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puroresu-musings · 4 months

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NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 18 in Tokyo Dome Review (Jan 4th, 2024)

New Japan Rambo **

IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship - Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney vs. TJP & Francesco Akira ***1/4

NJPW World TV Championship - Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi ****

Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura ***1/2

Shota Umino & Kaito Kiyomiya vs. EVIL & Ren Narita ***1/4

NEVER Openweight Championship - Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga ****1/2

IWGP Tag Team & STRONG Openweight Tag Championship Double Title Match - Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. El Phantasmo & Hikuleo ***3/4+

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship - Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado ****1/4

Inaugural IWGP Global Championship Match - Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay ****1/2

Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson *****

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito ****1/4

Photos.

This show ruled. Full disclosure, I've fallen behind with NJPW in the last couple of years, and only really get to fully see the major shows, so going in this looked like a solid little card on paper, so my expectations weren't exactly sky high. However, the New Japan crew knocked it out of the park with an excellent, Show of the Year contender. Things started as they always do: The annual "cram everyone humanly possible onto the card" Rambo. We all know what to expect here, and this was better than a lot of previous offerings, but the surprise appearance of Fujita "Jr" Hayato in this years really raised it up for me, as I'm always super pleased to see him back in the ring after all he's been through. Takashi Iizuka turning up was also a nice surprise (absence makes the heart grow fonder, and all that), and it was a kick to be transported back to 2013 with him mercilessly going after poor Shimpei Nogami on commentary. The ending though was very deja vu, as I could have sworn some incredibly similar variant of this was the outcome last year. The final four of Great-O-Khan, Taiji Ishimori, YOH and Toru Yano advanced to face off for the KOPW Title tomorrow.

The main show started in style with the prerequisite Jr Tag Title Match, which featured TJP debuting his new demon gimmick, The Aswang, because he was locked in a casket when last we saw him, you see. My English feed froze at the opening bell on the Aswang mask for ages, and by the time I'd gotten back onto the Japanese feed, I'd missed like three minutes of this, there were brawls all over ringside, The Aswang was wearing a dog collar, and Moloney was bleeding. The final 5 or so minutes I did see were pretty damn good though, so that's what my rating is based on. TJP got this win for him and Akira after he blew the dreaded Dokukiri into Drilla's face, then Catch 22 hit the double knees to regain the titles at 9:38. Next up, President Tanahashi put an end to the 365 day TV Title reign of ZSJ in an excellent 8:53 sprint. These guys always have excellent matches together, and this was no exception. They worked a fast-paced thriller, which boiled down to them hitting a sequence of cradle reversals, before Tana counter a Zack Victory Roll into one of his own, and won the belt to a big pop. President Ace thanked everyone for coming in the post match, and wished us all a Happy New Year. Godly.

Career rivals Tsuji and Uemura had their first non-Young Lion outing on a major show next. This was a very good little match, I've always been high on both guys since they were rookies, and I firmly believe they have incredibly bright futures in New Japan, and are destined to be focal points in the years to come. Even though I do wish they'd do more with Yota. The guy came in super hot, with a ton of hype, and now he's kinda just floundering in the mid-card. And more mid-carders is most certainly not something this company needs! They always have really good matches, so add this one to that list, which ended at just under 11 minutes, when Uemura got the much needed win with his beautiful Deadbolt suplex. Fellow future superstar Shota Umino drove into Tokyo Dome on a motorbike to start his and partner, NOAH "Ace" Kiyomiya's tag match against HoT goons EVIL and Ren Narita next. This was going along really nicely, the three young guys all looked great, and the crowd were very much into, until the standard shenanigans started, which lead to a fairly abrupt finish, which saw Narita deck Umino with a steel plated push-up bar, then score the pin with his Double Cross finish at the 7 minute mark.

