The Cold Skull and the Stardust Genius battle for NJPW’s top prize!

NJPW returns to the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom 18, and perhaps one of the biggest nights in their history! And in the main event, it will be Sanada VS Tetsuya Naito for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• KOPW 2024 Ranbo: Taiji Ishimori, Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano & Yoh advance to New Year Dash.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Clark Connors & Dan Moloney VS Catch 2/2; Catch 2/2 wins and become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
• NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Hiroshi Tanahashi; Tanahashi wins and becomes the new NJPW World Television Champion.
• Yota Tsuji VS Yuya Uemura; Uemura wins.
• Shota Umino & Kaito Kiyomiya VS Ren Narita & EVIL; Narita & Evil win.
• NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Tama Tonga; Tama wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
• IWGP Heavyweight & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, Winners Take All: Bishamon VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; ELP & Leo win and are the dual IWGP Heavyweight & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS El Desperado; Desperado wins and becomes the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat: Will Ospreay VS Jon Moxley VS David Finlay; Finlay wins and is the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
• Kazuchika Okada VS Bryan Danielson; Okada wins.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA VS Tetsuya Naito; Naito wins and becomes the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

KOPW 2024 Ranbo!

No better way to kick off WrestleKingdom than with a New Japan Ranbo! Eliminations are via pinfall, submission or going over the top rope and to the floor, and we go until we have our final four! Who moves on to New Year Dash tomorrow night to battle for the KOPW Championship?

The first ones out are Chase Owens, bringing back his Texas Heavyweight Championship that he’s never defended, and The Dominator, Great-O-Khan! And Tiger Hattori is back to call the event? Fans fire up already for this great moment as the bell rings. Khan and Chase circle, feel things out, and they tie up. Khan waistlocks, Chase elbows free then throws hands. Chase whips, CLOBBERS Khan, then blows snot on him! Khan brushes himself off but Chase throws down fists. Chase stomps Khan, drags him up, but Khan throws body shots. Chase bumps Khan off buckles, but the countdown is already here!

Chase steals the Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS, and here comes Bullet Club’s Gabe Kidd! Chase has back-up already in the #WarReady War Dog! And he better hurry up, Khan is throwing Chase at the ropes! Chase holds on, Kidd rushes in and UPPERCUTS Khan! Kidd talks trash, CHOPS and clotheslines and suplexes! Fans fire up with Kidd, and then he flips off Chase?! Kidd DECKS Chase, and shouts “I’m a madman, y’know!!” Kidd stomps Chase, rains down fists on Khan, but then argues with Tiger Hattori over that. Kidd UPPERCUTS Khan, BITES his forehead, and the countdown is back!

Kidd CHOPS Khan, but here comes another War Dog! Kidd grins as he now has Alex Coughlin on the way. Kidd CHOKES Chase in a corner, lets off, and Coughlin slides in. Kidd stands on Khan while Coughlin gut wrenches to SLAM Chase down! Fans cheer the War Dogs as they stand tall, but Khan fights back with forearms! Kidd wants help but he gets Mongolian Chops! Coughlin CLUBS and DECKS Khan, then the War Dogs mug Khan together. They mug Chase but Chase fights back. The countdown is back already as the mugging continues. Here comes Jeff Cobb! The Imperial Unit is here, but the War Dogs are right on him!

The War Dogs double whip but Cobb DOUBLE LARIATS! Fans fire up as Cobb OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Kidd! Then he OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Coughlin! The United Empire stands together, Khan blocks Chase’s kick and Cobb whips. Kidd reverses to BITE Cobb! Tiger reprimands, Coughlin scoops Cobb for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Fans cheer the showing of strength, and here comes another countdown! HENARE is here! The Empire has three in at once and the Face of Fury rallies on the War Dogs! He also blocks Chase’s kick to WINDMILL KICK! Henare whips, Coughlin reverses but Henare ELBOWS back, then FLYING CHUCKS!

Fans fire up with Henare and he powers up! But Kidd CLUBS him first! Kidd throws hands, Coughlin CLUBS Cobb, then Kidd CHOPS Henare. The War Dogs have the Empire on the ropes, but the Empire reverses the whips to DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Fans fire up as Henare and Cobb run to clothesline the War Dogs up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!! Fans fire up, and we have another countdown! Wait, here comes the Stone Pitbull, Tomohiro Ishii! The Empire mugs Chase while Henare waits on his rival. Ishii storms up, seeing all three Empire members standing at the ready.

Ishii gets in the ring and the Empire mugs him! But he fires back with forearms! Ishii roars, but gets DOUBLE SUPERKICKS and a BOOT! Khan keeps Chase down while Henare fires hands on Ishii. Henare headbutts but Ishii stands firm! Ishii HEADBUTTS and CHOPS Henare in return! Henare shoves Ishii, fires forearms, but Ishii leans into them! Ishii ROCKS Henare, and the countdown is back. Here comes Mikey Nicholls! Mad Mikey is back in action, and Chase fights back against Khan. Chase CHOKES Khan on ropes, Mikey CLUBS Henare and Cobb! Mikey ROCKS Henare, ROKCS him again, but Henare ROCKS Mikey back!

Fans rally and Mikey CHOPS! Cobb goes to dump Ishii out! Ishii holds on for dear life! Khan stomps Chase down, Ishii powers his way back in and elbows Cobb away! Khan has an IRON CLAW SLEEPER on Mikey! Ishii hoists Cobb up now, and the countdown is back. Cobb suplexes Ishii, but Ishii fights it off! Ishii throws body shots but Chase stomps Ishii down. Shane Haste is here! TMDK now has both OG in the mix, and Hysterical Haste fires forearms with Henare! Shane UPPERCUTS, but Henare ROCKS him! Henare runs, into a DROPKICK! Fans fire up but Cobb CLOBBERS Shane! Mikey DECKS Chase!

Mikey stomps Ishii, then helps Shane with Cobb. They go to hoist Cobb up and out but Cobb holds onto the ropes. Khan makes the save, but then Ishii goes after Khan. Khan Mongolian Chops Ishii! But Mikey hits Khan with a BIG back suplex! The countdown returns, and next up is… Yujiro Takahashi! The Tokyo Pimp is here, but is he Bullet Club or House of Torture tonight? He takes his time getting to the ring while Chase is in trouble. Shane fires forearms on Ishii, Chase claws Mikey’s eyes! Chase claws Shane, too! Yujiro is in, but Cobb blocks the pimp cane! Cobb kicks Yujiro, has the cane, but Yujiro slides out the bottom!

TMDK attacks Cobb, get rid of the cane, and hoist Cobb up! Khan saves him from Thunder Valley! But he runs into the BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER COMBO! Cobb fires forearms on TMDK, but they fire back! Cobb JABS Mikey, but Shane jumps on! Cobb catches Shane with one arm! But Shane slips free, feed to an elbow! DROPKICK and low bridge, TMDK ELIMINATE Cobb! The countdown is back, and here comes Master Wato! The Way to the Grandmaster makes his way to the ring, right as Ishii TOSSES and ELIMINATES Henare! The Face of Fury is furious, but Khan goes after Wato the moment he’s in!

Khan UPPERCUTS Wato, runs, but into the CALF KICK! Chase runs up, but Wato KICKS and KICKS and KICKS Chase in return! Shane kicks but Wato blocks to trip Shane and turn him! Mikey CLOBBERS Wato to stop the Boston Crab! Ishii storms over to CLUB Shane, then he focuses on Chase. But Shane hoists Ishii up the corner! The countdown is back already! Khan tries to help Shane with Ishii, but Ishii holds on for dear life! Yoshinobu Kanemaru is here! The Heel Master takes a swig of liquid courage before he hurries into the ring. Khan drags Mikey into an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Kanemaru stomps everyone he can!

Kanemaru whips Wato and dropkicks the legs out! Yujiro is hiding on the outside, safe from being eliminated. Wato fires back on Kanemaru, elbows Chase for good measure, but Kanemaru chokes Wato against ropes. Mikey digs his boots into Ishii, Kanemaru stomps a mudhole into Wato. Shane helps Kanemaru with Wato while Chase sneaks some whiskey. The countdown is back, and here comes YOH! Mr. Direct Drive is coming in at high speed! He slides in, and fires off on Kanemaru! Wait, he has no shoes? Why does he have no shoes? Because they’re his weapons! But then TMDK slap him around with his own shoes!

TMDK double whip, Yoh holds onto ropes and then uses them as defense. But TMDK still slap him with his own shoes! Yoh falls over, Ishii CLUBS Mikey then ROCKS Shane! Ishii keeps on Mikey, but Shane comes back to make the save. TMDK tries to double suplex, but Ishii makes it a DOUBLE DDT! The countdown is back and now we have SHO! Yoh’s most hated rival is here, ready to help the other House of Torture members. But Yoh slips out the bottom to go after Sho! Sho panics and gets the wrench! Yoh and Sho fight over the Murder Tool! Yoh takes it, and holds it between his legs! So Sho kicks him low!

Sho takes the wrench back, but Yoh kicks low! They fight over the wrench, but Sho knocks Yoh down and CHOKES him with the wrench! Fans boo but Kanemaru keeps after Ishii. The countdown is back again and next out is… Hayato Fujita Jr?! Of Michinoku Pro?! Fujita is a three-time and current Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion while also being GLEAT’s Lidet UWF Champion, and now he is here to add the KOPW to his collection! He CLOBBERS Sho & Yoh on the ramp! He even KICKS Yoh in the butt, then brings both men along with headlocks! The fans fire up as Fujita puts them both in the ring.

Kanemaru stomps Fujita, CLUBS him and whips him, but Fujita reverses. Kanemaru BOOTS back, but runs up into a COMPLETE SHOT! Sho kicks and whips, Fujtia reverses to SOBAT, KICK and SHOTGUN Sho down! The countdown is back as the fans fire up with Fujita! Wato goes after Fujita, but here comes Taiji Ishimori! Bone Soldier may have missed out on the Junior Heavyweight Championship but he’ll seek more gold here. Meanwhile, Ishii slips free of Tank Buster to send Mikey into Shane! Shane BOOTS Ishii, but Ishii puts Shane on the apron! Mikey runs up but is sent into Shane and Shane falls! Mikey ELIMINATES Shane!!

Then Ishii suplexes Mikey but Mikey suplexes Ishii! They both end up on the apron, they brawl with forearms, and Kanemaru runs up! He and Sho ROCK Mikey & Ishii, but they roar and ROCK those two back! Yujiro runs up, Mikey moves Ishii aside and takes the hit! Yujiro ELIMINATES Mikey! No more TMDK, but Ishii DECKS Yujiro for that! Kanemaru BOOTS Ishii, and Sho is underneath anchoring Ishii’s feet! Yujiro BOOTS Ishii down, the House ELIMINATES Ishii! Fans boo but things move on. Wato and Fujita trade KICKS, but Wato ducks the buzzsaw! Fujita fights the German Suplex, but Wato shoves him to a corner.

