wrestling / TV Reports

Csonka’s NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2018 Review

October 8, 2018 | Posted by Larry Csonka
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2018
8.5
The 411 Rating
Community Grade
12345678910
Your Grade
Loading...
Csonka’s NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2018 Review  

Csonka’s NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2018 Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
IWGP Junior Tag Title Match: Champions Kanemaru & Desperado defeated Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask @ 10:15 via pin [***¼]
– Honma & Makabe defeated Juice Robinson & Henare @ 10:30 via pin [**¾]
– Bad Luck Fale, Ishimori, Tanga Loa, & Tama Tonga defeated The Young Bucks, Chase Owens, & Hangman Page @ 12:10 via pin [***]
– Will Ospreay, Hirooki Goto, & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Iizuka, Taichi, & Minoru Suzuki @ 11:55 via pin [**½]
– LIJ defeated CHAOS @ 9:35 via pin [***¼]
– EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr is a no contest [NR]
For The VACANT IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title: KUSHIDA defeated Marty Scurll @ 18:40 via pin TO BECOME THE NEW CHAMPION [****]
For Tanahashi’s WrestleKingdom Title Shot: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Jay White @ 20:45 via pin [****]
IWGP Title Match: Champion Kenny Omega defeated Kota Ibushi and Cody @ 34:15 via pin [****¼]


– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– I did a column, “Where Are They Now, The Cruiserweight Classic Finals Performers” which you can check out at this link.

– You can check out my top 36 matches of SEPTEMBER list at this link.

– Kevin Kelly, Rocky Romero, & Chris Charlton are on commentary.

IWGP Junior Tag Title Match: Champions Kanemaru & Desperado vs. Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask: The champions, in true Suzuki-gun dick bag style, attack the legends during their entrance. The immediately take control, and try to rip off their masks, which has been a trend in this on and off feud for almost 18-months. Back in and the champions isolate Tiger, working quick tags, and grounding the action. Kanemaru works a camel clutch, and then Despy tags in and goes after the mask again. Tiger fires up but gets cut off with double teams but rolls through for the tag. Liger lays in shoteis, hits a RANA off the ropes and then a cradle for 2. The arm bar follows, but Despy makes the save. Liger cuts him off with a back breaker. Liger hits a powerbomb and Tiger hits the top rope head butt for 2. Kanemaru cuts him off, Despy tags in and hits the suplex and the spear follows for 2. They take out Liger, but Tiger hits the Tiger driver for 2. They work up top, Tiger then hits a super butterfly suplex but Kanemaru breaks it up, whiskey mist and Liger makes the save until we get a ref bump. Liger takes out Kanemaru on the floor, Tiger avoids the belt shot, hits a tiger suplex but no ref. Kanemaru hits Liger with the whiskey bottle, low blow on Tiger, and pinche loco follows for the win. Champions Kanemaru & Desperado defeated Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask @ 10:15 via pin [***¼] This was a good and energetic opener, with a hit crowd and the legends bringing it until the champions went into their bag of tricks to retain.

Juice Robinson & Henare vs. Honma & Makabe: Honma and Henare to begin. They lock up, trade shoulder tackles, and Henare takes him down. The slam follows and Henare covers for 2. Honma fires back with chops, a slam, and misses the falling kokeshi. Juice tags in and double teams follow. Juice now hits a delayed suplex and that gets 2. Henare tags back in and slaps Honma around. They trade strikes and Honma follows with a suplex. Makabe tags in, Juice in as well and Makabe follows with rights and clotheslines. The lariat follows for 2. Juice fires back, hits clotheslines in the corner, and the cannonball connects. The full nelson slam gets 2. Juice now lays in jabs, but Makabe cuts him off with a lariat. Honma tags in and lays in chops. The bulldog and falling kokeshi connect. The big lariat gets 2. It breaks down, Makabe and Henare to the floor and backing and Honma heads up top. Juice cuts him off and slams him to the mat. Henare tags in and lays in rights. The lariat to Honma follows for 2. Honma cuts him off with a leaping kokeshi and tags in Makabe. Shoulder tackle by Henare, and the spear follows for 2. Juice takes out Honma, but Makabe hits a lariat on Henare for 2. He and Honma work double teams, slam by Makabe, falling kokeshi by Honma, and Makabe hits the king kong knee drop for the win. Honma & Makabe defeated Juice Robinson & Henare @ 10:30 via pin [**¾] This was pretty good, with the veterans picking up an important win ahead of the WTL.

