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Csonka’s NJPW Power Struggle 2017 Review
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Csonka’s NJPW Power Struggle 2017 Review
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– David Finlay defeated Katsuya Kitamura @ 5:35 via pin [**½]
– The Young Bucks defeated Dragon Lee & Titan @ 7:35 via pin [***¼]
– Juice Robinson, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA & Hirai Kawato defeated Suzuki-gun @ 5:25 via pin [***]
– Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Cody, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens @ 8:30 via pin [**]
– Super Junior Tag Team Tournament Finals: Roppongi 3k defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH @ 16:25 via pin [***½]
– Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo defeated Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi @ 12:15 via pin [***¾]
– NEVER Openweight Title Bull Rope Match: Champion Minoru Suzuki defeated Toru Yano @ 16:23 via pin [DUD]
– IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Marty Scurll defeated Champion Will Ospreay @ 17:50 via pin [****]
– IWGP US Title Match: Champion Kenny Omega defeated Trent Beretta @ 21:45 via pin [****¼ ]
– IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi @ 29:20 via pin [****¾]
– Follow all of my reviews at this link.
– You can read my preview for the show at this link
David Finlay vs. Katsuya Kitamura: Christ, I swear Kitamura gets bigger each time I see him. They work some shoulder blocks, yell at each other and then Kitamura gets the tackle and takedown. Finlay quickly fights back, grounds him and lays the boots to him. The corner splash connects, and Finlay covers for 2. Kitamura manages to hits a suplex, and then fires up with some big chops. He picks up the pace hitting a charging elbow and shoulder block. Finlay avoids the spear and plants him on his head with a DDT. Kitamura fights off the cutter and hits the spear for a near fall. They trade forearms; Finlay fights off the jackhammer and hits a backbreaker, covering for 2. Finlay hits the stunner and picks up the win. David Finlay defeated Katsuya Kitamura @ 5:35 via pin [**½] This was a perfectly solid pre-show match, that went just about as expected. The fans already react to Kitamura like a star, he will likely be a big star on look & charisma alone.
.@THEdavidfinlay spikes Kitamura with a DDT! #NJPW #njpst https://t.co/IKsQw9WMvw 👀 pic.twitter.com/MVHupbxPFT
— LARIATOOOO!!!! (@MrLARIATO) November 5, 2017
The Young Bucks vs. Dragon Lee & Titan: Nick tells the camera they’re on the Brock Lesnar schedule, only appearing once a month. Titan& Le have been a ton of fun on the tour leading into this show. Nick and Lee in to begin; they work a fun and fats opening stretch, both look for a dropkick and we get a standoff. Matt in and attacks Titan, they tease a Meltzer driver but get sent to the floor, Lee and Titan hits stereo topes and send Nick back in. Lee works him over, Titan joins in and they work double teams and work over both Bucks. Nick starts to fight them off, hits the x-factor to Lee and moonsaults to he floor onto Titan. Matt tags in and lays the boots to Lee, cuts off a RANA for the buckle bomb. The sharp shooter follows and Nick gets one on Titan, but the CMLL stars make the ropes. Matt accidentally superkicks Nick, but they take out Titan and Nick hits the assisted senton for 2. They take the heat on Titan, but Lee RANAs Nick to the floor. Matt hits an apron DDT as Titan hits a huge moonsault to the floor onto the Bucks. Back in they go, Titan up top and the moonsault is caught and the indie taker follows. Nick locks in the sharpshooter as Matt works a cross face (the cease and desist) and Titan taps. The Young Bucks defeated Dragon Lee & Titan @ 7:35 via pin [***¼] This was a good and fun match to open the main show, but not the usual high quality Bucks match.
Juice Robinson, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA & Hirai Kawato vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado & TAKA Michinoku): Suzuki-gun attacks before the bell, leading to the brawl on the floor. They attack the masks on Liger and Tiger Mask, continuing the trend from the tour. Desperado and Kanemaru work them over in the ring, but the masked heroes battle back as Liger works a Romero special on Desperado. Liger then runs them together, hits a DDT and tags in Juice, he battles Sabre and Taichi, running wild until Sabre lays in uppercuts and attacks the arm. Juice fights back, hitting a gut buster and tags in KUSHIDA. KUSHIDA hits the back handspring and then works over TAKA. The cartwheel and dropkick connect, but TAKA cuts him off as Suzuki-gun takes control. They all work over KUSHIDA as the faces get tossed to the floor. TAKA looks for a crossface, but KUSHIDA locks in the overboard lock. Sabre attacks, Kawato makes the save and Tiger Mask hits a suicide dive. Kawato fires up and hits a big tope. KUSHIDA locks in the hover board lock on TAKA and he taps. Juice Robinson, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA & Hirai Kawato defeated Suzuki-gun @ 5:25 via pin [***] That was a good and fun little sprint, with KUSHIDA picking up a win, likely setting him up for a challenge later tonight.
Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Cody, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens: Cody and Tenzan in to begin. Cody wants him to kiss the ring, he refuses and Bullet Club attacks him. Tenzan and Kojima work over Owens, double teams follow and Tenzan covers for 2. Tenzan attacks and beats him down in the corner. The clothesline and suplex follow, Tenzan covers for 2. Head butts follow, Cody gets in a cheap shot, allowing Bullet Club to attack and triple team him. Cody in and works over Tenzan, Yujiro in and continues the heat on Tenzan. Owens hits a double sledge off the ropes, and attacks Tenzan with Mongolian chops and tags Cody back in. Cody poses, but Tenzan hits the mountain bomb and tags in Makabe. He powerslams Cody and then Owens. One for Yujiro follows and corner clotheslines follow. Mounted rights to Cody, but Cody fights back but eats a clothesline and Makabe covers for 2. Cody hits the uppercut and disaster kick, but Makabe hits a lariat and gets the hot tag to Kojima. Owens attacks, lays in chops so Kojima shows him how it’s done and hits the rapid-fire chops and corner clothesline. Yujiro and Cody cut him off, Bullet Club triple team Kojima and Owens hits the running knee for 2. Tenzan in for the save, Yujiro cuts him off and Cody joins him but Makabe clotheslines them but Owens takes him out. Owens looks for a lariat but Kojima decapitates him and covers for the win. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Cody, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens @ 8:30 via pin [**] This was only ok; it was largely flat and lacked heat.
Super Junior Tag Team Tournament Finals: Roppongi 3k (Sho & Yoh) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH: Romero is out with Roppongi 3k. Yoh’s chest is taped up, due to the vicious chops he took during the tour that saw his chest bloodied in his last match. ACH has his ribs taped up. Roppongi 3k attacks before the bell, but they get cut off and Taguchi & ACH take control. ACH makes Taguchi do the attacks, but he gets tired and begs for a timeout. Roppongi 3k fights back, running ACH and Taguchi together and tossing them to he floor. Yoh & Sho hit big topes, and celebrate. They roll ACH back in and work double teams, attacking his ribs. Yoh lays the boots to him, follows with a double stomp and Taguchi makes the save. They isolate ACH in their corner, and continue to work the ribs. Sho attacks Taguchi, and tags in Yoh as they continue to beat down ACH. ACH tries to fire back, but gets cut off. Double teams follow as Roppongi 3k keeps up with their basic, but effective gameplan. Yoh locks in an abdominal stretch, Taguchi tries to make the saved but gets tossed to the floor. ACH fights off Sho, and hits a rolling double stomp. ACH makes the hot tag to Taguchi, he runs wild with ass attacks and then hits a step up dive and follows with the big tope. Taguchi up top and hits the ass attack, and rolls into the ankle lock on Sho. Sho makes the ropes, so Taguchi hits rolling suplexes. Sho counters into a guillotine, and then lays in kicks. Taguchi cuts him off with an enziguri as Yoh tags in. He counters the ass attack, but Taguchi hits the second try. ACH tags in, hits a double stomp and basement dropkick. But he’s slowed by the rib injury. ACH heads up top, but MISSES the frog splash! Yoh lays in forearm, strikes, ACH answers back with chops and a lariat, Roppongi 3k hit stereo knee strikes, but ACH slams them together and hits a dropkick. Yoh hits a superkick, Taguchi makes the save and stereo ass attacks follow to both Sho & Yoh. Taguchi hits dodon and ACH up top and rips off the rib tape and hits the 450! He slowly covers but Sho makes the save. ACH takes out Sho, but he comes back and cuts off the super 69. Rolling Germans by Sho follow, they then hit the 3k on Taguchi, but ACH fires up and battles back, he eats a lung blower and dropkick. 3k on ACH follows and that is that. Roppongi 3k defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & ACH @ 16:25 via pin [***½] This was a very good match with a smart layout, and the right winners. But I felt the final third really lacked a cohesive flow and the crispness of the first portion of the match, holding it back from being great. But ACH’s selling was fantastic here, it was a really tremendous performance from him.