Wato runs in, Fujita puts him on the apron but Wato GAMANGIRIS! Kanemaru shoves Fujita into Wato and sends Wato down, Fujita technically ELIMINATES Wato! But then Kanemaru tosses Fujita up and out! Fujita holds on to stay safe on the apron, Yoh goes after Kanemaru, and the countdown is back. Yoh goes up and up, where’d his socks go? Ishimori jumps in, Yoh goes Old School, and here comes Douki! Japones Del Mal takes his time while Fujita and Ishimori speed things up. Sho trips Yoh up! Ishimori CHOPS Fujita but Fujita KICKS back! Douki runs up to fire forearms on them both! Then he shoves Ishimori into Fujtia!

Douki RAMS Ishimori, then springboards to COFFIN SPLASH! Fans fire up with Douki as he hauls Ishimori up. But Chase helps Bone Soldier. Douki throws elbows on Fujita, kicks and ENZIGURIS, then runs, but into Fujita’s SLEEPER! Fujita then shifts that around, GUILLOTINE! Douki grabs the ropes, but Ishimori and Sho work together to DUMP and ELIMINATE both Douki and Fujita!! But the countdown is back, here comes Toru Yano! Fans fire up as the inaugural and most dominant KOPW Champion is here! Yano’s introduction is just long enough to take up the entire walk down the ramp!

Yoh is stuck on the top rope, but everyone else waits on Yano. Yano tells them to get away then! This is too much even for him! Yujiro & Sho stomp Khan but Chase holds the ropes open for Yano. Yano is hesitant but the fans rally for him. Yano wants them to be reasonable, but the countdown is back again. Next up is… TAKASHI IIZUKA?!? Didn’t he retire?!? No one can believe this, but it’s really him!! The absolute madman is storming down the ramp and everyone else just stops to watch! Yano wants to welcome Iizuka back, but Iizuka attacks! Iizuka BITES Yano! Ishimori rushes out, but he gets attacked, and a BITE on the forehead!

Chase rushes out, but he also gets a BITE from Iizuka! Iizuka storms into the ring and the House freaks out! Iizuka stares them down, and the House offers him a spot on the team? Fans rally for Iizuka but he’s curious about the shirt. Iizuka takes the shirt, tries it on, and then RIPS It up!! He kicks Sho, BITES him, kicks Yujiro, and BITES him! Kanemaru kicks, runs, but into a SLEEPER!! Iizuka has Kanemaru sitting down right away! Sho & Yujiro attack, fans boo, but here comes the countdown. The House stomps Iizuka but here comes TAICHI! Not only is the Holy Emperor the previous KOPW Champion, but he was a protege to Iizuka!

Fans cheer as Taichi makes his way to the ring, lip synching the entire way. Taichi has the POUCH! He gives it to Iizuka while the House is after him! Sho & Yujiro double whip, but get DOUBLE AX BOMBERS! Iizuka has the IRON FINGERS!! He JAMS Sho, and he JAMS Yujiro! The fans fire up as Taichi whips Kanemaru. Kanemaru reverses, Taichi dodges and GAMANGIRIS! Taichi calls to Iizuka, and he feeds Kanemaru to the IRON FINGERS! Yoh finally gets off the ropes to cover Sho! Yoh ELIMINATES Sho by pinfall! Khan also covers Yujiro, to ELIMINATE him by pinfall! And Taichi covers Kanemaru, to ELIMINATE him by pinfall! No more House of Torture!

But then Taichi offers Iizuka a handshake. Iizuka drops the iron fingers, but he just stares at Taichi. Taichi still holds out his hand, and the fans rally up. Iizuka steps forward, to shake Taichi’s hand! But then he BITES Taichi on the head! The madness is strong in Iizuka, so everyone else takes advantage! They push and DUMP Taichi and Iizuka out to DOUBLE ELIMINATE them! No back-to-back for Taichi just yet! But now we have Chase, Ishimori, Khan, Yano and Yoh as our final five, so we just need one more elimination! And it seems the group chooses Khan! The other four attack together!

Fans fire up but then Ishimori goes after Yano and Chase goes after Yoh! Bullet Club sticks together and they haul Khan up. Chase TOSSES Khan out but Khan holds onto ropes! So Chase HOTSHOTS! Ishimiori runs up, into an IRON RIGHT! Yoh DUMPS Ishimori out, but Ishimori holds on! Chase runs up, but Khan avoids the boot and then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan drags Chase out! Ishimori holds on, even as Yoh & Yano shake the ropes! Chase runs up, but Khan blocks the C-Trigger to APRON ELIMINATOR!! And just like that, Chase falls, and we have our four!!

Winners: Taiji Ishimori, Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano & Yoh (advance to New Year Dash)

Yoh is surprised, and Yano asks what is up with him having no shoes. Whoa, Taichi goes after Iizuka now for screwing up everything! Iizuka is raving mad, going after Akira Nogami! Taichi drags Iizuka away, but Iizuka has a hold of Nogami’s tie! Nogami gets stripped down just to escape! Well, Iizuka’s madness aside, our final four will battle it out tomorrow night, who will start 2024 as provisional KOPW Champion?

 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Clark Connors & Dan Moloney VS Catch 2/2!

This is one has been brewing all year. The Abunai Gaijin took these titles from the Public Enemy & Nova Fireball and have found any number of ways to keep them. But now, after taking those Super Junior Tag League trophies, Catch 2/2 is feeling like they’re back from the dead! TJP makes his entrance as the Aswang, the Filipino Vampire, will he and Francesco Akira drain the life from 100 Proof & 44 Caliber? Or will Bullet Club use the Full Clip to take them down?

The introductions are made, the newly white-strapped belts are raised, and we see who starts the New Year on top of the division!

The teams sort out and TJP finally takes off the hat to reveal the rest of that scary mask! Then he DOUBLE SHOTGUNS Clark & Dan down! The bell rings while the champs bail out, but Akira DIVES onto Connors and TJP LEAPS off the apron onto Dan! Fans fire up and TJP puts Dan in. TJP Electric Chair Lifts and Akira goes up, LEANING TOWER CUTTER!! Dan flops out of the ring, Connors returns but Catch 2/2 get him first. They double whip, and ALLEY-OOP FACEBUSTER! Fans fire up as Catch 2/2 already sets up in the corners! They run in, but Connors gets away! Akira runs up but Connors TOSSES him!

But TJP SOBATS Connors, whips, but Connors reverses. TJP slips out, bites the ropes, then GAMANGIRIS Connors! But Dan YANKS TJP down, sends him into railing, and coordinates with Connors! Connors aims from the apron, FULL CLIP to the floor!! Connors says this is THEIR ring! Connors then gets his dog collar! The ref reprimands but Connors rains down fists first. The ref tries to stop Connors but Connors sends TJP into railing firs.t Connors then has the dog collar, but Dan is after Akira on the other side. Connors puts the collar on TJP and uses the chain to pull TJP against railing! Fans boo as Connors CHOKES TJP!

Dan beats up Akira, even using chairs, and then drags Akira back to ringside. The ref reprimands Connors and Connors lets go, but Dan POSTS Akira! Dan puts Akira in, storms up on him, and he scowls through a bloody nose. Dan kicks and stomps Akira around, then brings him up. Dan whips, ELBOWS Akira down, and then grins as he looms over Akira. Fans rally for Catch 2/2 and Akira rises. Dan CHOPS him to the corner. Bullet Club mugs Akira, then Connors tags in. The mugging continues, and Connors reels Akira in. Akira fights but Connors still snap suplexes! Connors paces around, taunts Akira, then runs to drop the BIG elbow! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally but Connors slaps Akira around. Akira stands to fire a forearm! And a CHOP! Connors shakes his head, then RAMS Akira into the corner! Tag to Dan and he CHOPS Akira. Bullet Club double whips, but Akira ducks to shove Connors into Dan! Then wheelbarrow, STOMP 182 for Connors! Fans fire up and Akira uses Connors as a step, for a DESTROYER on Dan! Akira crawls, hot tag to TJP! TJP climbs up and he CROSSBODIES Connors! TJP whips, Connors reverses but TJP blocks the kick to slip around and hit a BIG back suplex! TJP then crawls right up to Dan, and scrubs his boot into Dan’s face!

The fans fire up and TJP runs side to side, to BOOT WASH! TJP drags Dan up, hoists him up top, and has him in a Tree of Woe! TJP climbs up, Akira runs in, SLIDING DROPKICK to WOE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Dan is still in this but fans rally behind Catch 2/2. TJP drags Dan to center and Akira aims from a corner. TJP goes to the other end, they aim at Dan, but Connors gets in! SPIN POWERSLAM for Akira, SPINEBUSTER and DOUBLE STOMP for TJP! Bullet Club coordinates, Dan runs up at TJP, but TJP goes up and over to TORNADO- NO, Dan feeds TJP to Connors! BRAINBUSTER, then Dan gets TJP up! DRILLA KILLA!!! Cover, TWO?!?!

TJP sits up like a Deadman to grab Dan by the neck! Dan breaks free but then says BANG! Connors runs in, DOUBLE SPEAR! Then Connors BLASTS Akira off the apron! Dan covers, TWO!!! Connors is shocked but Dan slashes his throat. Connors climbs, Dan hoists TJP up. Fans rally for TJP but Akira makes the save! TJP BITES Dan’s shoulder! Akira ROCKS Connors and climbs up after him! The ref reprimands TJP, Akira has Connors for a SUPER SPANISH FLY!! TJP lets Dan go, and SPITS RED MIST!! Akira DIVES onto Connors! TJP then drags Dan up, crosses the arms, and STRAITJACKET DDTS!

Fans fire up as TJP then aims from a corner. Akira is back, Dan is in their crosshairs! 2 BY 2!!! Cover, Catch 2/2 wins!!!

Winners: Catch 2/2, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Revenge is sweet, especially now that those nice new titles belong to the United Empire! Even Akira is a bit wary of Aswang TJP, but they still shake hands and salute. Will this new chapter for Catch 2/2 be the strongest one yet?

 

NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Hiroshi Tanahashi!

TMDK’s Front Man has made it a full YEAR with this title, having won it at the end of the tournament, right here in the Tokyo Dome. But will The ZSJ Show be renewed for a second season? Or will one of his greatest rivals soon take over as the star of NJPW World?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this might be the most intense 15 minutes ever!

IWGP Women’s Champion, Mayu Iwatani, joins commentary for this one. Fans cheer Tanahashi’s abs as he takes off the jacket. The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans are already fired up and dueling as the two circle. The two feel things out, knuckle lock, and ZSJ rolls back to wrench the hands. ZSJ turns Tanahashi around, wraps him up in a straitjacket, but Tanahashi endures. Tanahashi turns things around onto ZSJ, but ZSJ bridges to slip under and away! Fans cheer that and the two reset. ZSJ and Tanahashi feel things out again, knuckle lock, and Tanahashi wrenches an arm to a wristlock.

ZSJ works on the escape, rolls, bridges and then uses a leg to hook free. ZSJ wrenches and wristlocks, then hammerlocks. Fans cheer the exchange, and ZSJ taunts Tanahashi. Tanahashi doesn’t fall for the bait, he just reaches back, facelocks, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ scoops him! Tanahashi fights free, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi runs, to SLINGBLADE! Fans fire up and Tanahashi covers, TWO! Tanahashi keeps moving, knowing time is of the essence! Tanahashi is up top, ZSJ stands, HIGH FLY ATTACK! Fans fire up with Tanahashi as he goes right back up!