The Young Bucks, Chase Owens, & Hangman Page vs. Bad Luck Fale, Ishimori, Tanga Loa, & Tama Tonga: Loa and Owens to begin. They work into some back and forth, and Owens cradles Loa for 2. Ishimori and Nick tag in. Ishimori immediately picks up the pace, they work into some passes and then into a standoff. Everyone in and they argue and then brawl. The BC Elite hit dropkicks and clear the ring. Back in and Matt tags in, double teams follow on Ishimori and BC Elite again clears the ring. Nick follows with a top rope dive to wipe out the pile. Loa pulls Matt to the floor and hits a slam. The BC OGs take control on the floor, and back in, Ishimori works over the back of Matt. Tonga tags in and rips off Matt’s weight belt. He continue to work the back on Matt, Fale in and the beat down continues. Fale then rips off the tape and stomps on his back with all of his weight. Tonga back in, maintaining control, and talking shit to Matt. The Guerrillas work double teams, but Matt hits a desperation spear. Tag to Page, he runs wild with clotheslines, and then dropkicks. The dropsault follows for 2 on Ishimori. Page & Owens dump Fale to the floor. Page then moonsaults to the pile and wipes out the OGs. Back in and the BC Elite isolate and work over Ishimori. Owens hits the back breaker for 2. Ishimori slips on a back handspring kick, and tags out to Tonga. Page hits the buckshot lariat, Loa Germans him and the Bucks hit superkick on Fale, but Ishimori RANAs them and his a plancha to the floor. Owens counters gun stun, works over Loa, and looks for a package piledriver, but gets cut off with a pop up gun stun for the win. Bad Luck Fale, Ishimori, Tanga Loa, & Tama Tonga defeated The Young Bucks, Chase Owens, & Hangman Page @ 12:10 via pin [***] This was an overall good tag match, with the BC OGs picking up another win to continue control of the feud and to show their dominance.

Will Ospreay, Hirooki Goto, & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Iizuka, Taichi, & Minoru Suzuki: I’m not sure how to tell you this, but Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell sounded to legally start the match, and engaged in an unsportsmanlike brawl on the floor. Back in and Goto runs wild for a bit until Ishii and Ospreay join him and CHAOS triple teams Taichi until Suzuki gets the hanging arm bar in Goto. The battle spills to the floor for mass brawling. Back in and Suzuki-gun works over Goto, dumps him back to the floor and Iizuka starts biting people. Lots of biting. Suzuki in and starts kicking the shit out of Goto, talks shit and Goto fires up and hits the suplex. Ishii tags in and brawls with Suzuki. They give no fucks and beat the hell out of each other. Death glare from Suzuki and they start throwing bombs center ring. Ishii is rocked, but fires back, fight off the Gotch and they work into a double down. Taichi & Ospreay tag in and Ospreay hits the flying forearm, the back handspring kick connects for 2. Taichi fires back and it breaks down with Suzuki-gun isolating Ospreay. Iizuka chokes him out with his little rope and Taichi covers for 2. The pants are off, but Ospreay counters last ride and they work into back and forth until Suzuki-gun mauls Ospreay. Iizuka gets the iron fingers, it breaks down, Taichi gets the NEVER belt and runs into a Spanish fly. Ushigoroshi by Goto on Iizuka. Ospreay hits storm breaker on Taichi and pins him. Will Ospreay, Hirooki Goto, & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Iizuka, Taichi, & Minoru Suzuki @ 11:55 via pin [**½] This was a solid match but a bit too cliché with the Suzuki-gun act. The Ishii vs. Suzuki interactions were great, and as many predicted, Ospreay starts his run to the NEVER championship by pinning Taichi. Ishii’s reaction/celebration with Ospreay was great.