The fifth bout saw company MVP Shingo defend the NEVER Title against Tama Tonga in a hard-hitting war, which was by far the best match on the show up to this point. The near 30K in attendance were going crazy for this as they hit all their big spots, massive Lariats and Gun Stun counters. After Takagi scored a great near fall with Made in Japan, Tama went to the Bullet Club well, hitting a Gun Stun, Bloody Sunday AND a Styles Clash, before putting Shingo away with the DSD at 13:46 to claim his 4th NEVER Championship. Excellent stuff here, though seemingly Tama announced afterwards that he's finishing up with the company at the end of the month, so him winning is an... interesting decision. The double Tag Title match followed, which was a rematch of the Tag League Final between Bishamon and GoD. This was another great match, a fun sprint which saw the STRONG Champions win both sets of belts after ELP hit Goto with CRIII, and Hikuleo came off the top with a massive, but very unattractive, Big Splash to win the belts in 9:47. Just before this match, Nic Nemeth (the former Dolph Ziggler) and his brother Ryan turned up to sit at ringside. I think we all know there's some kind of angle coming here.

Speaking of career rivals, Hiromu and Despy faced off for the Jr. Heavy Title in the next bout. We've seen many versions of this match in recent history, and they're pretty much always excellent, so this fit that mould no doubt. Things started hot as Despy hit Hiromu with a Tope con Giro as he made his entrance, and they worked 100 mph from there. The challenger worked over the champions leg to set up the Numero Dos, but it wasn't to be. The finish saw Desperado escape the Hiromu Roll, then hit a Jay Driller, kept a hold and nailed Takahashi with a second Pinche Loco to win the strap at the 14:21 mark to end another great outing. We crowned an inaugural IWGP Global champion next, as Ospreay, Moxley and Finlay had a wild Triple Threat Match. This started with Mox and Ospreay agreeing to work together for the first 5 minutes in order to take out Finlay, then turn their attention on each other, before BC War Dogs Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd ran in. The babyfaces rallied a comeback though, which saw Ospreay put the invaders through tables with a Swanton Bomb to the outside, and Moxley took a post bump and gigged himself. Which I'm sure will shock many. The finishing stretch was insanely hot as Mox kicked at one from a Hidden Blade, but was put down with Stormbreaker, only for Finlay to hit Ospreay with his new Overkill finish, which is essentially a Brainbuster into a Go 2 Sleep, to become the inaugural Global champion in 22:17. In the post match, Finlay got into a shoving match and pull-apart with Nic Nemeth at ringside, which culminated in Nemeth chasing him to the back. So that looks to be Finlay's first title programme. Finlay going over was 100% the right call, with Ospreay leaving as a full-timer, they need to start making some top guys, and he's a good place to start.

Semi final time, and a true dream match next as Okada faced Danielson in a match I'd spent a good decade fantasy booking. After their slightly disappointing first encounter at Forbidden Door in June, due in no small part by Dragon legit breaking his arm during it, they came out with a lot to prove. And they certainly didn't disappoint this time as they had a superb wrestling encounter based around aggression and emotion. As anyone who's been watching Danielson since the ROH days can attest, when Bryan has a grudge with someone (Morishima, Nigel), he goes all out with the intensity, and it usually produces classics. The pacing, the limb-work, the storytelling, the drama... everything about this was essentially perfect. After Okada broke Danielson's arm in their previous match, Dragon obsessively set out to do the same here. And it lead to his downfall. The American Dragon was coming into this one with a fractured orbital bone, so Okada worked over that for a while too. Okada kicked out of a Busaiku Knee, Danielson locked on the same arm submission he tapped Okada out with at Forbidden Door, but The Rainmaker made the ropes. Dragon then stomped his f'n head in and locked in the LeBell Lock, only for Okada to hit a Rainmaker, but he was in too much pain from his devastated right arm, and couldn't make the cover. Danielson hit a big head kick and another Busaiku Knee, but rather than go for the cover, he elected to do the "Yes!" gimmick in the corner, and try another knee, but Okada hit an Emerald Flowsion, a Landslide, then another Rainmaker to fall on top of Dragon, and score the surprise win at the 23:24 (which it felt half of, by the way). This was a masterpiece, and I was legitimately shocked when the three count came. I could have watched this for an hour, it left me very much wanting a rubber match, and this is easily the best match of 2024 so far. They bowed to each other and shook hands in the post match.