TMDK panics as ZSJ is down. HIGH FLY FLOW onto knees! ZSJ gets a body scissor, turn over, JAPANESE LEG BRIDGE! TWO!! Everyone is shocked and ZSJ argues with the ref! ZSJ hobbles a bit but he aims from a corner. ZSJ eggs Tanahashi on, then runs in, PENALTY- NO, Tanahashi blocks the kick! Tanahashi stands, to DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ writhes but Tanahashi grabs the legs and ties them up! Tanahashi fights to turn ZSJ over but ZSJ grabs at Tanahashi’s hands! ZSJ opens the grip and gets Tanahashi in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi fights up to his feet, tries to stack but ZSJ keeps his arms up!

Tanahashi fights, powers his way through, and has the BOSTON CRAB, then ties up the legs, to the TEXAS CLOVERHOLD! ZSJ endures now and the fans fire up! ZSJ rolls through, trips Tanahashi to get the ARMBAR! Fans fire up more as now Tanahashi endures. ZSJ shifts sides, then rolls to the TRIANGLE HOLD, then the omoplata! ZSJ gets the leg, he’s going for CLARKY CAT! Tanahashi endures, ZSJ shifts to the DISARMER! Tanahashi scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go but the fans are thunderous for this master class of technical wrestling! Tanahashi goes to ropes while ZSJ eggs him on.

Tanahashi sits up, ZSJ KCIKS him! ZSJ runs, but Tanahashi dropkicks the legs out! Tanahashi fires up, but ZSJ catches him for a COBRA TWIST! But Tanahashi switches it onto ZSJ! ZSJ fights the hold, so Tanahashi makes it a GROUND COBRA! TWO, and ZSJ has the ARMBAR! Tanahashi fights up fast and clasps hands! ZSJ breaks the grip but Tanahashi rolls him up, TWO!! ZSJ escapes and fans fire up again! Both men stand, egg each other on, and they step up. ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Tanahashi shakes his head so ZSJ UPPERCUTS again! And again! Tanahashi wobbles but he comes back to fire a strike fest!

ZSJ shakes his head, and comes back to UPPERCUT! ZSJ eggs Tanahashi on, and gets a SHOTEI! Tanahashi full nelsons but ZSJ drops down to victory roll! And then he hooks the legs, EURO CLUTCH! TWO!!! Tanahashi escapes just in time and the fans fire up again! Both men stand, ZSJ runs up but Tanahashi gets around! O’Conner Roll and BRIDGE! TWO!! ZSJ has the REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Tanahashi powers through to roll back and cover, TWO!! ZSJ still has the SLEEPER! Tanahashi fights up, ZSJ hooks him up in the IRON OCTOPUS! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally! Tanahashi powers his way out to get the DRAGON-

NO, ZSJ steps through to then get the NECK TWIST!! ZSJ then has Tanahashi for another NECK TWIST!! ZSJ goes to a corner and takes aim. PENALTY KICK!! Back of the net but ZSJ says that’s not enough yet. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up, reels him in, scoop and ZACK DRIVE- VICTORY ROLL!? TWO!! ZSJ sits on it, TWO!! Tanahashi has it again, TWO! ZSJ has it again, ONE!! Tanahashi has it, ONE!! ZSJ has it back, ONE!! Tanahashi has it again, crossed leg! TANAHASHI WINS?!?!

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall (NEW NJPW World Television Champion)

In just under TEN MINUTES, The Ace of the Universe pulls of what no one could for an entire year!! Season two of this title now belongs to Hiroshi Tanahashi!! But in the greatest showing of respect, ZSJ personally hands the title over to Tanahashi and bows! The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but how will they move on from this shocking plot twist?

As for Tanahashi, he proves he can still hang with this generation, and gets the mic to say a few words. He says it’s been awhile, but he is a singles champion again. He wishes everyone a Happy New Year! And he knows that we’ve all heard the news, but yes, he IS President of NJPW now. He hopes that everyone offers the same support to both him but all of NJPW going forward in 2024. Will the Ace bring new fortune to all of NJPW from here on out?

 

Yota Tsuji VS Yuya Uemura!

The newest member of Los Ingobernables de Japon faces the newest member of the still Just5Guys, hoping to prove their side the stronger faction in NJPW today. Then will Gene Blast or Heat Storm hit a homerun for their team before the team captains face off in tonight’s main event?

The bell rings and the two young studs step to each other. The fans rally and duel, and Yota just grins at Yuya. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Yuya wrenches to a wristlock but Yota slips around to full nelson. Yuya fights that, but Yota snapmares him to a chinlock. Yuya slips right out to wristlock. Yota fights up, rolls, wrenches, and wrenches, and facelocks. Yuya spins free but Yota headlocks him back. Yuya powers up but Yota powers him back down. The fans rally up, Yuya lifts Yota but Yota thrashes the hold. Yuya powers up and out, things speed up, and Yota SPEARS Yuya mid-hurdle!

Fans fire up and Yuya bails out. Yota takes aim, builds speed, and the fans fire up as Yota DIVES! Direct hit into railing! Yota fires up and the fans are with him! Yota then fetches Yuya to the ring, and smiles again as he steps back inside. Yota drags Yuya up, wrenches and Inverted Gory Especials! Yuya sits up so it’s an Electric Chair, but Yota uses that to Electric Chair SLAM him down! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer while Yuya rolls away to ropes. Yota stays cool and he storms up on Yuya. Yota drags Yuya up but Yuya is dead weight. Yota stomps Yuya, stands on him, then scuffs him. Fans rally and Yuya sits up.

Yota brings Yuya in but Yua wrenches out to hit a FLYING ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Yota stacks to a cover, TWO, and the ARMBAR is back! Yota gets the ROPEBREAK and Yuya lets go fast. Yota stomps away on Yuya for that! Yota shakes out the arm, then waits on Yuya to stand. Yuya CHOPS! Yota shrugs that off, so Yuya CHOPS again! Yota CHOPS and fans fire up! Yota runs, to run Yuya over! Cover, TWO! Yuya is hanging in there but the fans rally behind Yota. Yota drags Yuya up, whips him to ropes, and arm-drags! Then he BOOTS Yuya in the back of the head! Yuya flounders but Yota stands on him.

Yota eggs Yuya on, the fans rally up, but Yuya pushes Yota’s leg away. Yota eggs Yuya on more, and Yuya stands to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! But Yota knees low! Yota whips, Yuya reverses and hip tosses! Then arm-drags! And DROPKICKS! Fans fire up while both Yuya and Yota are down! Yuya and Yota go to corners, and Yuya fires up. Yuya runs corner to corner, to DOUBLE CHOP! And then BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Yuya fires up more and he hauls Yota up. Yuya wrenches, reels Yota in, but Yota fights the lift! Yuya keeps trying but Yota throws elbows. Yota scoops but Yuya slips free. Yota elbows, runs, but Yuya reels him in for a BIG back suplex!

Fans fire up again and Yuya hurries to a corner. Yuya climbs, Yota rises, and Yota gets under the leap! Yuya comes back, but into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. The fans rally as both men stir and go back to corners. Yota runs in now, and he SPLASHES! Then Yota hoists Yuya to the top rope, and CHOPS! Yota climbs up, brings Yuya up to join him, but Yuya shoves Yota! Yota backflips through, Yuya leaps, into a SUPERKICK! Yota then hauls Yuya up to suplex, FACLON BOMB! Cover, TWO! Yuya survives but Yota powers up again. Yota aims from a corner and Yuya rises.

Yota runs in, to GENE- ARM-DRAG! And then ghost pin, but Yota smothers it to his own cover! TWO!! Yuya is up, swings, but into the BACKBREAKER, COMPLETE SHOT and STOMP!! Yota roars, runs, but Yuya avoids the Curb Stomp! SNAP GERMAN SUPLEX! But Yota’s right up!! Only for Yuya to get him for an URENAGE! Yuya shakes his head, he’s not done yet! Yuya drags Yota up, full nelsons, and DRAGON SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! Yota survives but Yuya is red hot! Yuya hauls Yota up, wrenches, clinches, swings and KAMUKI SUPLEX! BRIDING COVER, YUYA WINS!!!

Winner: Yuya Uemura, by pinfall

The Heat Storm was too hot for The Gene Blast, and Just5Guys scores a huge win! Will this be a foreshadowing of tonight’s main event? Or will tonight still have a tranquilo ending?

 

Shota Umino & Kaito Kiyomiya w/ Ryohei Oiwa VS Ren Narita & EVIL w/ The House of Torture!

The Roughneck thought he and his rival had an understanding through combat, but it turns out the Son of Strong Style is an SOB instead! Will Narita and the King of Darkness stack the deck and steal the win? Or will the unlikely duo of #SHOOTER and Galaxy View bring down the House?

Instead of coming through the crowd, Shota makes an entrance from the parking lot on his bright orange motorcycle! But of course, the entire House of Torture is going to be out here for this match. Sho is showing off a Pro-Wrestling Noah shirt, that Evil CUTS with scissors! As if Kaito didn’t already hate all their guts. And no more waiting, Shota and Kaito rush the House at the apron! Kaito gets Evil in the ring while Shota CLUBS Narita and Sho, then sends Narita into railing! Kaito dodges Evil to DROPKICK him down! Fans fire up, Kaito fires forearms, and he climbs up in a corner to rain down fists!

The fans fire up, the ref rings the bell to get this on record, but Evil drags the ref down! Sho rushes in but Kaito blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Yujiro gets in, he kicks, but Kaito blocks and DRAGON SCREWS! And then DRAGON SCREW for Kanemaru! Dick stays safe on commentary while Kaito dropkicks Evil’s leg, and hits a DRAGON SCREW! Then he steps through to FIGURE FOUR! Shota catches Narita, drags him down and has an STF! Someone rings the bell?! Shota & Kaito let off, each thinking the other got the win. But no, it was just Kanemaru tricking them both!

Shota & Kaito are furious, but then Evil shoves them both into the ref! The House then rushes in, Yujiro BLASTS Oiwa and the others stomp away on Shota and Kaito. Shota falls out of the ring, Narita CLAWS Shota’s eyes! Kaito is sent into a corner, Sho runs up to forearm smash! Yujiro BOOTS, Kanemaru elbows, and Evil clotheslines! They then set Kaito up and Dick leaves commentary to climb! Fans boo the New Year’s DICK CHOP! Evil calls to the ref, covers, TWO!! Kaito is still in this and the fans fire up! Evil tags Narita and they stomp away on Kaito together. Fans boo but Narita drags Kaito up to kick low.

Narita wants the facebuster but Kaito shoves Narita back to JUMP KNEE! Fans fire up, Kaito crawls, hot tag to Shota! Shota runs up to rally on Narita! And he catches Evil to scoop and SLAM! Shota BLASTS Yujiro off the apron, then stalks Narita. SLINGSHOT APRON DDT!! The fans are thunderous, but Kanemaru & Sho attack while the ref is busy with Narita! They double whip Shota into railing, but he comes back to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! The fans are thunderous again and Shota storms back to Narita. Shota puts Narita in, climbs a corner, and he MISSILE DROPKICKS Narita down!