– Post match, the Young Bucks arrive and joke around, calling Roppongi young boys and make the challenge for the titles. They want their belts back. Romero runs down the Bucks, and accepts their challenge.
Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo vs. Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi: Ishii and EVIL in to begin. They collide and are just trying to out mean guy one another. Ishii is fired up already, laying in strikes but EVIL takes him down. Ishii fights off EVIL & Takahashi, tagging in YH. He works with Takahashi, who lays in chops and gets cut off. YH hits the dropkick, and the blockbuster. He now follows with chops, BUSHI gets in a cheap shot, and LIJ attacks and we get the floor brawl. Okada and Naito brawl up the ramp, with Naito slamming Okada on the ramp a few times. The crowd is not pleased with Naito, back in the ring; BUSHI works over YH in the corner. SANADA tags in and continues working the heat on YH. YH hits a desperation basement dropkick, fights off Naito and hits the neck breaker on SANADA. Goto gets the hot tag, he fights off BUSHI & EVIL. He suplexes Takahashi onto EVIL, and hits a Saito suplex on SANADA. SANADA escapes the ushigoroshi, but Goto fight off a paradise lock. They work into a series of counters, and SANADA hits the springboard dropkick for the double down. Tags to Okada & Naito and they brawl center ring. Naito rakes the eyes, but Okada hits the running back elbow. The corner attack follows, and then spikes Naito with a DDT. The running uppercut follows for 2. Naito counters back with a neck breaker, and follows with the corner dropkick combo. Naito hits the top rope RANA for a good near fall. Okada counters the clothesline and they work into a counter sequence, with Okada hitting the neck breaker across the knee. The counter sequences are getting so much better. BUSHI tags in, he woks over Okada and hits a missile dropkick. LIJ triple team Okada, but YH makes the save. BUSHI to the ropes and looks for MX, but Okada avoids and it breaks down into the big move buffet. Okada hits the dropkick on BUSHI, he heads up top and the elbow drop follows. Naito in and eats a tombstone for his trouble. RAINMAKER to BUSHI and that is that. Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo defeated Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi @ 12:15 via pin [***¾] This was very good, and the best LIJ vs. CHAOS tag of the entire tour as they peaked at the right time. The Okada vs. Naito exchanges are getting even better, and this was just so much fun.
Not so ingobernable now are we? pic.twitter.com/pX54bRa1np
— Arn Furious (@ArnoldFurious) November 5, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENT TIME: They hype the first US shows from July, and announce the US return for 2018 on March 25th. The venue holds around 5,000 for basketball games, so they are certainly running a bigger venue.
We're coming back bigger, fiercer…Strong Style Evolved! More info to come, stay tuned to https://t.co/SGoR4imRkL pic.twitter.com/rVx2sqlxjQ
— njpw_global (@njpwglobal) November 5, 2017
NEVER Openweight Title Bull Rope Match: NEVER Openweight Champion Minoru Suzuki vs. Toru Yano: Yano is back to the blonde hair. Suzuki comes our by himself, we’ll see if that lasts. They are attached to the bull rope and Yano attacks first and has to fight off Desperado and Kanemaru. They have to re-tape the rope to Yano, and Suzuki goes to work, beating him down and taking things to the floor. He whips Yano to the barricade and drags him around before continuing his attack. They brawl up the ramp and Suzuki teases the piledriver, but Yano rakes the eyes. He tries to run and Suzuki attacks, working the arm. Suzuki drags him back ringside, shoves the ref around and whips Yano to the barricade again. Knee strikes follow and then chops. Suzuki chokes out Yano and lays in strikes, Suzuki then tries to drag Yano into the ring, does and continues the beating. It’s all Suzuki as he chokes him out and hangs Yano over the ropes. Desperado and Kanemaru attack Yano on the floor but Goto arrives and makes the save. He drags them away from ringside as Suzuki continues to torture Yano. Suzuki back to working the arm, locking in an arm bar. Yano makes the ropes. Suzuki follows with strikes, but Yano rakes the eyes. Suzuki cuts him off immediately, lays in strikes and Yano rakes the eyes and undoes the buckle pad. Suzuki cuts of Yano, lays in forearms and Yano grabs the hair. Suzuki escapes and Yano pulls him down by the