The Keiji Muto fan club imploded in the main event as former LIJ stablemates Naito and SANADA (who was even dressed like Muto circa 1995), battled for the World Title. This was an excellent match, one that I didn't have a massive amount of interested in going into this show, but they had a really great clash. It's worth mentioning that something happened to SANADA here, I don't know if it was the biceps injury he's been dealing with since G1, or if he seperated his shoulder or something, but he was in noticeable discomfort through this, and it let to some wonky botches near the finish. They tried multiple times to do a Destino counter, but they couldn't pull it off. SANADA hit Dead Fall for the double down, then an Asai DDT, but Naito escaped a second Dead Fall attempt, and went for Valentia, but SANADA countered into an O'Connor Roll for a super close near fall. A Shining Wizard followed, but Naito turned another Dead Fall attempt into one of his own, finally hit Valentia, then finished the champion off with Destino to win his first World title at 25:42. It's worth pointing out that they clashed heads on the way down on the Destino, and Naito got busted open pretty bad over his eye. With Naito having finally won again in the main event of Tokyo Dome, he was about to Finish His Story, when EVIL and Dick Togo, of all people, ran-in in an attempt to ruin things like KENTA did in 2020. However, they hadn't bargained on SANADA, who nailed his former tag partner with a Shining Wizard, and Naito sent Dick packing with a low dropkick. SANADA then let Naito finish the story a decade in the making, and do his "De-Ja-Pon!!!" roll call to end the show and send everyone home happy. Whilst I applaud NJPW for giving SANADA a go, or just giving ANYONE NEW a shot at the top of the card (it's been very Groundhog Day for a long time up there, and this is something I've been encouraging since NAito at WK8!), I don't think it payed off liked they'd hoped. SANADA is a very good worker, and amazing athlete, but he's just missing something that would make him that major star. Which is obviously something Naito has in abundance, so I'm very pleased he got his big win here, as it was pretty much last chance saloon.

This was a tremendous card, not quite as good as last year's, I don't think, but still great, great stuff and well worth checking out. Especially the Okada/Danielson match!

NDT

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fang-revives · 10 months

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Syb Reviews G1 Climax 33 July 15

Hey all! We’ll see how much I keep up with this but here’s some thoughts on the matches I did watch on the first night of the G1 card! This weekend is free to watch on NJPW World so get on that especially for the matches that are must-watch :D

I’ll keep these brief and spoiler-free so that you can use them as a match guide if you’re strapped for time and want to just watch the highlights. Crossed out matches I skipped so you’ll have to decide for yourself.

1. Yoshi-Hashi vs. El Phantasmo

- Good!! Not a must-watch but it’s really fun to see Yoshi-Hashi’s swagger as IWGP Tag champ, and I’ll be keeping one eye on how El Phantasmo finds a new faction (or doesn’t!) this G1.

2. Chase Owens vs. Gabe Kidd

- pass. You couldn’t pay me to watch a Chase Owens match.

3. Tanga Loa vs. Kenta

- I was only so so on watching this to begin with and my friend said it was nothing special.

4. Ren Narita vs. Shota Umino

- ABSOLUTE MUST WATCH!!!! The Reiwa three muskateers were *the* thing I wanted to watch on this card and BOY did this deliver. They’re really building the chemistry of their rivalry wonderfully. I’d watch this a second time. I can’t wait for the backstage comments on this.

5. Kazuchika Okada vs. Great-O-Khan

- sorry to okada I just don’t find great-o-khan that interesting.

6. Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Yota Tsuji

- ANOTHER ABSOLUTE MUST WATCH!!! God Tsuji is so insanely talented, he has me rooting for him to win A-block. Just a star. And it’s great to see Kiyomiya up there kicking ass. I want him to get his rematch with Okada...

7. Tachi vs. Will Ospreay

- I watched this match for Taichi hometown crowd and I regretted it. It’s not very good I’m sorry to say. I have no idea if Ospreay is working hurt (very dumb) or if that spot he missed in the middle was part of a worked shoot working hurt (also very dumb) but this match dragged so much at the start that we skipped to the last 5 minutes. I do not recommend it.

8. Sanada vs. Hikuleo

- skipped. There will be other matches with Sanada that seem more interesting.

#syb reviews g1 climax 33 #g1 climax 33 #njpw

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elphantasmo · 1 year

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Main event! Sanada - A nice navy suit with brown pocket square and tie. It looks good, but boring. B+ Okada - Brown three piece suit with a red patterned tie. It looks good and compliments his skintone well. A

Best dressed overall: AZM Worst dressed overall: Yoshi-Hashi

#njpw fashion reviews

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mpwma · 1 year

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Tonight is NJPW Battle in the Valley 2023! Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White! We will be reviewing the show SUNDAY! Don't miss out.

#Pro wrestling #pro wrestling podcast #professional wrestling #professional wrestling podcast #wrestling #wrestling podcast #make pro wrestling majestic again #mpwma #njpw #new Japan pro wrestling #njpw battle in the valley #njpw battle in the valley 2023 #battle in the valley #battle in the valley review #eddie kingston #jay white

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sybilius · 2 years

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hi hello I am not kidding when I say I became obsessed with kenta and shibata literally yesterday and reading your fics about them fueled it even more!! so thank you for your amazing writing and I look forward to seeing more :))

HIIII THANK YOU SO MUCH :") :") :")

They're really underrated as a ship tag honestly! It makes sense because as iconic and incredible as their run as tag partners was (literally #Soulmates, please look at this photoshoot they did as youngins.... ) they did only tag for 3 matches in NOAH.

But as a fic writer, I love a challenge and I love a juicy betrayal dynamic. Between the career parallels of them parting ways to go on their own rising star arcs (Shibata's Redemption in NJPW, KENTA becoming NOAH's ace) -- and then the fact that they were in close succession plagued by some bad and scary injuries... there's a lot to work with history-wise there :")

And goddamn, I have to say every time they interact in-ring it's electric. I've been back watching the 2019 G1 with a friend, and the full lead up to KENTA's betrayal, and I have to say both performers pitched the fucking killer drama of "we both knew and loved each other's work in NOAH, but now Shibata burned all his bridges with NOAH to become NJPW's shiny boy, and he's trying to make KENTA his surrogate in the ring right off of KENTA's extremely frustrating WWE run..." Really well. god it's so good, they really did deliberately frame an excellent betrayal story.

I've been thinking a LOT about Tanahashi calling KENTA a "lost little boy" before their G1 match (which KENTA won btw! before his losing streak lol F)-- which SHIBATA THEN GOES AND CALLS HIM THAT after betrayal. God. GOD.

(I have to say I think that this year's G1 is going to be a banger for KENTA's return too -- his block is PACKED with guys that he annoyed after turning heel… fingers crossed for more Shibata drama too …)

in summary: (claps the Takeover's shoulders) These boys can fit So Much Wrestling Lore and tragic divorced energy....