Shota hauls Narita up, SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO! Narita is still in this but Shota calls to Kaito. Kaito storms in and they both get Narita to his feet. Shota & Kaito double whip corner to corner, then Shota sends Kaito in. Kaito foreamr smashes! Shota runs up to UPPERCUT! Feed to Kaito’s forearm! They pinball Narita and then ROLLING ELBOW to ROLLING ELBOW! Then they JUMP KNEE ENZIGURI COMBO! Evil BLASTS Kaito and CHOKES Shota with a shirt! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Kaito CLUBS Evil! Kaito steals EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! The fans fire up again, but Sho gets on the apron. Kaito SHINING WIZARDS Sho down!

Kaito then runs up, but into EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! The King of Darkness strikes back, and Narita staggers his way over to his rival. Narita grins as he wraps on the SLEEPER! Narita then spins Shota around, kicks low, and FACE- NO, Shota blocks, kicks, underhooks, but Narita slips free! SLEEPER! But Shota wrenches out, clinches, but Narita slips around again! Shota switches one more time, HALF ‘N’ HALF! Narita staggers around, into a HALF ‘N’ HALF BRIDGE! Cover, TWO!! Shota fires up and the fans are with him! Shota aims from a corner, but Yujiro distracts the ref! Kanemaru slides the push-up bar to Narita!

Shota runs in, Narita dodges Blaze Blade to CLOBBER him with the push-up bar!! Fans boo as there are even chrome panels on it now! Narita reels Shota in, DOUBLECROSS FACEBUSTER!! Cover, The House wins!!

Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall

Narita grins as he and his new friends once again cheat Shota out of his revenge! Will nothing stop the House from making 2024 the absolute worst?

 

NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Tama Tonga!

The Rampaging Dragon managed to get this title back after defeating The Good Bad Guy in Las Vegas, but then Tama came knocking the moment Takagi beat Trent Beretta in Texas. Is Tama feeling luckier here in the Tokyo Dome? Or will nothing stop Takagi now that it’s the Year of the Dragon?

Tama shows he’s serious already by taking off the vest! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives in!

The bell rings and the two RAM shoulders! Then they fire forearms back and forth! The fans fire up, Takagi shifts to JAB, JAB and CHOP! Takagi whips, Tama ducks ‘n’ dodges then RAMS Takagi! Takagi rebounds to RAM back! They RAM again, and Takagi flexes! Tama kicks low, runs, but Takagi clotheslines! Takagi runs, but into a DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Tama storms up on Takagi in a corner. Tama fires haymakers, whips corner to corner, then runs in to clothesline. Tama clinches, but Takagi fights the exploder with elbows. Tama UPPERCUTS, whips, but Takagi reverses to SAIDO! But Tama is right up!? And clinches to EXPLODER!

Takagi stands, they DOUBLE LARIAT! Neither man falls, Tama takes a swing but Takagi swats the haymaker! Takagi runs, only for Tama to catch him into an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Tama drags Takagi up. Tama HEADBUTTS Takagi to the corner, then goes corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH! Tama keeps moving, but Takaig ELBOWS! JABS! And YUKON LARIATS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi hears the fans rallying and he headbutts the buckles! Takagi then runs up to run Tama over! Then he scoops, SLAMS and SENTON FLOPS as Tama moves! Tama runs, but Takagi puts him on the apron.

Tama ROCKS Takagi, slingshots, but Takagi BLASTS him down! Then Takagi FLIES?! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans are thunderous! Takagi says he’ll fly like a dragon but to think he’d actually do it! Takagi and Tama stir at ringside, and Takagi rises up. The fans rally as Takagi brings Tama up and into the ring. Takagi then drags Tama up, suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! Takagi looks around, finds the right camera, and says “MY TIME’S COMING! TOKI GA KITA!!” Fans fire up for both the English and Japanese version! Takagi runs up to clothesline in the corner! Fans fire up more as Takagi hoists Tama up top.

Takagi climbs up but Tama fires forearms in return! Tama headbutts Takagi down, BOOTS him away, and FLYING NECKBREAKERS! The fans fire up and Tama rises again. Tama brings Takagi up to throw forearms but Takagi gives them back. Tama gets the edge, ROCKS Takagi, but Takagi runs up! But into a fireman’s carry! S R C! Then Tama to the apron, and fans fire up as he goes up! But Takagi is there to anchor his feet! Tama throws hands, but Takagi ROCKS him! And RIDGEHAND CHOPS! Takagi climbs up, brings Tama to the very top, and fans fire up for the SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous!

Takagi sits Tama up then runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Takagi then fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” and the fans join in! Takagi brings Tama up, but Tama fights the pump handle! Tama throws elbows to get free, but Takagi pops him up! But Tama slips free to TONGAN TWIST! Tama hurries to a corner and to the top rope! SUPREME FLOW! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and the fans fire up again. Tama pounds the mat and the fans join in. Takagi rises, Tama runs up, but Takagi stops the Gun Stun! Tama avoids Pumping Bomber, but Takagi catches him into a Gory Especial! But Tama slips off the back! But then Takagi catches the superman punch!

Takagi flips Tama around, reels him in, and hoists him up, to POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Tama survives and the fans fire up again! Takagi grits his teeth, has a wild look in his eyes, and he shouts as he brings Tama back up. Takagi runs to SLIDING FOREARM!! Takagi then runs as Tama rises, PUMPING BOMBER!! Tama gets turned inside out! Takagi starts up the “OI! OI! OI!” again because he’s not done yet! Takagi hauls Tama up, pump handles, and MADE IN- GUN STUN!?!? Fans are thunderous while both men are down again! Tama rises first and the fans rally as he brings Takagi around.

Tama facelocks but Takagi fights the suplex. The fans rally and duel, Takagi wrenches out, Tama breaks free but Takagi JABS! Takagi runs, but Tama spins him around, BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, ONE?!?!? WHAT?!? Tama doesn’t stop, though, he runs to LARIAT! Tama vows to finish this now, and he brings Takagi up and in. Underhooks, but Takagi fights the lift! Takagi powers up to trip and jackknife bridge! TWO!! Tama escapes, but Takagi ELBOWS! Tama HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS! Tama ENZIGURIS! Tama roars, tries again, DIVE SHACK- RANA!? Takagi stops the driver but Tama SUPERMAN PUNCHES!

Takagi staggers around, Tama aims, and Takagi steals GUN STUN!?!? And then PUMPING BOMBER!!! And then Takagi hoists Tama up, MADE IN JAPAN!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Tama survives but how?!? The fans are thunderous again while both men are down! Takagi grits his teeth and roars! Takagi rises up and brings Tama around. “OI! OI! OI!” echoes out as Takagi pump handles again. But Tama fights the lift! Takagi fires boxing elbows, then LARIATS! Tama stays up so Tama LARIATS again! Tama drops to his knees but Takagi won’t let him down! Pump handle, torture rack, but Tama sunset flips! And deadlifts into the STYLES CLASH!!!

The fans are thunderous again and Tama reloads, GUN STUN!!!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Takagi must be a dragon because he ain’t human! Tama calls for the end and he reels Takagi back in! DIVE SHACK DRIVER!!!! Cover, TAMA WINS!!!

Winner: Tama Tonga, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Champion)

Once more, The Good Bad Guy gets this title back! He is now a FOUR-TIME NEVER Openweight Champion, but how long will this one last?

 

Wait, is that Nick & Ryan Nemeth?

They’re being accompanied to their ringside seats by staff! What business do the Showoff and the Hollywood Hunk have in NJPW?

 

IWGP Heavyweight & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, Winners Take All: Bishamon VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!

These two teams faced off twice in the 2023 World Tag League. First, The Headbanga & Young Guerrilla won on opening night. Then, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi defied the odds and won the tournament finals for a third year in a row. History is about to be made once again, who stands tall as THE BEST team in NJPW today?

The introductions are made, all the belts are raised, and we see who brings them all home for the New Year!

The teams fist bump to show there is respect, and the fans applaud. The teams then sort out, and ELP starts against Hashi. ELP hears the fans rallying for him, and he circles with Hashi. They tie up, are in a deadlock, then break. They start throwing forearms back and forth, then Hashi body shots and CHOPS! Fans cheer, Hashi whips, but ELP reverses. Things speed up as ELP drops then DROPKICKS! ELP then handsprings up, and spins to CHOP Hashi! Goto tags in and Bishamon runs ELP over! Then they combine for ZANMAI! Leo runs in but into kicks! Bishamon reels Leo in but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES Bishamon!

Fans fire up as the shirt comes off! Leo drags Hashi up to whip him to a corner. Leo sends ELP in and he back elbows Hashi! ELP feeds Hashi to Leo’s scoop, and ELP goes up! SIDEWALK SLAM to ELBOW DROP! Goto fires off forearms on ELP & Leo, runs, but ELP hurdles and Leo hits a DDT! Fans fire up, and ELP high-fives Leo. Leo & ELP then aim at Goto from opposite corners. ELP tunes up but Hashi anchors his foot! Goto sends Leo into ELP, then MURAMASAS Leo down! Then SAIDO for ELP! Fans fire up while Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi. Hashi runs up to CHOP ELP in a corner.

Hashi whips to CHOP ELP again, then he mule kicks. Hashi turns ELP around, but ELP fights free and shoves Hashi away. ELP runs up but Hashi BOOTS him! Hashi BLASTS Leo, Goto has ELP, and Hashi runs in, GOTO GO TO HUNTER! Cover, but Leo breaks it! Goto stomps Leo, brings him up, but Leo fights the suplex. Leo suplexes but Hashi saves Goto. Hashi joins in now, Bishamon DOUBLE SUPLEXES Leo after all! The fans fire up with Hashi, and Goto runs in at ELP. Goto clotheslines, then Hashi runs in to clothesline! Hashi brings ELP up and Goto climbs. The fans fire up, but ELP fights free to send Hashi into Goto!

ELP then uses Hashi as a step to get up top! SUPER STEINER sends Goto into Hashi! Fans fire up and ELP crawls his way over to the Guerrilla corner. Hot tag to Leo! Leo storms up to UPPERCUT Goto, but Hashi dodges the boot. Hashi ducks ‘n ‘dodges but still gets run over! Leo scoops Goto, to SNAKE EYES! Leo keeps moving and he runs Goto over! The fans fire up as Leo choke grips Hashi, then he grabs Goto. But Bishamon fights free, kicks low and double whips. Leo blasts through the line to DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans fire up and Leo tags ELP back in. ELP & Leo coordinate again, and they tune up the band.