hair. Suzuki is slammed to the exposed buckle a few times and Yano is finally putting something together. He hangs Suzuki over the ropes, and Iizuka arrives. This allows Suzuki to attack, and tie Yano in the ropes and he beats on him with strikes. Suzuki gets a chair and hits Yano with it a few times. The ref takes it, Yano grabs it and attacks Suzuki with it. Powerbomb by Yano and the cover gets 2 as Taichi arrives and pulls the ref out, Iizuka attacks and lays the boots to Yano. Iron fingers by Iizuka but Yano hits double low blows and gets a near fall on Suzuki. Suzuki slams Yano to the exposed buckles and ties him up with the rope. He follows with a dropkick and the sleeper. He then chokes out Yano with the rope and the Gotch piledriver follows to thankfully end this. Champion Minoru Suzuki defeated Toru Yano @ 16:23 via pin [DUD] More of the same horrible action from these two with all of the usual bullshit, this not entertaining or good in anyway and went way too long for what amounted to a squash. Suzuki-gun can seriously fuck off. I just wish they would book something different, it’s just all the same all the time, which is why I dislike it. If they actually changed it up and made the interference special or stand out, that would be one thing, but they never do. CHAOS are also shitty friends; only Goto tried to help.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll: Marty looks to ground things right away, targeting the arm early. Ospreay kips up and counters out, as Marty does his bird dance. Ospreay looks to work the arm, they work into some slick counters and Ospreay gets a sunset flip for 2. They pick up the pace; Ospreay hits a RANA and dropkick before teasing a dive. They work to the floor, Marty cuts him off and they brawl into the crowd as Marty tosses Ospreay into the chairs. Back into the ring they go, and Marty attacks the arm right away and grounds Ospreay. Marty slams Ospreay down by the arm, slowing the pace and slapping Ospreay around. Ospreay manages to hit a desperation back handspring kick and both are down. Ospreay follows with kicks, and hits the corner dropkick. The corkscrew leg drop follows, covering for 2. Marty counters the Essex destroyer, and they work into a series of pinning combos. Marty hits the superkick to the knee but runs into a Spanish fly. Ospreay now lays in forearms, Marty slaps him back and they trade slaps and go crazy fists. Marty pounces him in the throat, but Ospreay fired back with the corner trapped superkick, covering for 2. Marty counters the springboard with an uppercut, but Ospreay counters the suplex with a stunner and then misses the Sasuke special and eats a superkick and tornado DDT on the floor and then a dump suplex on the apron, back in and Marty covers for 2. Marty slaps Ospreay around, and follows with chops to the throat. Ospreay fires back, but Marty lights him up and they work into a series of counters, but Ospreay hits a series of kicks and hits the emerald flowsion for 2. Ospreay to the rope, Marty avoids the moonsault but Ospreay hits a running shooting star press. Ospreay up top and Marty gets the knees up on the shooting star press and rolls him up for 2. Ospreay goes for the finger break spot and does it, and then stomps on the hands. He continues to torture the hand, but Ospreay flips out of a lariat but then Marty rebounds and hits a big lariat; Marty hits the Essex destroyer on Ospreay, covering for 2. Marty goes for the chicken wing, locks it in and Ospreay tries to fight, but Marty stops him from getting the ropes by attacking the hand. Ospreay escapes, hangs Marty on the ropes and hits an enziguri. Marty hangs on the ropes and Ospreay hits a shooting star press, covering for 2. The cyclone kick follows, but Marty counters the Oscutter into a chicken wing. They then work into pinning combos and Marty gets a cradle and wins! Marty Scurll defeated Champion Will Ospreay @ 17:50 via pin [****] This ended up being a great match with the surprise title change. I thought that they worked a smart pace, and played into past matches very well with some strong callbacks. The action was great and escalated well through out and peaked at the right time. They kept me interested and made me believe Marty could win, when I thought he had no chance to do so. I know some will hate the four-way that this set up, but for everyone, myself included, saying that the match was predictable, I appreciate the surprise. I am sure they will deliver when they face at WrestleKingdom.
