wrestling / TV Reports
Sambus’ NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 Review 01.04.26
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Howdy 411 – Theo Sambus here for your late night/early morning check-in, where it is officially January 4th… and you know what that means! The annual spectacle on the NJPW calendar is upon us – it’s time for Wrestle Kingdom. New Japan celebrates two decades of the event with an extra special occasion this year, as it also marks the retirement match for puro legend Hiroshi Tanahashi, who will face long-time career rival Kazuchika Okada in our main event.
Due to the planned retirement ceremony taking place once the main event wraps up, it’s a slightly reduced card compared to what we’ve seen in previous WK years, but that also means proceedings likely won’t be drawn out. Plus, it gets rid of some of the bloat and filler.
All eyes will be on the double championship semi-main event, as Konosuke Takeshita and Yota Tsuji both vie for the IWGP World & Global Heavyweight Championships. They last faced off in the G1 Climax back in 2024 in a stellar match (which was firmly in my Top 10 for the year) and they are both very different men since that time, each going from strength to strength. Expect Tsuji to be the firm favorite as fans clamor for him to bring all the gold back ‘home’ to a New Japan faithful.
Elsewhere on the card we have a Juniors 4-way between my boy El Despy, Ishimori, Fujita and SHO, as well as a tantalizing Women’s double championship match between Syuri and Saya Kamitani.
Location: Tokyo, JP
Venue: Tokyo Dome
Commentators: Chris Charlton & Walker Stewart
[NJPW World TV Championship] El Phantasmo vs Chris Brookes
Cool to see DDT mainstay Brookes on this stage. Tijeras sends Brookes to the outside, ELP fakes out on a dive, and Brookes goes for a shot at Gedo. Brookes with a Magic Twist assisted from the apron. Oh Brookes has the DDT elastic band shtick, whiplashing it into thr face of ELP. Back in the ring, Brookes takes ELP down with a series of kicks, chinlock applied. Diving senton across the back, cover, 1, 2, no. They get into a chop battle, spin kick from Brookes, springboard crossbody and the Lionsault from ELP gets 2. Sudden Death to one of Brooke’s goons, but Brookes locks in a Calamari clutch. UFO Neckbreaker from ELP gets 2. To the top rope, and Brookes nips up there with ease, sending ELP to the canvas with a double underhook suplex off the top! Brookes back up top after a cover, ELP joins him now, top rope hurracanrana. Thunder Kiss 86 is denied, knees up! Brookes rolls him up, 1, 2, NO. ELP gets out of a double underhook, Sudden Death in response but Brookes with fighting spirit hits a lariat. 1, 2, no. PRAYING MANTIS! 1, 2, NOOO! He goes for anoter, ELP slips out the back, backslide gets 2. CR2! 1, 2, NOOOO! Brookes kicks out? Crossbody, Thunder Kiss 86 connects, 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL NJPW World TV Champion: EL Phantasmo
Time:11:50
Rating: ***1/4 – For a kickoff match, these guys cooked! Brookes really went for it in the Dome setting, and while some might think it’s a bit mad to kick out of the Praying Mantis and CR2 respectively in a kickoff match, it’s Wrestle Kingdom baby, you lads go for it!
*Wrestle Kingdom 20 officially starts now. And we begin with the Ranbo!
[NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Championship Tornado Ranbo]
Well this could be cluster-fuck central. No tags, over-the-top rope entire team eliminations, and it’s 8 teams comprised of:
Kaisei Takechi, Yuya Uemura, & Shota Umino
Boltin Oleg & Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)
TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Zack Sabre Jr, & Ryohei Oiwa)
Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe
BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice))
Team 150 (Satoshi Kojima, Taichi, & Tomohiro Ishii)
HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA, & Ren Narita)
Toru Yano, YOH, & Master Wato (c)
Takechi is the first out, accompanied by a musical performance from his group The Rampage. OMG WHAT is SANADA wearing?! It’s basically an LED gimp suit. We’re starting with Takechi, Uemura and Umino against House of Torture. The BC War Dogs are next out and the Knockout Brothers go straight for Uemura and Umino. Double knees from Yuto-Ice. TMDK arrive next and the War Dogs are ready for them. Gore from Connors to ZSJ! Tiger Mask’s team is out next, and he retires in June so this is his final Dome show too. Oiwa struggles to send Yuto-Ice out but tosses OSKAR so that’s the War Dogs eliminated. Taguchi rubs his ass in ZSJ’s face. Bishamon & Oleg arrive next and Taguchi with a Flying Apple right to Goto! Here comes my GOAT Ishii with his Team 150, meanwhile Oleg pins Tiger Mask but we don’t see what caused the fall. Meat madness, and Ishii takes it to Oleg. Oleg looks for a brainbuster, Ishii counters and eventually hits a vertical suplex. Our last team arrive as the champions head down to the ring. Ishii and Umino tee off on each other with hard strikes. Haha YOH is in Yano cosplay today! He even has the bottle of whisky. Backfist from Taichi, dropkick from Uemura in reply. Dead Bolt is denied, Taichi puts the brakes on. Leaping hurracanrana blocked, Taichi holds on and goes to powerbomb Uemura over the top rope…Uemura keeps the legs around the neck and both teams are eliminated! Yoh-no with a low blow to SANADA. YOH gets booted off the apron but his guys hold him and push him back in the ring. The same happens for SANADA. Low bridge from SANADA and the House of Torture guys pull Yoh to the floor, eliminating the team, thus giving us new champions tonight. HOT get eliminated too, almost missed that, as Yano pulled SANADA off the apron. Bishamon and Oleg triple team ZSJ in the corner and they go for a big move but Oiwa breaks it up. Bishamon double team Jackson, Oiwa lariats both men! Oleg tosses Oiwa overhead. ZSJ with a prawn hold on Oleg, and that gets the 1, 2, 3!
Winners and NEW NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champions: TMDK
Time: 20:45
Rating: **1/2 – Yes, cluster-fuck indeed, but the Uemura/Taichi elimination was pretty cool, and YOH-no gets bonus points, I’ve never seen him show so much personality.
[IWGP WOMEN’S & STRONG WOMEN’S Double Championship] Syuri (c) vs Saya Kamitani (c)
Kamitani’s music is TOO good. Badass entrance for her. I hope this gets some decent time as these two could blow the roof off. Quick exchanges, avoiding each other’s offense at first. Shotgun dropkick from Syuri, butterfly suplex gets 2. Snapmare and a kick to the spine (somewhere Excalibur is calling that one F’n Unnecessary). Syuri gets tripped by Kamitani’s HATE, and Kamitani nails a springboard crossbody to the outside to continue the assault. Back in the ring, they go nuts with forearm strikes to each other, Kamitani winning the exchange. Spinning wheel kick connects! Rising knee from Syuri, she goes up top but Kamitani catches her and climbs up wit her. Hurracanrana from the top, bridging Northern Lights! 1, 2, no. Tornado enziguri from Saya, back up top, Syuri interrupts now. Hammerlock suplex off the top, and she keeps the hold applied! Transitions into a tight armbar, extending the arm almost parallel behind Kamitani. Somehow Kamitani desperately reaches the ropes with her legs, nice desperation there. Impact DDT gets 2, Roundhouse kick from Kamitani…Star Crusher (Fisherman’s buster) countered, German countered! Blue Thunder Bomb! 1, 2, Syuri kicks out. STAR CRUSHER! 1, 2, NOOO! Kamitani goes for the Star Crusher again, but Syuri counters into a Fujiawari armbar. Lariat, 1, 2, no. Emerald Flowsion, POISONRANA from Kamitani in a reversal of the electric chair. Big boot! Syuri catches her with a roundhouse kick, hurracanrana from Kamitani, 1, 2, no! German connects, roundhouse kick hits flush, and another kick to the side of the head…1, 2, no! Syuri gets Kamitani up on her shoulders again, Syu-Sekai! 1, 2, 3!!!
Winner and NEW Double Champion: Syuri
Time: 12:08
Rating: **** – Fantastic showing from both women, showing intensity from the opening bell. This felt big-time which is exactly what you want from a Tokyo Dome match. Stretch this out a few minutes with a little more selling and you’d have something pretty special.