Hashi stands, ELP SUDDEN- NO, Hashi blocks that and CHOPS! Leo choke grips! But Hashi sends Leo into the SUDDEN DEATH! And then DRAGON SUPLEX on ELP! Hashi hurries and hot tags Goto! Goto calls to Hashi as he drags ELP up. Dragon sleeper, but ELP spins that around! Goto fights the suplex, and he hoists ELP up! Hashi has ELP’s legs, for G Y R!! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and fans fire up again. Bishamon coordinates and they drag ELP back up. Hashi calls for lights out, and they have the dragon sleeper and legs. But ELP BOOTS Hashi away, goes up and over Goto, but Goto switches. ELP ends up in the HIDDEN GAP!

Goto fireman’s carries ELP, Hashi aims, FIERCE FLASH into SHOUTO!! Cover, LEO BREAKS IT!! Fans fire up as all four men are down! Jado coaches his team and the fans rally up again. Leo drags Hashi up, reels him in for the choke grip, then he adds Goto! But Bishamon breaks free again! They dodge the double lariat to DOUBLE LARIAT Leo up and out! Fans fire up with Bishamon and Hashi brings ELP around. Full nelson and lift, NARA- RANA!! ELP sends Goto into Hashi, crawls for his corner, hot tag to Leo again! Leo runs up to clothesline Hashi up and out! Goto CHOPS but Leo just scowls.

Leo choke grips, then CHOPS Goto! Leo calls to ELP, and ELP DIVES to take out Hashi! ELP then goes to the apron, but Goto sends Leo into him! Goto fireman’s carries Leo, for USHIGOROSHI! And then GOTO ISHIKI! TWO!! Leo escapes the cradle but Goto brings him back around. Goto dragon sleepers, but Leo powers through! Leo and Goto fight for suplex control, but then Goto slips free! HIDDEN GAP, ELP EDITION! ELP then ARIHARA MOONSAULTS Hashi down!! Leo hauls Goto up, to GODSEND!!! And then he gives ELP the boost, SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Goto survives and shocks everyone!

ELP pounds the mat, the fans rally up with him, and the Guerrillas coordinate again. ELP reels Goto in while Leo climbs! C R THREE!!!! And then ELP gives Leo the boost?!? NOT! LEO SPLASH!!! Cover, THE GUERILLAS WIN!!!

Winners: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, by pinfall (DUAL IWGP Heavyweight & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)

History has TRULY been made! Yes, ELP & Leo hold all these belts together, but this also makes them the ONE HUNDRETH IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions!! And even better, they show respect to Bishamon by helping them to their feet. Bishamon shows respect in return, is this the torch being passed? How much bigger will get after this incredible moment?

 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS El Desperado!

The Ticking Timebomb may not be pulling off his dream of 10 YEARS as the Best of the Super Juniors, given he lost out on the 2023 tournament, but Hiromu still has the title. Will even that change after one more round with his greatest rival? Or will he find a way to make it past the Rogue Luchador in 2024?

The moment Hiromu is ringside, Desperado DIVES out onto him! Direct hit into railing and the fans are thunderous! The bell rings and Desperado drags Hiromu up out of his wild looking jacket. Desperado puts Hiromu in the ring and the fans fire up. Desperado drags Hiromu up to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, ONE!! Hiromu isn’t going down that easy but Desperado keeps on him. Desperado CLUBS Hiromu on the neck, taunts him, but Hiromu taunts Desperado back. Desperado CLUBS Hiromu again, then CHOPS him! Hiromu goes to a corner, Desperado storms up and whips corner to corner.

Desperado runs in to clothesline, then he fireman’s carries. WASTELAND SLAM, then Desperado hurries up the corner. Desperado jumps but has to bail out as Hiromu moves. Desperado returns, Hiromu dodges to SPLASH in the corner! Hiromu then snapmares, runs and basement dropkicks! Desperado bails out, Hiromu goes to the apron and he FLYING SHOTGUNS Desperado into railing! Desperado hits so hard, he tumbles over the railing! Hiromu goes out to fetch Desperado, then whips him into more railing! Desperado tumbles up and over again, clipping the timekeeper’s table! Hiromu storms out to fetch Desperado again.

The ref wants this back in the ring so Hiromu says okay. Hiromu puts Desperado in and he drags Desperado up. FALCON ARROW, then cover, ONE!! Desperado is also not that easy, but Hiromu grins. Hiromu drags Desperado up, fireman’s carries, and CORNER DEATH VALLEYS! The fans rally up as Hiromu drags Desperado back up, fireman’s carries again, but Desperado slips free. Desperado shoves, but Hiromu fights the spinebuster. Hiromu kicks low, whips, but Desperado reverses to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO, but into the STRETCH MUFFLER! Hiromu flails, reaches out, but Desperado drags him so far away from ropes!

Hiromu scrambles around, goes to the side, and has the ROPEBREAK after all! Desperado lets go in frustration while the fans cheer. Hiromu clutches his leg while Desperado catches his breath. Desperado rises, he stomps Hiromu’s leg, but Hiromu eggs him on. Desperado kneels on the leg, Hiromu pulls at the mask, but the ref reprimands. Hiromu lets go to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Desperado SPLASHES the bad leg! Desperado eggs Hiromu on, Hiromu CHOPS again! And CHOPS! Desperado kicks the leg out, gut wrench, but Hiromu slips free. But the bad leg buckles! Hiromu still tries, but Desperado blocks the superkick!

Desperado spins Hiromu around, grabs the leg again, SHIN BREAKER! And then GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up while both men are down. Desperado coughs and sputters but he catches his breath again. Desperado storms up but Hiromu kicks and kicks. Desperado stomps Hiromu, drags him up and reels him in to underhook. But Hiromu fights Pinche Loco! Hiromu lifts Desperado up to back drop him away! But Desperado is right up and aiming from a corner! Hiromu stands, but he avoids the dropkick! Desperado comes back but Hiromu spins him. Desperado fights the suplex, wrenches out, but Hiromu victory rolls for the COMPLETE SHOT!

Both men are down again and the fans rally up. Hiromu shakes out the bad leg and he rises to his feet. Hiromu hobbles over and he brings Desperado up. Hiromu goes to fireman’s carry but Desperado fights it. Hiromu powers through, Desperado slips free but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Desperado runs back in but Hiromu sidesteps to SNAP GERMAN! Desperado sits up in a daze and Hiromu roars! Hiromu hurries to fireman’s carry again, swing and- NO, Desperado sunset flips, to get the STRETCH MUFFLER! Desperado thrashes the leg, has the arm for NUMERO DOS, and he rolls Hiromu away from ropes!

Hiromu endures as Desperado thrashes leg and arm around! Hiromu powers up to sit up, and he reels Desperado in for a DESTROYER! Desperado staggers around, into HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Fans fire up with Hiromu and he drags Desperado back up. Desperado is dead weight but he still throws some hands. Hiromu fireman’s carries, swings and TIMEBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives and the fans fire up again! Hiromu slaps his bad leg into working, then he hobbles after Desperado. Hiromu dragon sleepers but Desperado throws hands! Hiromu CLUBS Desperado, inverted suplexes and tucks, but Desperado kicks and flails!

Hiromu ends up in a corner, and Desperado gets to the top rope that way. But Hiromu SUPERKICKS first! Hiromu hurries up after Desperado, to jump and- NO, Desperado stops the Super Victory Roll, to hit a SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Desperado snarls as he watches Hiromu rise. They shout at each other, then crawl over to each other. Desperado pulls Hiromu’s hair but Hiromu pulls Desperado’s mask. Hiromu then shoves Desperado, but Desperado ducks the superkick! Desperado ROCKS Hiromu, ROCKS him again, and ROCKS him again! And again! And again! And AGAIN!!

Hiromu wobbles but Desperado DECKS him!! The fans are thunderous as Desperado roars, and he LOCO MO- NO! Hiromu ducks to SUPERKICK! And then SUPERKICKS again! Hiromu runs, to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Hiromu roars and the fans are thunderous! Hiromu reels Desperado in to the dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, but Desperado slips free! OLYMPIC SLAM! And then Desperado underhooks, PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Hiromu survives and Desperado is stunned! The fans are electric as Desperado pounds the mat and roars! Desperado drags Hiromu up and underhooks again.

PINCHE- NO, Hiromu fights it, wrenches, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL! TWO!!! Desperado ROCKS Hiromu again, then underhooks, for a JAY DRILLER!!! And then roll through to the PINCHE LOCO!!!! Cover, DESPERADO WINS!!!

Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Desperado was wearing red for the occasion, and now he will get to wear gold once again! He defeats Hiromu on NJPW’s biggest stage, does this make Desperado the Best of the Super Juniors?

 

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat: Will Ospreay VS Jon Moxley VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!

What was the United States Heavyweight Championship became the United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship under the Aerial Assassin’s reign. But just as The Maniac made his return to NJPW aiming for the gold, The Rebel stormed in and took the fight to them both! Finlay says he is a man without a country, so will he be the first to hold a title that represents all countries? Or will he see that NJPW doesn’t need the Rebel?

Finlay has a bigger jacket than usual, Moxley mixes Nightwing with Red Hood while Ospreay has a Jack the Ripper meets Assassin’s Creed style going. The introductions are made, the brand new belt is presented, and we see who gets to be the very first!

The bell rings and Finlay asks how the others are gonna play this. Ospreay & Moxley go after Finlay together, that’s how! They mug Finlay, but then Ospreay pushes Moxley aside so he can stomp and punch away. Moxley moves Ospreay aside so he can stand on Finlay’s face! Ospreay then CHOPS Finlay, and then Moxley CHOPS Finlay! Ospreay CHOPS Finlay, and Moxley CHOPS Finlay! They’re trying to outdo each other as they CHOP Finlay again and again! Fans cheer, but then Finlay rushes up on Ospreay. Moxley stops that to CHOP Finlay down. Moxley claws Finlay’s face, the ref counts and Moxley lets off.

Moxley & Ospreay double whip but Finlay bails out. Fans boo, but Ospreay goes out to BOOT Finlay down! The fans cheer, and Moxley adds on by sitting Finlay right on the railing! Moxley then goes to No Man’s Land to CLOBBER Finlay off the railing! Ospreay is there to drag Finlay up and throw forearms. They end up by commentary, go around the back, and Ospreay throws more forearms. They end up among the fans, Ospreay throws more forearms, but Moxley returns. Finlay fights back but Moxley kicks him low. Ospreay CHOPS Finlay down! Finlay sputters, but Ospreay & Moxley haul him up, to whip him into railing!

Finlay falls over, but Ospreay hauls him up, for a RAILING BACK SUPLEX! Finlay writhes, the ref wants this back in the ring, but Moxley and Ospreay drag Finlay up again. Moxley ROCKS Finlay, whips him, but Finlay reverses and sends Moxley into a power generator! Finlay then FLAPJACKS Ospreay off railing! Ospreay sputters, Moxley stands up, but Finlay CLUBS Moxley back to ringside. Moxley kicks back, and he snap suplexes Finlay to the floor! Finlay writhes, and Moxley gets a TABLE! The fans fire up for that but Gedo freaks out! Moxley dares Finlay to get up while he finishes setting the table.