– KUSHIDA arrives and challenges Scurll, but Ospreay tells him to fuck off and because he wants his rematch; here comes Hiromu Takahashi with a helmet and gloves to protect himself from attack. He ants a title shot as well. Scurll says that he’ll face them all at the same time.
IWGP United States Heavyweight Title Match: IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Trent Beretta: The Bucks are out with Omega. They lock up and Omega with the clean break, backing off. Beretta fires up and slaps Omega, and follows with rights. Omega cuts off the corner attack, but Beretta cuts him off with a stomp and follows with a suicide dive. Omega fights back and pulls out an evil Japanese table. Beretta stops him, but gets suplexed onto the table on the floor, which had to suck. Omega lays the table on Beretta, and hits a double stomp off of the apron, putting a hole in the table. Omega then follows with the rise of the Terminator tope, wiping Beretta out. Back in and Omega maintains control, hitting the Kotaro Krusher. Omega the starts to focus on the lower back of Beretta, taking the heat. Beretta tries to fire back with chops, but Omega hits a high backdrop and covers for 2. The Finlay roll hits, but the moonsault eats knees. Omega cuts off the comeback, hitting a German suplex. Beretta avoids a charge, and follows with a tornado DDT. The corner elbow charge follows and Beretta now attacks the lower back of Omega, hitting a sliding German. They work to the apron, but Omega backdrops Beretta, fighting off a piledriver. Back in the ring and Omega hits the neck breaker across the knee, covering for 2. Omega up top, but Beretta crotches him and follows him up, but Omega slides out and then hits a Jay driller for a good near fall. Omega sets Beretta center ring and heads up top but Beretta pops up and hits a release super German suplex! Beretta fires up and hits a piledriver, covering for a good near fall. To the apron they go, and Beretta hits another piledriver! Beretta goes for a tope, but Omega moves and Beretta flies through a table! Omega rolls back into the ring, and Beretta just barely beats the count. Omega hits the snapdragon suplex, and a second. He follows with a third, and Beretta may be dead. Omega picks Beretta up and Beretta fires back with a slap. Omega then attacks, laying in clubbing shots to the back. Omega spikes him with a powerbomb and V trigger, The sitout doctor bomb gets a great near fall. Beretta struggles to get up but eats a V trigger but fights out of the one winged angel, but Omega hits another snapdragon suplex. Beretta fires up, hitting a desperation lariat that turned Omega inside out. Beretta tries for the dude buster, but his back gives out and Omega hits a V trigger. Beretta cuts off Omega, and manages to hit the dudebuster for a great near fall! They trade big strikes center ring, Omega lays in kicks but Beretta fires back but eats a V trigger and reverse RANA for a near fall, which Beretta counters into a crucifix for 2. Omega finally hits the one winged angel and retains. Champion Kenny Omega defeated Trent Beretta @ 21:45 via pin [****¼] The best part about the junior title changing hands prior to this, was that it put some doubt into the minds of the fans and allowed for more drama than most expected. They ended up having a great match, with Beretta getting a lot and stepping up big time in the biggest match of his career. Beretta certainly proved that he belongs, and not only delivered, but looked as if he belonged in the ring with Omega.
– Omega cuts a post match promo, and CHRIS JERICHO appears on the big screen and says Omega is not the best in the word and tears up a picture of Omega. Jericho claims he is the best in the word and best of all time. He challenges Omega FOR WRESTLEKINGDOM. Omega accepts. Well so much for Ibushi vs. Omega being locked in.