Toru Yano, Kazuchika Okada, Sho, & Yoh vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI, & Shingo: Three years ago, EVIL debuted with LIJ at this event, SANADA also joined in this very building. Naito teases Milano Collection AT as the new member, and then introduces “The Dragon” as the newest member of LIJ. It’s Shingo. Shingo & Yoh to begin, Yoh lays in strikes but Shingo lights him up and hits a shoulder tackle. Sho in and 3k double team Shingo. BUSHI in and LIJ rush the ring and take control, Paradise lock on Yano, and he’s trapped in the ropes. Shingo suplexes Yoh and covers for 2. SANADA in and works over Yoh, and locks him in a paradise lock. SANADA dropkicks him into Yano and frees them and covers Yoh for 2. BUSHI hits the missile dropkick and Naito is in, but Yoh cuts him off and then dragon screws BUSHI. Tag to Okada, he runs wild and hits a DDT on Naito. The flapjack follows for 2. Naito fights back, hits the dropkick combo in the corner, and LIJ runs wild with double teams and Naito covers for 2. Okada fights of Gloria, and hits the dropkick. They work into counters, Naito hits a flying forearm and Sho & BUSHI tag in. Sho hits a spear, 3k work double teams, and BUSHI escapes 3k and hits a DDT. Tag to Shingo and hits a Gory bomb on Sho for 2. Yano makes the save, SANADA takes him out, LIJ double teams Okada and Shingo hits the lariat. The last falconry finishes Sho. LIJ defeated CHAOS @ 9:35 via pin [***¼] This was a good and fun tag match, where LIJ largely dominated and Shingo looked good in his debut.


– They heavily hyped Shingo & BUSHI will team in the junior tag league.

– EVIL arrives on a throne; he’s the king of darkness after all. Pre-match, Chris Jericho, dressed as one of EVIL’s druids attacks him, and beats him down at ringside. Jericho then rolls him in and hits a code breaker. Jericho then lays out EVIL with the IC Title and poses.

EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr: Zack wants the match to start now, the ref waves it off and Zack attacks the ref and young lions. He lays the boots to EVIL, and starts working submissions as EVIL is out. Naito arrives and makes the save. They brawl, and Naito runs him off. EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr is a no contest It’s a bit disappointing that we didn’t get our match, but it’s extremely rare that they run an angle like this. Plus it played well following the Jericho attack and made it mean more. Plus we seemingly have Jericho vs. EVIL & Zack vs. Naito coming up out of it.

– Robbie Eagles will team with Taiji Ishimori in the Junior Tag League.

For The VACANT IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title: KUSHIDA vs. Marty Scurll: Marty has never defeated KUSHIDA, going 0-3 against him. They work into some counters to begin, with KUSHIDA frustrating Marty. KUSHIDA quickly looks for an arm bar, but Marty escapes. They tease a series of cradles and KUSHIDA finally gets one for 2. Marty dumps KUSHIDA and follows with an apron superkick. Marty follows with chops, back in and Marty looks for a Romero special, and gets it but KUSHIDA makes the ropes. Marty then lays in chops, but KUSHIDA cuts him off with a DDT. He attacks the arm, heads up top and Marty cuts him off and follows with a superplex but KUSHIDA cradles him for 2. Marty follows with chops and forearms; they then trade cradles and pinning combos for near falls. Marty now fires back with the superkick and lays in knee strikes. KUSHIDA lands some as well, PELE by KUSHIDA and they trade clotheslines into the double down. KUSHIDA now hits the rolling kick, Marty to the floor, and KUSHIDA heads up top and Marty cuts him off and follows him up. They battle for position, and KUSHIDA hits the flying diablo arm bar, but Marty takes KUSHIDA to the ropes and stuns him under them to escape. KUSHIDA counters a charging Marty into the flatliner to the buckles. Marty counters back to the future into the chicken wing. KUSHIDA fights, and counters out but Marty counters into a hover board lock. KUSHIDA counters, escapes, but Marty hits a chicken wing suplex, dumping KUSHIDA on his head. Marty looks for graduation, but KUSHIDA counters out and into an air raid crash. They work into counters, KUSHIDA wants the hover board lock, but can’t lock it on after Marty had stomped on the hand. Marty then counters back to the future into a cradle and then powerbombs him for 2. Marty hits graduation and covers for 2. The big lariat by Marty follows, and KUSHIDA counters graduation, but Marty rolls for a chicken wing, but KUSHIDA transitions into back to the future, hits another and we have a new champion. KUSHIDA defeated Marty Scurll @ 18:40 via pin TO BECOME THE NEW CHAMPION [****] This was a great match, filled with strong counters and transitions from both, telling an overall good story of technical wrestling, clever counters/one uppsmanship, and work filled with purpose.