#kenta #katsuyori shibata #takeover #njpw #wrestling fanfiction #kayfabe fanfiction #injury mention #thanks for writing in!#reviews for my fic

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christhebrit2 · 10 months

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G1 Climax 33 Preview

History

The G1 Climax tournament is the most gruelling tournament in New Japan Pro Wrestling and the most prestigious. The winner of the tournament gets a IWGP Heavyweight Title match at Wrestle Kingdom. Wrestle Kingdom is the biggest show of the year for New Japan held at the Tokyo Dome. The tournament winners are a who's who of legendary Japanese wrestlers including the founder of the company Antonio Inoki, Keiji Mutoh (better known in the west as The Great Muta) the Ace of New Japan Hiroshi Tanahashi and the current face of the company and arguably the best wrestler in the world Kazuchika Okada. Only three wrestlers from the west have ever won the G1. The two biggest stars from the 1980s Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan both won the tournament in the early years when it was held under different rules. Kenny Omega is the only Western wrestler to win the tournament under its gruelling modern format.

Rules

The tournament this year is split into 4 blocks of 8 wrestlers with the top two from each block qualifying for the quarter finals. Each block match has a 20 minute time limit. Two points for a victory, One point for a time limit draw and zero points for a loss. The quarter final matches onwards are single elimination with the winner advancing to the next round.

A Block

A Block this year features the current IWGP Heavyweight champion SANADA who faces a unique challenge in that A Block is the youngest block in the tournament. It feels very much like SANADA vs the next generation of Japanese wrestling. Kaito Kiyomiya is an outsider in the tournament representing Pro Wrestling Noah and as a two time GHC Heavyweight champion will be expecting a strong showing. Hikuleo the 6’8 adopted son of legendary tough guy Haku is a prime candidate for a breakout performance in this years G1 and feels like a star just waiting to happen. UK fans have some familiar faces in this years tournament Gabe Kidd is one of 3 UK wrestlers in the tournament and Shota Umino and Yota Tsuji will be familiar to fans of Revolution Pro Wrestling.

Predictions

First place - SANADA

Second place - Hikuleo

B Block

B Block features two of the biggest stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling with Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay. Okada is the face of the company and must be considered the tournament favourite. Will Ospreay is the biggest International talent in the company and is on an incredible run of matches. Ospreay is arguably the greatest pro wrestler to ever come out of the UK and will push Okada all the way for first place. KENTA and Taichi are main stays in the company and will be looking for a strong showing in the tournament. The highflying El Phantasmo will be one to watch and should put in some spectacular performances with his match against Ospreay sure to be a highlight.

Predictions

First place - Kazuchika Okada

Second place - Will Ospreay

C Block

C Block this year is the definition of “Strong Style” and will feature the most hard-hitting contests of this years G1. Tomohiro Ishii The Stone Pitbull, The Dragon Shingo Takagi, EVIL and Eddie Kingston are sure to provide some classic “Strong Style” matches that will showcase there talents nicely. David Finlay the newly cemented leader of the Bullet Club and son of legendary Northern Irish tough guy Fit Finlay will be a force to be reckoned with and alongside his manager Gedo must be considered a favourite. Eddie Kingston is an outsider representing All Elite Wrestling and will be a big fan favourite. Kingston recently won the New Japan Strong championship and grew up a big fan of Japanese wrestling. Kingston carries momentum into the tournament but faces an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter finals against Shingo Takagi who has to be considered a favourite in this block.

Predictions

First place - Shingo Takagi

Second place - David Finlay

D Block

D Block is one of the most competitive blocks in this years G1 tournament and thus hard to predict. Hiroshi Tanahashi is the ace of New Japan and can never be over looked in these tournaments however he isn’t getting any younger and is dealing with injures and may struggle. Tetsuya Naito is one of the most dynamic performers in the tournament but isn’t on a role going into the tournament. Zach Sabre Jr is the greatest technical wrestler in the world and is neck and neck with Will Ospreay for the greatest British wrestler of all time. Hirooki Goto is a hard hitting fan favourite who tends to either excel or disappoint in these tournaments and could be a left field pick for the quarter finals.