[10-Man Tag] United Empire (Callum Newman, HENARE, Great O’Khan, Andrade El Idolo) & X vs Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Drilla Moloney, Gabe Kidd, & David Finlay
United Empire’s X is…Jake Lee! Slightly underwhelming reveal but he’s been out a looong time so it’s cool to have him back. Everyone starts fighting just before the bell, the ring gets cleared and we’re left with Andrade and Kidd. Andrade is tranquilo in the ropes, sends Kidd to the floor and hits a springboard tornillo, nice! Crossbody connects, 2 count, kickout by Gabe. Kidd lariats him to the floor, goes to the second rope and hits a moonsault to the floor. Andrade eats a right hand, avoids a rebound clothesline and connects with the spinning backfist. Tags to Shingo and HENARE. Time for the big boys to play. Corner lariats traded, snap DDT from Shingo. Vertical suplex follows, Shingo covers for 2. O’Khan assists HENARE with a powerbomb which gets a 2 count. Full Nelson applied, Shingo fights out of it but receives a headbutt and a Native Knee. Shingo comes back with a lariat to level HENARE! Tag to Drilla, dropkick, basement dropkick to the outside. Drilla throws him back in to Shingo for an elbow drop, and a Go To Hell-bow from Drilla follows. War Dragons capitalize but HENARE eats their best shots. Gore from Drilla gets 2. Shingo tries to headbutt HENARE but that’s a bad idea. Busaiku Bomb on Drilla. HENARE tags out to Newman; Drilla to Finlay. Running boot from Newman at breakneck speed. Roaring elbow from Finlay, dropkick by Newman, both men down. Jake Lee tags in, body slam gets just a 1 count. He signals for the chokeslam but Finlay avoids it and hits a stunner. Takahashi tags in and uses Finlay as a weapon. Finlay hits a Dominator on Takahashi on top of Jake Lee and Takahashi covers for 2. Interesting team dynamic. Lee misses the Face Break shot, and Gabe Kidd comes in from behind to lariat him in the corner. Drilla with a spinebuster to Andrade, Newman gets caught by Drilla, Drilla Killa avoided. Spin kick from Newman, but Drilla catches him again and nails the Drilla Killa this time! O’Khan with a fallaway slam, Shingo avoids the Eliminator. Pumping Bomber! Shingo clotheslines HENARE to the floor and goes with him. Finlay powerbombs Takahashi to the outside to take everyone out! Haha Takahashi jumps back up and slaps Finlay, climbing the ropes…superplex to the outside to again knock everyone down. Jake Lee big boot levels Takahashi. He sets up for the Face Break shot, it connects. 1, 2, 3!
Winners: United Empire & Jake Lee
Time: 14:25
Rating: *** – They did the one-in-one-out formula for the most part and we blew through a ton of offense. Underwhelming finish but it’s smart to have Jake Lee make some noise in his return and make it mean something.
*Post-match Hiromu is laid out by another masked individual…and its Francesco Akira. Akira shakes hands with Jake Lee. They’re all smiles tonight.
*DOUKI makes his way out, not competing tonight as he ‘doesn’t want to overshadow Tanahashi’s retirement’. Love that. I like the story too that he may be traumatized by his Tokyo Dome appearance last year, getting injured in the first 5 minutes. DOUKI will be watching this next match very closely, and he pulls up a seat at ringside.
[IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship No.1 Contenders Four-Way] El Desperado vs Taiji Ishimori vs Kosei Fujita vs SHO
New speed metal music for Fujita, nice. Ishimori takes SHO out on the outside with a moonsault from the top, kicking this one off. Despy tries for Pinche Loco, avoided. Ishimori, Fujita and Desperado form a triangle and all attack each other with strikes. Enziguri to Ishimori, tijeras from Fujita, German blocked, rising knee from SHO, drop toe hold and Fujita locks in a modified bow and arrow, and Despy & Ishimori run in to break it up…no, they actually help, forcing SHO’s arms back even further for added pressure. We’re down to Desperado and Ishimori now, Taiji rakes the eyes, hits the handspring Pele. Shoulder breaker avoided, Desperado hits a Blue Thunder for 2. Pinche Loco countered into La Mistica! Ultima Weapon from Ishimori, Bloody Cross connects, Taiji covers, but SHO body slams Fujita on top of the ref! Aaaand of course we get the House of Torture stuff, DOUKI running in with the pipe to smack Ishimori. SHO has a spanner but gets dropkicked by Robbie Eagles who spawns from outta nowhere. Robbie X is here too, cutter! Gouki helps out, and Eagles hits a tope suicida. Tornillo from Gouki. Package piledriver by SHO, 1, 2, Desperado breaks it up! Pinche Loco, and again! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and new No.1 Contender: El Desperado
Time: 7:36
Rating: **3/4 – Considering the ability and wrestling prowess of these four, I wasn’t expecting quite such a reliance on outside interference, but more fool me as House of Torture is involved. Short and sweet though so I can’t complain. Despy vs DOUKI tomorrow should be decent.