Ospreay brings Finlay over, he and Moxley haul him up to DOUBLE POWERBOMB him through the table!! The fans fire up as Moxley and Ospreay loom over Finlay. Finlay sputters in the wreckage, Ospreay and Moxley take this into the ring. Fans fire up for the 1v1 and the two fire forearms! They go back and forth, Ospreay runs and BOOTS! Then SNAP SAIDOS! But Moxley’s right up to SNAP SAIDO in return! Ospreay is up, both men LARIAT! Ospreay CHOPS, whips, but Moxley reverses. Ospreay handsprings but Moxley catches him for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Moxley sits Ospreay up to run and PENALTY KICK!

Moxley puts Ospreay in a corner, climbs up and he rains down fists! The fans rally as Moxley goes to TEN! Then he whips corner to corner, runs in, but Ospreay BOOTS! Ospreay goes up but Moxley ROCKS him! Moxley climbs up to CLAW Ospreay’s back! The ref reprimands, but Ospreay slips under, tucks Moxley in, CHEEKY NANDOS! Moxley staggers off the corner, Ospreay springboards, but Moxley catches him! SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX!! Moxley runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! But Moxley turns it around?! ARMBAR!! Ospreay fights around, clasps hands, but Moxley pries at the grip! But Ospreay shifts, only to end up in a TRIANGLE HOLD!

Ospreay endures, deadlifts and BUCKLE BOMBS Moxley! But Moxley’s right up!? KING KONG LARIAT!! The fans are thunderous again while Ospreay crawls to the apron. Moxley goes out after him, and we’re near the table wreckage. Moxley hauls Ospreay up but Ospreay fights the lift. Ospreay kicks low, reels Moxley in, but Moxley fights the lift. Moxley back drops Ospreay to the apron! Finlay is back up to POST Moxley! Fans boo but Finlay goes after Ospreay and puts him on the apron. Finlay hauls Ospreay up, Canadian Rack, but Ospreay slips free to SILENT WHISPER HOOK KICK!

But Gedo slips Finlay his shillelagh! Ospreay goes up the corner, but Finlay catches the Oscutter for a SHILLELAGH NECKBREAKER to the apron!! Ospreay falls to the floor and fans boo again. But Finlay leaves Ospreay behind to go after Moxley, who is busted open! But Moxley still hits a CUTTER!! Moxley staggers around, finds Finlay again, but Finlay sends him into buckles! Finlay stomps away, rains down fists, and he BITES Moxley’s bloody forehead! The ref reprimands, Finlay lets off to spit out Moxley’s blood, then he fires hands on Moxley’s bloody face. Finlay has Moxley on ropes, digs his forearm into the wound, and fires crossface forearms!

The ref counts, Finlay lets off, and Moxley sputters. Finlay hauls Moxley up to suplex, but Moxley turns that around to X-PLEX! Ospreay is back to BOOT Moxley! Moxley ROCKS Ospreay! Moxley runs, into the TIGER WALL KICK and ENZIGURI! Finlay returns, Ospreay dodges, to HANDSPRING PELE both Finlay and Moxley! The fans fire up with Ospreay as he has targets in the corners. ELBOW for Finlay, but Moxley dodges. Ospreay BOOTS Moxley, goes up and steps off him to FLYING ELBOW Finlay! Ospreay chops and whips Moxley but Moxley ducks ‘n’ dodges to DIVE onto Finlay at the ramp!

The fans fire up but Ospreay won’t be outdone in aerial combat! Ospreay goes up the corner to ARIHARA MOONSAULT both Moxley and Finlay! The fans are thunderous, Finlay checks his nose and there is some blood. Ospreay fires up, he puts Moxley in, and the fans join him in “OI! OI! OI!” Ospreay PIP PIP- FOREARM from Moxley!! Moxley flips off the Ospreay fans to get Ospreay up. DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO!!! But Moxley has the BULLY CHOKE!! Ospreay endures as Moxley pulls way back on the hold! Ospreay fights around, Moxley rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! And back to the BULLY CHOKE!

Ospreay fights up, so Moxley BITES Ospreay’s forehead! But Ospreay kicks, underhooks, but Moxley back drops free! Ospreay sunset flips but Moxley stays up! Finlay returns but Moxley kicks him low and reels him in, PILEDRIVER onto Ospreay! Fans fire up as Moxley uses one enemy against the other! Cover on Ospreay, TWO!! All three men are down and the fans fire up again. Moxley bails out, goes looking under the ring, and he brings out chair after chair after chair! Moxley throws those into the ring, not caring who gets hit! Ospreay gets hit! Moxley has about five chairs now, and he CHUCKS one at Finlay!

Finlay flounders, Moxley grins as he sets up the chairs face to face. But then he decides, back to back! Moxley hauls Finlay up, Gedo freaks out, but Finlay CLAWS the bloody forehead! Finlay then reels Moxley in, URENAGE on the chairs!! Moxley writhes, Finlay brings Ospreay around and Canadian Racks. DOMINATOR onto Moxley! Cover on Moxley, TWO!! The fans fire up while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay grabs a chair to SMACK Ospreay down with it! The fans boo more but Finlay taunts Ospreay. Ospreay fires a forearm! And another! And another! Finlay UPPERCUTS but Ospreay SUPER- NO, Finlay blocks to ROLLING ELBOW!

Finlay suplexes, but gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Fans fire up as Ospreay aims, but Finlay reels him in, IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! REGAL KNEE from Moxley!! Moxley runs, but Ospreay slips through the lariat! Ospreay lifts Moxley up but Moxley slips free of the bomb to PARADIGM SHIFT!! Ospreay springs up to HIDDEN BLADE!!! Finlay TOSSES Ospreay, covers Moxley, TWO!!! Finlay tried to be opportunistic but it wasn’t enough. Finlay kicks Ospreay aside, then he hauls Moxley up. INTO OBLIVION! HIDDEN BLADE!!! But Finlay is still on the cover!!! TWO!!!! Moxley has the cover now, but Ospreay breaks it!!

All three men are down and the fans fire up again. Moxley seethes while Finlay flounders to a corner. Ospreay and Moxley go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! Fans rally as they keep going back and forth, even as they stand back up. Moxley keeps one eye on Finlay, because Finlay comes in to throw forearms on him and Ospreay! Neither of them back down, though! Finlay finds himself stuck in the middle quite literally, so he SPITS at Ospreay and flips them both off. But they pinball Finlay with forearm after forearm! Ospreay fires a flurry, Moxley PALM STRIKES Finlay, then Ospreay SILENT WHISPERS!

Finlay drops to his knees, then falls over. Moxley drags Finlay back up, he and Ospreay agree to work together. They each take aim, but THE WAR DOGS ATTACK!!! Fans boo as Kidd attacks Ospreay and Coughlin is after Moxley! Kidd claws Ospreay’s eyes, more revenge for his own failures against Ospreay than anything. Gedo argues with the ref, there’s no problem since this is No Disqualifications. Except there still kinda IS a problem! Kidd gets table after table out, Coughlin CHOKES Moxley with a shirt! Kidd sets those tables up while fans tell the Dogs to go home. Moxley CHOKES Coughlin, but then Kidd CHOKES Moxley!

The Dogs mug Moxley, and then Finlay tells them to finish this! Kidd scoops, Coughlin goes up, but Moxley slips free to send Kidd into Finlay! Ospreay is back, SUPER OSCUTTER for Coughlin!! The fans fire up again as Moxley brings Coughlin out to the tables. Moxley puts Coughlin on the tables, rains down fists, then he brings Kidd around. Moxley throws hands, puts Kidd next to Coughlin, and he holds them down while Ospreay climbs! Ospreay SUPER SWANTON BOMBS, but the tables don’t break!!! At least, not all the way! Coughlin’s ass is stuck down through his table while Kidd and his table just flop over!

But Finlay LOW BLOWS Moxley!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay is furious but he still has his shillelagh! Finlay aims at Moxley, but Moxley kicks him first! PARADIGM SHIFT!! And then another underhook, DEATH RIDER!!!! But Ospreay HIDDEN BLADES!!!! Cover, ONE?!?!? HOW?!?! Ospreay JUMPING HIDDEN BLADES!!! And then underhooks, into STORMBREAKER!!!!! But Finlay BLOCKBUSTERS, to INTO OBLIVION!!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Ospreay survives and Finlay is furious! Finlay ties up the legs, he has Ospreay’s arms, SURFBOARD STOMP!!! Finlay roars, fans boo, but Finlay suplexes again, INTO OBLIVION MK II!!! High stack, Finlay wins!!

Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (INAUGURAL IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)

Finlay holds the brand new belt, gives it a big kiss, and manages to stand so he can celebrate! But fans boo as he wouldn’t have this without his pawns helping him. Will The Rebel do whatever he has to in order to take over NJPW?

But wait, Finlay spots the Nemeth Brothers at ringside, and he starts talking trash to Nick. The WWE Grand Slam Champion tells Finlay yeah, he had a hell of a match, but that somehow makes him think he gets to talk to Nick? Finlay tells Nick being in WWE doesn’t mean he deserves to be in Finlay’s ring. Finlay shoves Nick, so Nick fires back!! Young Lions rush in, Ryan gets his brother back, and Finlay starts spitting at Nick! Nick says he will END Finlay! Will the Rebel regret punking out the Showoff?

 

Kazuchika Okada VS Bryan Danielson!

The Rainmaker and the American Dragon have met before, both in a 1v1 and in a tag team match. And though Bryan has won both of those matches, it came at the cost of his own physical health. Bryan’s got a bad arm and a bad eye, what will he sacrifice in order to win again? Will he win again?

Okada shows off the amazing science of his new jacket. It’s all white with outlines of a dragon pattern, but the power of UV light brings out the color! Fans cheer the amazing transformation happening before their eyes! Bryan’s entrance meanwhile gets pillars of fire, and he tears up the Okada Dollars on the ground. The fans rally with “YES! YES! YES!” and the bell rings. Bryan and Okada stare down and the fans duel. The two circle, feel things out, and they knuckle lock. They go to a corner, Bryan slaps at Okada but Okada backs up. Okada even baits Bryan in, so Bryan kicks him. Okada still dares Bryan to try.

Bryan throws another kick but Okada doesn’t back down. They tie up again, go around, and Bryan wrangles Okada down. Bryan powers Okada into the chinlock but Okada slips around. Bryan facelocks, floats around, tries for the chinlock again but Okada slips out. Okada has an arm, wrenches, and wristlocks. Bryan moves around, rolls, and hooks a leg. Bryan also chinbars, then he wrangles Okada to the mat. Okada gets the ROPEBREAK, and Bryan lets off fast. The fans cheer as the two reset. Okada and Bryan knuckle lock, go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength, or “test of wills” as Bryan would call it.

The fans rally as the two are forehead to forehead, and then they throw elbows! Fans rally as the elbows go back and forth but Okada gets the edge. Bryan drops back, rolls, but Okada ROCKS him again! Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges to ELBOW Bryan down! Fans fire up and Okada has Bryan in a corner. Okada whips corner to corner, runs in, and back elbows! Okada then kicks and DDTS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Okada brings Bryan up to top wristlock, then MONEY CLIP! Bryan goes to the ropes, Red Shoes calls the break, and Okada lets off slowly. Okada knees low! Okada snapmares Bryan, runs side to side and DROPKICKS!