Predictions

First place - Tetsuya Naito

Second place - Zach Sabre Jr

#g1 #g1 climax #new japan pro wrestling #njpw #all elite wrestling #aew wrestling #aew #rev pro #pro wrestling #G1 Climax Preview #G1 Climax Reviews By Me

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musicshelfwithmustard · 1 year

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Album Review: "You Can't See Me" by John Cena

Eighteen years ago today professional wrestler and actor (Peacemaker, Fred 2) John Cena released his debut album “You Can’t See Me.” Mustard was a young impressionable condiment when this album was originally released. They were influenced by the online wrestling community which like other fandoms can be both passionate and toxic. On this day Mustard wanted to reflect and review this album with a…

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#aew #hip hop #impact wrestling #John Cena #music review #music shelf with mustard #njpw #rap #wwe #you can&039;t see me

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djvillain · 1 year

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Pro Wrestling Year In Review 2022: Tag Team of the Year

#youtube #countdown #year in review #best of 2022 #tag team of the year #tag team of the year 2022 #ftr #the usos #aussie open #njpw #wwe #aew

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mytastessuck · 2 years

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Yonosuke Kitamura: Styles Clash

youtube

When it comes to AJ Styles, I only like two of his themes: "Demi-Gods" from his ROH days and this theme from NJPW. The former theme has a good beat and really hokey lyrics but you hear this...it comes in second to Devil's Sky as the ultimate "I'm getting fucked up" entrance. Seriously, all those swears in the lyrics...shame on you, AJ. I thought you were a Christian boy.

Song Score: 62/10

#yonosuke kitamura #styles clash #njpw #aj styles #music #review #Youtube

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lionmarkspodcast · 8 months

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Watch along List - Week of 8/28/23

This week on the podcast we will be reviewing the following matches while we follow along with Naito's journey to Tokyo Dome!

NJPW - NJPW CIRCUIT 2008 - w/Yujiro Takahashi vs Jado & Gedo

NJPW - Chaos of Christmas 2008 - w/Yujiro Takahashi vs Togi Makabe & Toru Yano

NJPW - Wrestle Kingdom V - vs Jeff Hardy

NJPW - DESTRUCTION 2011 - vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

NJPW - 40th Anniversary Show - vs Kazuchika Okada

If you wish to follow along, we will discuss these! Send in asks or a mailbag about your reactions to them as well!

#podcast announcements #watch along list

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puroresu-musings · 3 months

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NJPW THE NEW BEGINNING in Osaka Review (Feb 11th, Osaka EDION Arena)

Toru Yano & YOH vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Boltin Oleg **

Bishamon vs. Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman ***1/4

Shota Umino, El Desperado, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask vs. EVIL, Ren Narita, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi **1/4

Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. SANADA, Yuya Uemura, Taichi, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku ***

Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi ****1/2

IWGP Tag Team Championship - El Phantasmo & Hikuleo (c) vs. KENTA & Chase Owens **

Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. *****

10 Man Dog Pound Cage Death Match - United Empire vs. Bullet Club War Dogs *****

Photos.

Wow, what a show this turned out to be. It started pretty ordinary, but ultimately had three exceptional bouts, one of which is the best match of 2024 so far. The show opened with CHAOS teammates Yano and YOH taking on Taguchi and Young Lion Shooter, Oleg. This was perfectly fine, but only went 3:45, so there really wasn't much to mention. YOH scored the win over Taguchi with a roll up. Next, UE Young Boy Callum Newman got a chance to shine in his tag match with O-Khan against Bishamon. This was a good little sprint, with the spirited Newman looking especially good. It wasn't to be his night, however, as he was put away by the veterans at 7:37 with Shoto.