*Video package for the 2026 Despe Invitacional…and it’s happening in Las Vegas on April 16th! Neat.
*We look at the upcoming NJPW dates for the early part of the year. BOTSJ ends 7th June. Dominion is on June 14th. G1 Climax comes back to the USA! July 11th in the NOW Arena, helloooo! Finals on the 15th and 16th August back in Japan.
[NEVER Openweight Championship] EVIL (c) vs Aaron Wolf
Aaron Wolf takes off the NJ judo robe, and he is in his black young lion trunks. And he’s shaved his head too, the real deal! EVIL goes straight for Wolf, booting him in the midsection, but Wolf fights back with strikes of his own. They trade shoulder blocks and Wolf manages to knock him down. Corner clothesline, nice vertical suplex and an elbow drop, Wolf covers for 2. EVIL regroups on the outside, gets Wolf on the apron and knocks him to the other side, allowing House of Torture to do their thing. Welcome to New Japan, Aaron Wolf! EVIL wraps a chair around the neck and Wolf and smacks it with another chair. EVIL is happy to take a countout win but Wolf makes it back in at 15. EVIL whips him into an exposed turnbuckle and makes a series of covers for 2 counts, wearing the big man down. Wolf to his feet, chops EVIL and nails a judo throw. He delivers Judo throws to most of the HoT, but receives powder in the eyes and a low blow from EVIL. Suplex, sharpshooter locked in, ref ignores the powder covering Wolf’s face haha. Wolf fights the hold and makes it to the ropes! Lariat from EVIL, Wolf won’t go down. Rights from Wolf. Another EVIL lariat…and he walks into a powerslam from Wolf! OLYMPIC SLAM! 1, 2, NO. Body slam connects, Wolf goes to the top rope…frog splash! 1, 2….ref gets pulled out by Takahashi. Dick Togo with the wire, Takahashi has the 2×4, but Wato and YOH are here to put a stop to that. More HoT goons come out though, Don Fale is here with a table. They set up the table near the corner and lay out Wolf on it. Fale with a splash on Wolf through the table. Running lariat connects, 1, 2, nooo Wolf is still in it, he kicks out. This match must go on! Everything is EVIL countered into a judo throw, triangle choke applied by Wolf! EVIL IS OUT!! The ref calls for the bell!
Winner and NEW NEVER Openweight Champion: Aaron Wolf
Time: 12:53
Rating: *** – The HoT shenanigans are so old at this point that mould has grown on top of mould, and I’m so over it, BUT Wolf did a grand job here and his big spots got a great reaction, with the crowd biting on multiple nearfalls. As a vehicle to instantly get Wolf over fast, this worked well, even if the time dragged when EVIL was in control. This is an occasion where the law of diminishing returns is such an issue – this would have been even more effective if we didn’t get all that HoT interference in Every Single EVIL Match as it would have better shown Wolf overcoming the odds in impressive fashion. Nonetheless, the Tokyo Dome loved it, so what do I know?
[IWGP World Heavyweight & IWGP Global Heavyweight Double Championship] Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs Yota Tsuji (c)
Now we get to the real Wrestle Kingdom goodness! Takeshita gives Tsuji a clean break in the ropes, and Tsuji goads him to hit him but Takeshita doesn’t bite. Tsuji backs Takeshita into the ropes and it looks like he’ll go for a clean break too, but nope he slaps him across the face. Tijeras sends Takeshita to the floor, but he walks away before Tsuji can hit a dive. Big boot from Takeshita followed by a flying forearm. Biiig chop takes Tsuji down. Kitchen sink from Tsuji, falling splash gets 2. Double knee gutbuster connects, but Takeshita comes right back with a brainbuster. Tsuji recovers in the corner, immediately grabbing the neck. Takeshita joins him on the apron and drops him with an apron DDT, spiking him on the head once more! Big boot against the guard rail keeps Takeshita in control.