Bryan bails out, clutching the bad eye! Bryan checks around the eyepatch but Okada storms out after him. Okada brings Bryan to the ramp, then to No Man’s Land, for a DDT to the floor! Okada leaves Bryan behind, to get up on the girder’s support platform? And he uses it to get a boost as he runs across the way, into Bryan’s BUSAIKU KNEE!! The fans fire up while Bryan snarls and looms over Okada. Bryan SLAPS Okada, talks trash and SLAPS him again! Bryan drags Okada up and says he’s gonna break Okada’s arm! Bryan wrenches to hit an ELBOW BREAKER! Then Bryan brings Okada to railing and puts the arm through.

Bryan SLAMS the gate shut on Okada’s arm!! And then again!! “Who’s the best?!” The fans cheer while Red Shoes reprimands Bryan. Bryan drags Okada up, and wrenches the bad arm, for another ELBOW BREAKER! Bryan puts Okada in, the fans rally and duel, and Bryan looms over Okada. Okada clutches his arm, but Bryan drags him up to wrench the arm again. Bryan digs his knuckles into the elbow, then wrenches for an ELBOW BREAKER! Bryan hammerlocks Okada to fire forearms into Okada’s chest! Bryan then reels Okada in, NORTHERN LIGHTS on the hammerlock! Bridging cover, TWO!

Okada hangs in there and Bryan snarls. Bryan looms over Okada, drags him around and twists the wrist! Bryan bends Okada’s arm, isolates it, and STOMPS it!! Bryan vows to break Okada’s arm, and he wants everyone to know it! Bryan wrangles Okada to another hammerlock, and he KNEES the arm! And KNEES it again! And again! Bryan then sits on Okada for the DISARMER! Okada endures that arm being bent way back! And even the fingers are being bent way back! Bryan pulls on the entire arm!! Okada endures, even as Bryan bends the arm in a deep hammerlock! Okada fights around, to the ROPEBREAK!

Fans cheer while Bryan lets go in frustration. Bryan kicks Okada around, kicks him to a corner, then wraps the arm around ropes. Bryan pulls on the arm, then runs side to side to DROPKICK Okada! Bryan keeps going, and he DROPKICKS Okada again! Fans fire up as Bryan goes again, but Okada BOOTS Bryan down! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Okada brings Bryan up in an Alabama Lift, but Bryan fights free. Bryan KICKS, runs, but Okada pops him up to the Alabama Lift! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Both men are down again but both sit up as they grit their teeth.

Okada hauls Bryan up to scoop and SLAM! The bad arm slows Okada down but he still follows the formula. Okada climbs a corner, but Bryan ROCKS him first! Bryan UPPERCUTS Okada, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS again! Okada wobbles up top but Bryan UPPERCUTS again! Bryan climbs up after Okada now, underhooks the arms, and SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES!! And then the omoplata, for the LEBELL LOCK!!! Okada endures, flails around, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Bryan lets off in frustration. Bryan goes out to the apron, eggs Okada on and brings him up to KICK! And SLAP!

Bryan KICKS and SLAPS Okada on repeat, but Okada blocks a kick! Okada CLUBS the leg, then gut wrenches Bryan! Bryan tries to fight, but Okada still APRON TOMBSTONES!!! The fans are thunderous while Okada stumbles away! Bryan sputters on the apron’s edge and a ring count begins. Okada sits up at 5 of 20, but he stands at 8. Okada makes his way over to Bryan and pushes him in at 11. The fans cheer as this match continues, and Okada steps in to kick Bryan to a corner. Okada kicks and stomps Bryan, focusing on that bad eye. Okada sits Bryan up to give him more stomps, but Red Shoes tells him to stop.

Okada lets off, then storms up again to take the eyepatch away! Okada kicks Bryan right on his face! He even digs his boot in! Red Shoes makes Okada stop, but then Okada brings Bryan up. Okada whips and DROPKICKS Bryan down! Fans fire up and Okada drags Bryan to his feet. Okada scoops to SLAM, and back to the formula! Okada climbs, for the MACHO ELBOW!! But that was also the bad arm! Okada grits his teeth to endure the pain, and he hits the Rainmaker Pose~! The fans are thunderous as Okada drags Bryan up, ripcords, but Bryan slips through to crucifix takedown! TWO, and Bryan BUZZSAWS the bad arm! Then Bryan BUZZSAWS Okada!

Fans fire up as Bryan huffs and puffs and gets back to his feet. But then Bryan staggers, but steadies himself. Bryan hooks Okada up, for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Fans rally up with every shot, but Okada just roars! Bryan throws more elbows but Okada shakes his head! Okada is feeding off them even! Okada powers up to scoop Bryan! Bryan slips free, BUSAIKU KNEE!! Cover, TWO!!! Okada survives, but he ends up in the LEBELL LOCK!! Okada endures as Bryan bends him back! The fans rally as hard as they can, and Okada moves around. Okada fights his way over, reaches out, but Bryan grabs that arm!

Bryan rolls Okada away to a modified ghost pin! TWO, but it’s back to the omoplata! Bryan hooks the free arm with a leg, this is a modified RINGS OF SATURN!!! Okada endures and refuses to give up! The fans are thunderous as Okada fights his way around with just his legs! Bryan puts as much pressure as he can on the arms, and even adds a CROSSFACE!!! Okada endures, but he’s so red in the face! Okada’s fading!! Red Shoes checks on Okada, and he gets a second wind! Okada kicks around to the ROPEBREAK!! The fans are thunderous as Bryan lets off in frustration! Bryan looms over Okada, and grabs the wrists!

Bryan fires off DRAGON STOMPS! And hard ones! Again and again and again and again, he stomps Okada! Then he reels Okada in to an ARMBAR! But Okada rolls through, ripcords and RAINMAKER!!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Okada clutches the bad arm while Bryan rolls away. Bryan sits up, shakes out the cobwebs, and he KICKS Okada in the arm! Okada BOOTS back! Bryan KICKS the arm! Okada BOOTS again! Bryan KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! Okada scowls and ROCKS Bryan with a forearm! Bryan sits down and the fans fire up for Okada! But then Bryan drags Okada down into the omoplata!

Okada tucks his head to fight the crossface, and powers his way through Bryan’s legs to fire off forearms! Okada then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Okada holds on, to ripcord and- Bryan BOOTS the lariat! And ROUNDHOUSES! Bryan runs, but Okada avoids the knee to ripcord! Bryan ROLLING ELBOWS! And BUSAIKU KNEES!! Okada is down, Bryan is huffing and puffing again and the fans fire back up. The fans join in with the “YES! YES! YES!” as Bryan aims from a corner. Bryan runs in, but Okada ducks the knee! And scoops to POWERSLAM! And then RAIN- NO, Bryan ducks and has the arm! But Okada powers out, DISCUS-

NO, Bryan dodges, runs, but into the DROPKICK! Bryan roars to his feet!! But Okada fireman’s carries! LANDSLIDE, and then the ripcord! RAINMAKER!!!! Cover, OKADA WINS!!!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall

The third time IS the charm, and that is what it took for the Rainmaker to slay the American Dragon! Will this prove once and for all that Okada is the best in the world? But rather surprisingly, Okada shows respect to Bryan by kneeling and bowing! Bryan returns the favor! Fans cheer the sportsmanship, and in singles competition, that makes them 1-1. When and where, if ever, will we get another round?

 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA VS Tetsuya Naito!

Once upon a time, both men were in the same NJPW tryout, but only the Stardust Genius was accepted. Sanada then proved himself worthy as he competed in Pro-Wrestling NOAH and made the jump over. Now it is Sanada who stands at the summit as Naito makes the hard climb. Will Naito replace Sanada on the mountaintop? Or will nothing take this gold from the Cold Skull?

Naito wears a mask that’s part dragon, part fox, while Sanada wears a brand new red jacket with gold and silver feathers on the back. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if NJPW was right or wrong all those years ago!

Naito of course takes his time with his entrance attire, but Sanada is used to that. Naito is finally ready, and the bell rings. The fans are thunderously dueling already! Red Shoes assesses Naito has the edge, but Sanada isn’t bothered by that. Sanada and Naito circle, feel things out, and they tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Naito goes for an arm. Naito wrenches, wristlocks, but Sanada rolls, trips Naito, and has a toehold. Naito chinlocks to fight back but Sanada pulls on the leg. Naito uses his free leg to bring Sanada down, but Sanada fights off the armbar. Sanada moves around, Naito shifts to a short arm scissor.

Sanada endures, moves around, rolls back, but Naito stays hooked on. Sanada powers through, headlocks, Naito rolls and then gets his own headlock, but Sanada headscissors. Naito kips free, the two stand off, and the fans rally up. Naito and Sanada reset, approach, and tie up again. Naito puts Sanada on ropes, Sanada turns that around but Naito turns it back around. Sanada turns it back around, Naito turns it back around, and Red Shoes counts. Sanada turns it around, Naito turns it around, but then Naito slowly lets off. Naito pats Sanada on shoulders, and then SPITS at him! Sanada runs up, Naito kicks low and throws him out!

Naito builds speed but Sanada rushes back in! Sanada kicks Naito low, not letting him do either the dive or the tranquilo! Sanada then TOSSES Naito out, then Sanada builds speed! Sanada tumbles up and out as Naito moves, then Sanada slingshots back in. Not the smoothest but fans still cheer Sanada showing off there. Sanada then holds the ropes open for Naito. Naito goes under the ropes instead, and fans applaud this back and forth of mind games. Naito and Sanada reset again, feel things out, and knuckle lock. But Naito kicks low! And CLUBS Sanada on the back! And again, and again!

Sanada CHOPS, but Naito forearms! Naito pie faces, so Sanada CHOPS! Naito forearms, Sanada CHOPS, repeat. Naito then throws those heavy back elbows of his! Sanada drops to his knees but Naito brings him back up. Naito whips corner to corner, Sanada goes up and out then springboards back in. Naito gets clear, things keep moving, and Naito hip toss BACKBREAKERS! Sanada writhes while fans fire up. Naito casually walks over, brings Sanada up, and he cravats for a neck wrench. Sanada endures, but Naito puts him in a corner. Red shoes reprimands, but Naito throws those heavy back elbows!

Naito goes back to the cravat and neck wrench but Sanada endures. Naito whips, arm-drags, but Sanada’s right up! So Naito ELBOWS him down and basement dropkicks! Naito then brings Sanada around, dragon sleepers, and BACKBREAKERS, into the PLUMA BLANCA! Sanada endures, the fans rally, and Sanada kicks around. Naito puts on the pressure but Sanada still fights. Sanada kicks and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Red Shoes counts, but Naito claims he needs help. This is par for the course, and Red Shoes gets Naito to let off. Naito then stomps Sanada around.

Naito brings Sanada up but Sanada throws body shots. Sanada CHOPS and CHOPS, but Naito throws those heavy elbows! Naito puts Sanada in the corner, grinds his forearm into Sanada’s face, then whips corner to corner. Naito runs in but Sanada avoids the kick to dropkick the legs out! And then he gets around to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down! Sanada rises first, and he storms up on Naito. But Naito claws the eyes! Naito whips, Sanada reverses, and Sanada hurdles, hurdles and DROPKICKS! Fans fire up, Naito bails out, and Sanada PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Naito!