The NJPW Babyfaces took on House of Torture next. This was your typical HoT match, beginning with a brawl, before the babyfaces got their shine, only to succumb to heelish shenanigans. After Dick Togo distracted the ref, Narita hit Tiger Mask with the Metal Plated Push Up Bar Of Doom, before SHO pinned him with a Shock Arrow in 8:43. Post match saw SHO steal Despe's IWGP Jr. Belt and proclaim himself the new champion, so we've got yet another HoT stolen belt deal, and Desperado seems destined to feud with these dorks for his entire reign. This was followed by pretty much the same LIJ vs. J5G match we've seen all tour now. It was a good outing, but I can't say that I'm interested in any of this, aside from Tsuji and Uemura's Hair Match in Sapporo at the end of the match. The two youngsters carried the action in this one, which culminated in SANADA tapping out BUSHI at 11:05 with Skull End to go strong into his Title Match with Naito on the 24th.

Perhaps the final ever Okada vs. Tanahashi match followed, twelve years to the day that the Rainmaker Shock happened in this very same building that made Okada a Superstar. This was excellent, emotional stuff that was by no means the best match these two have ever had, but it was a great send-off for what is perhaps the greatest, most consistent feud ever. I've potentially gone a tad high with the rating, but I don't care, I'm sticking with it, as this one had me invested from the minute the entrances happened. The Osaka faithful were super into this, loudly chanting for Okada at the start, going crazy throughout. Tana, who's definitely in "office shape" at the moment, even turned back the clocks and hit the High Fly Body Attack to the floor, which was awesome. After getting the knees up on a HFF attempt, Okada nailed the Tombstone, but Tana turned the Rainmaker into a small package for a great near fall. After some back and forth which the crowd were totally into, Okada hit a beautiful dropkick, a Landslide, and a Rainmaker to put the President away at 16:50 with one final Rainmaker. The pair embraced in the post match, and a teary bowed to the Lion Mark and Okada bid farewell to Osaka. He only has two matches left in his NJPW career in Sapporo, which should be similarly emotional occasions, and hey, who knows, maybe he could even put someone over on his way out (nudge nudge, wink wink).

The IWGP Tag Title bout that followed was something of a dampener, to say the least. This was the opposite of the last match, the crowd were dead for the most part, and it moved at the speed of smell. It was hovering around one star territory, but things picked up once Hikuleo got the hot tag and ran wild, but it was short lived as the ref got bumped, Taiji Ishimori ran in, hit his old pal ELP with a belt, then Hikuleo, which allowed KENTA to steal the win and the titles. Look, I know New Japan likes and rewards loyalty, and Chase Owens was there for them when they needed people badly, but the notion of him holding a major title in NJPW in 2024 is all kinds of bemusing. And to say the new GoD's Tag Title reign was a bit of a disappointment would be an understatement. These guys deserve better, and I honestly don't have the strength to watch another match between these teams after the two we've already seen so far this year.

Thankfully, things turned around in fantastic fashion with an absolutely perfect display of pro-wrestling between ZSJ and Bryan Danielson. This was a rematch of their 5 star classic in AEW last October, and it managed to surpass that match and is the best bout of 2024 so far. Outstanding grappling and counter sequences throughout this, Dragon used an arm wringer to send Sabre's legs into the ropes, which he then proceeded to work over the whole match with intense kicks and leglocks. Zack fought back, working over Danielson's neck. Lots of Romero Specials, Manjigatame's and Cobra Twists, before it broke down into a stiff strike exchange. Danielson hit a big Back Suplex off the top for a near fall, then tried Cattle Mutilation, which Sabre escaped and hit a Zack Driver for a near fall of his own. Dragon hit the stomps, then locked in the crazy arm submission he submitted Okada with, but Zack fought to the ropes. Another strike battle culminated in Danielson hitting the Busaiku Knee out of a backslide, but Sabre turned a second into a European Clutch, they exchanged great cradles, before ZSJ got the pin with a crucifix at 32:46 of fabulous action. The two shook hands afterwards, and now being 1-1, Danielson challenged Zack to a 2 out of 3 falls tiebreaker backstage, which I'm 100% down for. In the ring, ZSJ signalled he wanted a belt, then called out the winner of Naito/SANADA (despite what Chris Charlton might have claimed he said). I'm all for Zack winning the belt to be fair. I've lots to say about Naito being the champion again, which I'll refrain from, but all I will say is that the guy who holds the top belt in this company sure has felt like an after thought since winning.

