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Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 4.21.17

April 22, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka

Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 4.21.17

Tetsuya Naito is the guest for interviews this week. He spoke about Nakamura leaving and how he was so connected with the IWGP IC Title.

IWGP IC Title Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Champion Michael Elgin @ 32:05 via pin to become the NEW Champion [****½]: Naito and his Los Ingobernables pals have been attacking and targeting the knee of Elgin the whole tour, setting up the champion to be at a disadvantage and even building in an excuse for the possible loss. They tried to one up each other early, Naito teased a dive and then did his pose and was all, “tranquillo Big Mike.” Moments later, Elgin did the same including the pose. Elgin was starting to use his power advantage, and that is when Naito started to attack the knee. Elgin tried to take a powder on the floor, but Naito followed. He wrapped his leg in the barricade in front of the announcers and then hit a dropkick off of the apron. After the countout tease, Naito went right to work on the knee and grounded Elgin. Elgin would try to fire up and use his power, but was too slow to follow up due to the knee. Naito’s focus was really good here, not only making sense but also playing off of the previous attacks. Even when Elgin was able to muster up enough to hit a power spot or suplex, he just couldn’t follow up soon enough. Elgin stated to avoid some of the knee attacks and was constantly shaking out the knee to try and get something going, but the delays always allowed Naito to stay in the fight even if Elgin hit something big. Elgin’s selling did get a bit sketchy at times as he relied too much of his signature stuff, but when that would happen Naito would go right back to the knee to drop the pace and get the rhythm of the story back on track. Naito then hit a missile dropkick to the knee and locked in a figure four, Elgin made the ropes but Naito worked the full count. Elgin managed to power up for a falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL!) for the double down; again he was not able to follow up. They traded strikes center ring, with Naito smiling as they lit each other up. Elgin hit a series of rolling Germans, and slowly set Naito up top and followed. Naito attacked the knee and raked the eyes, sending Elgin to the mat. Naito went for the dropkick off the ropes again but got planted with the powerbomb counter for a good near fall. Elgin slowly climbed up top, but MISSED the splash. Elgin fought off the knee bar, but ate a tornado DDT for a near fall. The crowd is really into this as Naito goes for a RANA off the top and nails it. REVERSE RANA connects for a GREAT near fall. Naito locks in his leg lock, Elgin struggles, great fight spot and JUST gets the ropes. This has escalated quickly. They worked to the apron, and Elgin hit a desperation DVD on the apron and both men were down on the floor. They both made it back in, and Elgin hit the dead lift super falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL AGAIN!) for another great near fall. Naito hit a RANA, which led to the ref bump. EVIL and BUSHI hit the ring and worked over Elgin, but KUSHIDA and Tanahashi made the save. SANADA then arrived and the numbers got to Elgin’s friends. MIST to KUSHIDA! Elgin tried to fight them all off, hit slams on SANADA and EVIL at the same time and then powerbombed BUSHI onto the pile on the floor. DESTINO by Naito connects, the ref is back, but it only got 2. Elgin counters the second destino into a side slam for 2. Elgin tries to fire up one last time, and KILLS Naito with a sick lariat! ANOTHER but Naito kicks out and this place is fucking bananas! Buckle bomb, ELGIN BOMB countered into DESTINO! Another Destino follows, and Naito wins the strap. My God that was really amazing. The run ins did not directly lead to the finish, the crowd bought it all and were DYING for Elgin to win, they were almost willing him to overcome, but at the end of the day he just couldn’t as Naito was able to counter out and put the champion away. The heat was off the charts, the reactions from the crowd were exactly what you needed and it worked. My only complaint is that Elgin could have sold the knee better; he just did a bit too much at times, but overall this delivered big time.

– In the final interview, Tetsuya Naito says the IC Title has an eye for talented people, and it now found him. he plans to raise the stock of the belt and will throw it around as much as he wants. He didn’t really care about the belt, but took the match because he wanted to beat Elgin. He doesn’t care about the belts, but they come to him anyway…

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

article topics :

NJPW, NJPW on AXS TV, Larry Csonka