For Tanahashi’s WrestleKingdom Title Shot: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White w/Gedo: White powders to the floor at bell. They finally lock up, work to the ropes and White teases the clean break, Gedo distracts Tanahashi and White attacks, taking him to the floor. Tanahashi fires back, whips him to the barricade, and hits the dropkick. Tanahashi looks to attack Gedo, allowing White to chop block Tanahashi. White stars targeting the knee, does some air guitar and continues his attack. White then posts the knee and Gedo attacks with the briefcase. “This is disgusting, and I love sneaky shit!” – Rocky Romero. White continues to attack the knee, and then follows with strikes in the ropes. White stomps on the knee as the crowd rallies for Tanahashi. White talks shit and slaps Tanahashi. Tanahashi fires back, and he hits a dragon screw. He follows with forearms, a slam and senton off the ropes for 2. Tanahashi hits another dragon screw, and looks for the cloverleaf but White makes the ropes. White kicks at the knee, and suplexes Tanahashi to the floor. White follows and beats down Tanahashi. Back in we go, as White gets a chair. Red Shoes stops him, allowing Tanahashi to attack. Tanahashi up top and hits the highest fly flow to the floor! Back in and Tanahashi runs into chops but fires up and runs into a flatliner and German from White. They trade strikes, Tanahashi fires up but White keeps throwing. Big slap from Tanahashi and White cuts off sling blade, they work into counters, White keeps throwing but Tanahashi hits twist and shout. Holds on and hits another. White counters the third, but walks into another twist and shout. Sling blade by Tanahashi, he takes out Gedo and follows with a dragon suplex for 2. Tanahashi up top and the high fly high cross follows, Back up and the high fly flow gets 2 as Gedo pulls out the ref. Gedo has brass knux, but Tanahashi fights him off. Low blow by White. Tanahashi counters the chair shot with a low blow on White. Tanahashi slams White on the chair, heads up top and the high fly flow eats chair! Chair shot by White, the ref is back and White looks for blade runner, but Tanahashi cradles him for the win. Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Jay White @ 20:45 via pin [****] Overall this was great, and words better than their WrestleKingdom match. It was a bit overbooked, but fit White’s character, and ultimately Tanahashi overcame. The post match was a hell of an angle.

– White attacks Tanahashi post match, but OKADA makes the save for Tanahashi to a huge pop. Okada runs off White and beats down Gedo, but Jado arrives and begs off for Gedo. The Bullet Club OGs arrive now and circle the ring. They hold Gedo & Jado for Okada, but Tonga then gun stuns Okada. Gedo smiles and they beat down Okada. White joins in and hits blade runner on Okada. We have a new era of Bullet Club as White & Tonga hug. This all goes back to the initial tease of White joining Bullet Club back in January. Tanahashi checks on a fallen Okada. Also, CHAOS are shitty friends by the way.