Then the Dog Pound Cage main event that was also Will Ospreay's New Japan swan song. Look, theres way too much to even attempt to recap, and I went back and forth about going the full 5 stars on this one, as it did feature some stuff I really wasn't keen on. BUT, at the end of the day, these 10 guys put on an absolute spectacle of bloody drama and craziness, and it's definitely not a match I'll forgot any time soon, and a tremendous post match. They had an impossible task in following the previous match, but they had an equally blow-away outing, that was the complete wrestling polar opposite. This was set up like that classic ROH vs. CZW Cage of Death from 2006, in that the cage encircled ringside as opposed to the ring itself, and was fought under War Games rules, with guys coming out every two minutes.

Ospreay and Finaly started, with Ospreay convincing Finlay to let them fight for 5 minutes. Lots and lots of crazy stuff followed, which included the heels bringing out a ton of plunder, Akira hitting an incredible dive off the cage onto the War Dogs before Connors gave him a big spear through an upright table in the corner, Gabe Kidd potatoing HENARE with table shot, that split him open bad on the top of his head, which the doctors at ringside spent a lot of time trying to patch up. HENARE got a receipt of sorts later when he hit Kidd with a super stiff slap that looked like it knocked Gabe silly. Connors hit a big spear on Ospreay through the ropes, off the apron and through a table at ringside, Jeff Cobb ran wild on everyone with his incredible power moves, TJP emerged from under the ring as the Aswang, running wild and misting all the heels, Maloney broke up a pin attempt by Drilla Killa'ing Ospreay into the pile of bodies, Coughlin took a serious wilful beating with kendo sticks, who then took a big senton through a table off HENARE from the top of the cage. Connors introduced thumbtacks, but ended up bumping into the pins. Gedo came out with a barbed wire wrapped table, but O-Khan put an end to his interference, and it was Finlay who went through the barbed wire table, thanks to an Ospreay powerbomb. Gabe Kidd responded by hitting Ospreay with a piledriver off the apron, through a ladder bridge to the floor. Moloney forked Akira in the head, who juiced heavily, but then overcame his fear of the fork, no-sold it, and stabbed Drilla in the head with the cutlery, drawing his blood of his own, then hanged Connors over the top with a dog collar.

The heels then handcuffed Cobb to the cage, removed the ring canvas and padding, exposing the boards, and what followed was absolutely terrifying, as those boards were flying around and guys were falling through the ring left and right, to the point I thought someone might get seriously hurt. HENARE hit a massive vertical suplex on Kidd to the boards, before he too was handcuffed. Akira then took a horrendous Tombstone on the boards, which left Ospreay alone with the War Dogs. Sacrificing himself to save Akira, he tried a Hidden Blade, but collapsed from exhaustion, resulting in him taking a spear into the boards by Connors, then Finlay wrapped his knee in barbed wire and hit Ospreay with his new Overkill finish to end this insanity and win for his team in 64:05 of crazy, mind-blowing action.

The Overkill finish was quite ironic given the amounts of sheer overkill in this thing, there were times when I thought/was begging it would be over, but they just kept going and doing crazier stuff. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good crazy, unhinged blood and gimmicks match, and this was one of the best there's ever been, overkill or not. In the post match, Ospreay bid farewell to New Japan, and he got the big emotional send off with the confetti and all the UE guys surrounding him. Ospreay asked that the fans not forget him, and backstage he promised he'd be back, but when was still a mystery. Losing Ospreay is a major blow to NJPW (not to mention they're also losing Okada!), but I've no doubt he'll do great things in AEW.

NDT

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