The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans oblige and Sanada likes the volume. Sanada drags Naito up, puts him in, and fans cheer. Sanada aims from the apron, springboards in, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Sanada drags Naito up, fireman’s carries, but Naito fights free! Naito swings, but into another fireman’s carry! T K O! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Sanada drags Naito into the dragon sleeper! But Naito fights free to arm-drag! And then runs up, but into an O’Conner Roll, and DRAGON SLEEPER! SKULL END!! Naito is in the body scissors while fans rally up!

Naito endures the squeeze on his head, fights around with his legs, and reaches out with his feet. Sanada squeezes and Naito starts fading! Red Shoes checks, but Naito gets a second wind! Naito pops free of the sleeper to have the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets go in frustration while the fans cheer. Sanada storms up, drags Naito to his feet, and scoops to SLAM him into a drop zone. Sanada then goes up, to ROUNDING BODY- NO, he has to bail out as Naito dodges! Naito then puts Sanada on the apron and he sweeps the legs! Then MODIFIED COMBINACION CABRON!! A rough landing for both men but the fans fire back up!

Naito crawls his way over to Sanada, brings him up, and sits him on the railing, for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER to the floor!! Red Shoes checks Sanada while Naito leaves him behind. Sanada is somehow still in this, so a ring count begins. The fans rally up while Sanada is still down at 5 of 20. Sanada is still down at 10, at 13, and sits up at 15! Sanada pushes up at 17, and he slides in at 18! Naito has Sanada to whip, and hip toss BACKBREAKER! Sanada writhes again but Naito drags him back up. Naito hoists Sanada to the top rope, climbs up after him, and SUPER STEINERS! Fans fire up again as Naito stands back up.

Naito aims from the corner as Sanada slowly rises. The fans rally up behind Naito as he runs up, but Sanada DROPKICKS him! Sanada whips, Naito reverses and TORNADO- NO, Sanada stops that to suplex and use the ropes, MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans rally up again. Sanada fires up as he storms over to Naito. Naito swings, but Sanada gets around and jumps up, POISON-RANA! SHINING WIZARD!! Then Sanada hauls Naito up, scoop and SLAM! Then Sanada goes up to ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto knees!! Naito saves himself but both men are down again!

The fans rally as hard as they can and Naito sits up. Naito stands, hobbles over to Sanada, and he drags Sanada up. Naito kicks low, throws heavy elbows, and repeat! Naito ELBOWS Sanada down, and the fans fire back up! Naito storms over to Sanada, drags him up again and then hops up the corner. Naito reels Sanada in as the fans all rally behind him, ESPERANZA!! Sanada flounders back up, into CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTINO~!! But Naito isn’t done there, he wrenches, tilt-o-whirls, and DESTI- NO!! Sanada blocks to T K O with authority!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down again!

Naito stirs and Sanada pushes himself back up. Sanada climbs, ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto Naito’s back! But he’s not done there, he goes right back up! ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto Naito’s front!! Cover, TWO!!! Naito survives and the fans are thunderous again! Sanada drags Naito up, but Naito gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Sanada manages to land on his feet, but Naito hits a SPINEBUSTER! Naito wrenches, but Sanada fights the tilt-o-whirl. Naito throws more heavy elbows! Sanada throws one, but Naito ducks it to tilt-o-whirl, only for Sanada to block the Destino! Fans fire up as they’re in a deadlock!

Naito CLUBS Sanada, and CLUBS him, and CLUBS him! Sanada fires a forearm in return! Naito dodges the next, to tilt-o-whirl DESTINO!!! And then Naito drags Sanada up again! Wrench, tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Not the cleanest but Naito still covers, TWO?!?! Sanada is still in this after 2.5 Destinos, and the fans are thunderous! Naito drags Sanada up, he wants another! But Sanada clinches! DEADFALL!!!! Both men are down and the fans are electric!! Red Shoes goes for a down count! The two men stir at 3 of 10 and the fans get even louder! Sanada sits up at 5, Naito goes to a corner at 7, and both men stand!

The fans fire up again as Sanada runs in. Naito BOOTS him! Naito runs up, but Sanada ROCKS him! ROLLING- SLAP! ENZIGURI! Sanada rebounds to ROLLING ELBOW! And then cravat, ASAI DDT!! Sanada drags Naito right up, wrenches and clinches, but Naito slips free! ROLLING KICK! TORNADO DDT!! The fans are volcanic and Naito brings Sanada back up! Naito scoops, but Sanada slips free! O’Conner Roll, BRIDGE!! TWO?!?!? Naito escapes by nanoseconds!! But Sanada SHINING WIZARDS!! Shoutout to Keiji Mutoh but Sanada ain’t done yet! Sanada drags Naito up, clinches again, DEADFA- NO, Naito ripcords to ELBOW! And steals DEADFALL!!!!

The fans are bound to lose their voices at this rate, but they don’t care! They’re going to cheer Naito as he hauls Sanada up! Scoop and VALENTIA!!! Naito fires up, drags Sanada to his feet, tilt-o-whirl DESTINOOOOOO~!!!! Cover, NAITO WINS!!!!

Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)

From winning the G1 to being THE ONE here at the end of WrestleKingdom, Naito has truly reached the top of NJPW!! The Cold Skull no longer has the gold, what will become of his 2024?

As for Naito, he is presented the title belt, and actually accepts it! Fans cheer the photo op, then Naito gets the mic. But before he gets a chance to speak, EVIL ATTACKS!! The King of Darkness and even Dick Togo beat the new world champion down, ruining the moment for everyone! Dick holds Naito down while Evil picks up the title and the mic! Fans boo and tell him and Dick to go away, but Evil says, “OI, Naito! I won’t let you do the LIJ roll call, ya bastard! And hey, I’ve just become the EIGHTH IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Understand, ya bastard?” Oh no, not this BS again! But wait! Sanada gets up to SHINING WIZARD Evil!!

Dick freaks out, rushes Sanada, but Sanada kicks him low! And Sanada sets Dick up for Naito’s dropkick to the legs! These two may not be on the same team anymore but they still know how to work together! The fans are thunderous and The House retreats! Sanada and Naito get back up, and Naito gets the belt again. Sanada promises, he and Naito will do this again. Sanada then takes his leave, the fans cheering him on. Naito gets his hat, finds the mic, and finally gets to speak. “The faction has changed… but once again, I’m holding the mic in the end, all thanks to you. Gracias, Sanada.” The fans cheer that! And Sanada’s even emotional!

Naito continues with finally saying, “Buenas noches, Tokyo Dooome~!” To everyone watching this on TV, online, and to everyone who came to the Tokyo Dome, “thank you for creating this wonderful moment. Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer in thanks back. Naito says that “LIJ will surely take you all to new heights in 2024. Please keep your eyes on LIJ.” The fans cheer, looking forward to that. But speaking of, Naito was most looking forward to the huge roll call we never got four years ago. The fans cheer again, and Naito is sure they all came here just for that, right? Then are they ready for the BIGGEST roll call in history? The fans cheer in confirmation!

Then the only way to close out NJPW WrestleKingdom 18 is naturally… “Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Y Naito! Nosotros…! LOS! INGOBERRRRRRRNABLEEEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!!!” Mic drop and confetti, the New Year has a new champion! Will Naito be nigh unstoppable now that he’s on top of the world?

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My Thoughts:

An awesome WrestleKingdom, certainly one of if not the best that I’ve seen. The New Japan Ranbo was a lot of fun, especially with Iizuka showing up. But I like the four they went with. Khan tried for the KOPW but lost to Takagi a couple times, Yoh and Ishimori are kinda branching out from the Junior Heavyweight Division right now, and Yano is too good at comedy and creativity to leave out of the mix. Of those four, it’d be too obvious if Yano won. Yoh is really going full goofy so I feel like he’s a strong candidate for leading this year off as KOPW Champion.

Great match from Catch 2/2 and Bullet Club, and being half-Filipino, I appreciated TJP referencing the Aswang in this spooky persona of his. Great win for Catch 2/2, and I even like these belts being redesigned to have white straps. Awesome NJPW World TV Championship match, but what’re the odds that the new President of NJPW is now a double champion? I’m mostly kidding. But Tanahashi has this title and is a NEVER Openweight Six Man Champion, though I feel like the plan was still for ZSJ to drop the NJPW World TV title to whoever he faced tonight so that things freshen up just a little going into the “second season.”

Great match from Yota and Yuya, and Yuya winning was actually a bit of a surprise to me. Meanwhile, the House of Torture cheating to win was not a surprise. I will say, a wood push-up bar that now has metal plates on it is a unique weapon so I like that part. Great match from Tama VS Takagi, but I’m really surprised Tama won the belt again. A fourth reign puts Tama right behind the top “most reigns” with the NEVER Openweight title, with Goto at five and Ishii at six. Maybe some new names move up into the NEVER Openweight scene for Tama to face, such as Yuya after his win tonight.

Awesome IWGP Heavyweight & NJPW Strong Openweight tag title match, and I was genuinely surprised ELP & Leo won that. That is huge in many ways, but especially as I said, this marks the 100th change in reign, aka the 100th team to hold the titles. It’s hard to say where things go from here, then, but much like the NJPW World TV title changing hands, this moment had to happen at some point so why not WrestleKingdom? And on the same level, same for Hiromu giving up the Junior Heavyweight title. Great new gear for Desperado, great win for him, and apparently he got jumped backstage by Kanemaru & Sho the same as we saw Evil jump Naito in the main event. And that’s a good feud for Desperado, he has beef with Narita and Kanemaru, he might as well fight those guys, too.

Awesome Triple Threat for the new Global Championship, but the outcome was sadly a bit obvious. With Moxley being in AEW, Ospreay heading to AEW, and Finlay having Bullet Club War Dogs backing him, of course Finlay wins to be the first Global Champion. But I do really like that we saw Ryan & Nick Nemeth here, even before Nick ever shows up in AEW. And whatever anyone thought of Dolph Ziggler’s last days in WWE, I personally feel he is still better in all the aspects of pro-wrestling than Finlay is right now, even after Finlay’s Heel turn and makeover. But Finlay is definitely not losing this title in his first feud, so this is really just a solid first move for both guys right now.

Awesome match from Okada and Bryan, and of course Okada wins this one. As such, Okada must be sticking around in NJPW rather than leaving for WWE or even moving over to AEW like Ospreay. Really hope we get Bryan VS Okada 1v1 a third time sooner rather than later, what with this being Bryan’s last year and all. Maybe Revolution in March is enough time for both guys to kinda take things easy and then go again? And of course, what an awesome main event. Another genuine surprise, I oddly didn’t think Naito would take this, but again, they had to seize the moment of the roll call. Evil wants the title, of course, so he’ll probably get a shot at like New Beginning. Great moment for Sanada, too, even in losing, because he really did come up with these guys. I hope Sanada does get his rematch, and even if it isn’t right away, he can have some good feuds along the way.

My Score: 9.2/10