WHAT THE HELL!!!! THAT'S @IAmJericho #njpst #NJPW #NJPWWorld pic.twitter.com/VOnJYERUqM
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) November 5, 2017
IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi: Lock up to begin, they battle for position and Tanahashi takes it to the ground but Ibushi quickly escapes and gets back to his feet. Tanahashi get an arm drag, taking Ibushi down. Ibushi picks up the pace, escapes and thy work to the ropes. Tanahashi lays in body shots, and follows with a head scissors. The side headlock follows, as Tanahashi looks to keep the pace slow. Ibushi keeps popping back up, and hits a dropkick, sending Tanahashi to the floor. Ibushi teased the moonsault to the floor, but Tanahashi avoided, and when Ibushi went to the apron Tanahashi attacked the knee. Back in they go, with Tanahashi now focusing on the knee to set up the cloverleaf. They spill to the floor, as Tanahashi works a methodical pace and continues to work the knee. They trade strikes now, Tanahashi rolls him back in and Ibushi rolls back out, looking to create distance. Tanahashi gets him back in and goes right back to the knee. The slam follows, Tanahashi misses the senton and then Ibushi misses the moonsault, crumbling to the mat. They trade strikes center ring, Tanahashi lays in uppercuts in the corner and as he charges, Ibushi catches him with a double stomp. Ibushi lays in rapid-fire strikes and kicks, and hits a standing shooting star press for 2. Tanahashi clips the knee, but Ibushi manages to hit a RANA. Tanahashi rolls to the floor and Ibushi hits the golden triangle moonsault to the floor. But as Ibushi enters the ring, Tanahashi cuts him off with a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes. Tanahashi cuts off the kicks, attacking the knees and trying to rip off Ibushi’s legs. Tanahashi locks on the cloverleaf, Ibushi fights and eventually makes the ropes. Tanahashi stomps away at the knees of Ibushi, and then works the leg in the ropes. Ibushi fights back, sets Tanahashi on the ropes and hits the running knee strike. Tanahashi on the apron and Ibushi looks to German him back in, but Tanahashi again attacks the leg to stop that. Tanahashi up top and hits the high fly flow high cross to the floor! They make it back in the ring, Ibushi counters a German but eats a sling blade, Tanahashi covers for 2. Tanahashi up top and Ibushi cuts him off with a PELE. Ibushi hits a RANA off the top, covering for 2; rough landing for Tanahashi there. Ibushi looks for the knee strike, Tanahashi fights him, crossing the arms but Ibushi scores with a kick to take Tanahashi down. Ibushi then fucking lawn darts Tanahashi to the corner, which looked brutal. Ibushi now hits the German from the apron back in, and coves for a great near fall, another rough landing for Tanahashi. Ibushi up top and misses the Phoenix splash, Tanahashi pops up top and MISSES the high fly flow! They trade strikes center ring, Tanahashi starts slapping this young punk who keeps coming at him, but Ibushi slaps him back. Ibushi fires up with palm strikes, but Tanahashi keeps throwing as well! Ibushi is all like “FUCK YOU OLD MAN IT’S MY TIME” and drops Tanahashi with strikes and just beats his ass in the corner. The ref tries to stop Ibushi so he keeps kicking at Tanahashi. But Tanahashi fires and is not done yet. Ibushi then turns him inside out with a sick lariat! LAST RIDE by Ibushi scores a great near fall as Tanahashi isn’t done yet. Ibushi pulls himself up and then loses Tanahashi on another powerbomb attempt. Tanahashi hits a series of neck breakers, but Ibushi kills him with a head kick. Ibushi drops the kneepad, but v counters the knee strike into a sling blade. Tanahashi follows with a dragon suplex for a near fall. Tanahashi up top and HIGH FLY FLOW. Tanahashi back up top and HIGH FLY FLOW again and Ibushi is finally done. Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi @ 29:20 via pin [****¾] This was an amazing main event, with tremendous performances by both. This was big match Tanahashi in his element, working an extremely smart match layout wit a beautiful structure to get the most out of everything they did. Some forget just how awesome Tanahashi still is, but he proved that he’s still one of the best big match performers going today. For some reason, Ibushi still has his doubters, likely due to the fact that he marches to the beat of his own drum and doesn’t conform to what people want him to. He had awesome intensity here, trying to overcome the ace and legend in Tanahashi with his beautiful never say die attitude. That, juxtaposed with a very serious and slight heel work by Tanahashi, just worked beautifully together. This is without a doubt a top tier MOTY contender, and just on a completely different level than anything else on the show, which had some great wrestling on it.
– Post match they embrace after a classic war. Tanahashi celebrates post match, and cuts a promo, praising Ibushi, but Ibushi bails to the back in disappointment. He talks about getting to close out Osaka for the first time in a long time and then tunes up the air guitar and closes out things with a jam session.
BUT WAIT… we get the Switchblade reveal, which is the returning Jay White! White is here and makes his way to the ring to confront Tanahashi. They go face to face, and White challenges him to a match at WrestleKingdom for the IC Title. They brawl, and White lays out Tanahashi and stands tall, leaving his knife necklace on Tanahashi’s chest.
– Thanks for reading.
– End scene.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
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