this time and take the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from him.

The crowd exploded and cheered for both men and they faced off, both posing with their titles. Naito left the ring, ready for tomorrow night. Okada was left to close the show. Okada thanked everyone that showed up, thanked Ibushi for the fight of his life. Okada talked about how what he said 2 years ago didn’t matter, and he doesn’t give a crap what Naito thinks. He’s the strongest IWGP Heavyweight Champion ever, and he is promising to win tomorrow.

He thanked the fans again and thanked them in advance for tomorrow. The fans chanted “Okada” very loudly. He said that the fans have seen the best of NJPW and the best of Okada, and he hoped to see everyone tomorrow because he was going to make it rain again. My goodness, this was an incredible promo from Okada. NJPW has clearly made the right choice in making him the ace of the company, because there is no one like him in wrestling.

NJPW has the greatest wrestler of all time as their top guy right now. However, NJPW knows that it is also now or never for Naito to win. I can’t wait for tomorrow night. Naito and Okada are so massively over, and the fact that both men are, has allowed NJPW to do two Tokyo Dome shows in a row. NJPW is hotter than ever right now, and I can’t wait for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 2. This was only night 1 of NJPW’s triple header, so we have two more nights left. I am so excited.

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

I believe this is the highest show rating I have ever given out, but everything here was a great build, and everything paid off with an absolutely incredible main event that is one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen. NJPW has done it again, and they are truly the best big event wrestling company in the world. This is an amazing start to a historic weekend for NJPW, as Okada cements his legacy as the greatest wrestler of all time.

Outside of that, NJPW has also done great things with Moxley, getting him over as the mad man that can’t be stopped. Kota Ibushi hasn’t lost a thinking, and NJPW will likely push him as champion at some point. Ospreay and Hiromu also tore the house down, and Naito and White had a very good match as well. The top 3 matches of the night show that the best wrestling in the world happens in NJPW.