IWGP Title Match: Champion Kenny Omega vs. Kota Ibushi vs. Cody: The Buck are out with Omega. Cody, Omega, & Ibushi all hug pre-match. Tentative start here, Cody then dumps Ibushi and them dumps Omega. Ibushi back in and they lock up, dropkick by Ibushi and Cody powders. Omega in and cuts off the golden triangle allowing Cody to attack. The lovers double team Cody and then both go for pins and stop each other. Cody runs Omega into Ibushi and hits a dump suplex and covers for 2 as Omega landed badly on his shoulder. Cody then suplexes Ibushi on the floor. Back in and Cody hits a knee strike and covers Omega for 2. Cody back to the floor, Ibushi cuts him off with strikes and charges, but Cody dumps him into the crowd. Back in and Omega lays in rights, but Cody cuts him off with a backdrop for 2. Ibushi is down on the floor. Omega hits the snap RANA, Cody to the floor and Omega follows with a tope. Good catch by Cody saving Omega from crashing into the barricade. Ibushi is back in, and they hit the double team you can’t escape, Omega teases one winged angel on Ibushi and they stand off. They work into counters, Cody and Ibushi hit powerslams and Ibushi then hits a moonsault on Cody for 2. Cody wants Omega to help him attack Ibushi but IT’S A TRAP and Cody rolls him up for 2. They trade strikes, superkick from Cody, and the figure four follows. Ibushi tries to break it up and lays in kicks on Cody and then moonsault into Omega for 2. Cody then counters an Ibushi moonsault and walks into a snapdragon from Omega. Omega avoids the disaster kick and hits another snapdragon. Ibushi flies in and cuts of the snapdragon, missile dropkick by Cody, and the DDT on Ibushi follows for 2. Cody does pushups and poses before attacking Ibushi. Cody follows with a suicide dive on Omega. Cody cuts off Ibushi’s golden triangle, Omega tries to make the save, and then powerbombs Cody from the apron through the announce table. Ibushi hits a corkscrew moonsault onto Omega and wipes him out. Back in they go, and Ibushi is hesitant to attack. They both fire up and here we go, Omega and Ibushi. They trade strikes, Omega is rocked but fires back. Ibushi lays in kicks, lays in a flurry, and Omega cuts him off with chops and a snapdragon. The v trigger is cut off, they work into counters and Omega trigger. Ibushi counters the reverse RANA, and levels Omega with a lariat. Ibushi heads up top, but Cody is back and tosses him to the floor. Cody now hits a destroyer on Omega and that gets 2. Omega cuts off Cody with a spin kick, v trigger connects on Cody, and Omega takes him up top. He looks for a super snapdragon, but Ibushi is back up and Cody knocks Omega to the mat, Ibushi looks to lawn dart Omega, but Omega powerbombs him into Cody. Cody into the tree of WHOA as Omega hits v trigger on Ibushi, Ibushi counters the one winged angel and lawn darts Omega into Cody. Ibushi looks to dead lift German Cody, but Omega hits the sunset bomb and brings them both in the hard way. Omega hits v triggers on both, one winged angel countered by Cody, and he and Ibushi hit the double team German combo on Omega for 2. Nasty landing for Omega there, Cody pummel Ibushi with strikes, disaster kick on Omega, and sets up a table. It’s one of those dick little tables, which may be a bad time for someone. Cody knocks Omega from the apron and through the table. Cody heads up top, Ibushi follows him up and hits the superplex but Cody cradles him for 2. The last ride by Ibushi follows for 2. Cody counters kamigoye, Ibushi hits a German and Kamigoye for 2 as Omega stops the count. Ibushi is frustrated as Omega apologizes and says to know your place; Ibushi is pissed and fucks Omega’s day up with strikes. Ibushi takes out Cody with strikes and then takes Omega down, lays in palm strikes, KNOW YOUR PLACE BITCH! Ibushi follows with closed fists, the boma ye by Ibushi gets 2. Cody cuts of kamigoye, his cross Rhodes on Omega but Omega flies in and double stomps Omega as Cody moves. Cross Rhodes again and Omega kicks out at 2! Cody now attacks Ibushi, hits din’s fire and Omega makes the save. Cody teases using a chair, but grabs the US Title. He drops that, gets the chair but Omega covers up Ibushi. Cody lays the boots to him, Ibushi takes the chair and kicks Cody’s head off. Omega his the reverse RANA and Jay driller on Ibushi but Ibushi kicks out. V trigger, one winged angel and Omega pins Ibushi. Champion Kenny Omega defeated Kota Ibushi and Cody @ 34:15 via pin [****¼] I wasn’t the biggest fan of the three-way going into this, but I understood why they did it. This ended up being a hell of a match, a huge storytelling match with Cody being the ultimate shit stirrer. Cody was the reason the Golden Lovers got back together, he beat both men this year, and then talked his way into this. He was always mixing things up here, but the real story was the Golden Lovers. Their initial hesitance to fight, the stakes and emotion growing, and then the miscommunication spots leading to the drama as Omega ruined Ibushi’s chance to win, and then had the audacity to tell him to “know his place.” That lit a fire under Ibushi’s ass as he snapped and started destroying Omega. It’s a hell of a story, playing off of threads that started back in January. This was extremely well done, had great drama, and ended up way better than I had hoped for.

– Post match, Tanahashi arrive after Omega’s words of thanks to the fans, Ibushi, & Cody. Tanahashi says they will decide this at the Tokyo Dome.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

8.5
The final score: review Very Good
The 411
There’s a lot happening with this show. Will Ospreay is officially minted as a heavyweight, Shingo has arrived and joined LIJ, Chris Jericho returned and shot his big angle with EVIL and we look to be back to Naito vs. Sabre. KUSHIDA is the new IWGP Junior champion, Jay White & Gedo have joined forces with the Bullet Club OGz, Robbie Eagles will team with Taiji Ishimori in the Junior Tag League, and Kenny Omega retained his IWGP Title, but his relationship with Kota Ibushi may not be the same moving forward, On top of all of that you had a really strong wrestling show with the top matches all delivering. This was a great and very effective show as the landscape of NJPW keeps changing.
legend