Back in the ring, a senton from the middle rope connects for Takeshita. Takeshita goes for a running knee to the face, Tsuji ducks and Takeshita spills all the way to the floor. But he’s right back in and nails a hurracanrana. Tsuji to the floor…tope con hilo from Takeshita takes Yota down! Powerdrive Knee is denied, and Tsuji hits a quick curb stomp to give him some space. Tilt-a-whirl armdrag from Tsuji and now it’s his turn to dive…Fosbury Flop! Back in the ring, Tsuji hits a top rope double stomp right to the midsection! Marlowe Crash is avoided, and both men have the same idea with stereo clotheslines. Running knee from Tsuji, Powerdrive Knee from Takeshita! BASTARD DRIVER noooo, Tsuji reverses into a tombstone position…wait, Tsuji with a BASTARD DRIVER right into the Wheelbarrow!! Takeshita WITH A GENE BLASTER!! They’re holding L2 and stealing finishers left right and center! Body shots from Tsuji, forearms from Takeshita, both going at it. Roaring elbow is cut off by a huge elbow to the gut from Tsuji. Backfist, Tsuji goes for a big move but his neck gives out and he can’t capitalize. Hits a Destroyer though!! Gene Blaster avoided and Takeshita hits a German but Tsuji is right back up, driving Takeshita into the buckles! Tsuji signals for the Gene Blaster once more…Takeshita cuts him off with a knee to the face! Blue Thunder Bomb connects, and he sets up for Raging Fire, can’t get it…no he does, he hits it! 1, 2, Tsuji gets a foot on the ropes.
Takeshita is smirking as he brings Tsuji to his feet. He gives him space and allows Tsuji to slap him in the chest. Big elbow shot to the face sends Tsuji to his knees. Powerdrive Knee is caught…powerbomb! Alleyoop powerbomb!! Tsuji sits Takeshita on the top rope, hammer and anvil elbows…REVERSE SUPLEX off the top! 1, 2, NO. Gene Blaster denied, series of standing switches, poisonrana from Takeshita but Tsuji is right there for a knee strike to the back of the head. MARLOWE CRASH is blocked as Takeshita crotches Tsuji on the buckles. Both men up top…TOP ROPE BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! 1, 2, NOOOO! Powerdrive Knee connects! 1, 2, NOOO! What is it going to take? Takeshita drops the knee pad now and prepares for one more shot. Denied by a headbutt! Tsuji screams in his face. They back up into opposite corners. Powerdrive Knee is cut off by the GENE BLASTER!! BOSTON CRAB! Center of the ring, Takeshita is fighting! But the strength of Takeshita’s legs, he’s almost out of it…no, Tsuji holds on and rears back, and Takeshita has to tap!
Winner and STILL IWGP Global Champion and NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Yota Tsuji
Time: 29:19
Rating: ****3/4 – Big Match Kesh does it again! Takeshita is ON FORM in these high profile matches, he just ‘gets it’. Suitably epic for the occasion, and these two know each other’s offense so well, making for some fantastic counters and reversal sequences. I certainly won’t give Takeshita all the credit here though as Tsuji came out to play in full force. His primal scream as he reached down to his very core to pull out whatever he needed to get the win was played to perfection, and the fact that he went back to the well to use a Boston Crab to force the tap was the icing on the cake. What a delight that was.
*Tsuji takes the mic and says Takeshita is a rival he can’t bear losing to. The New Japan fans’ support is the reason Tsuji is here tonight as the double champion. As he continues speaking, Tsuji is attacked from behind by Jake Lee! Face Break Shot! You sunnuva!! Lee holds up the IWGP World title and then drops it on Tsuji before leaving ringside.
[Tanahashi Retirement Match] Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kazuchika Okada
Okada is out with his new AEW theme, and he is accompanied by Gedo. Rocky Romero joins the English commentary booth. To the surprise of no one, the crowd is 100% behind Tanahashi, so this should be pretty electric. Awww Tanahashi’s knee pad says “Thank you to everyone from Tanahashi”. It’s too early for me to cry yet! Okada grabs the hair early on, drawing massive boos. Shoulder block takes down Tanahashi, springboard crossbody from the middle rope sends Okada down. Flipping senton! Body slam, Tanahashi goes to the second rope but Okada cuts him off, dropkick to the outside! Okada whips Tana into the railing and boots him over. Draping DDT from the railing!
Back in the ring, Okada works over his opponent in the corner with elbow strikes. Spike DDT!! Okada misses a running back elbow in the corner, and Tanahashi hits a flying forearm to build some steam. Body slam, and this time Tanahashi connects with the middle rope flipping senton. Okada tries to send Tanahashi to the outside but he skins the cat back in, dragon screw to Okada! He delivers another and then looks for the Texas Cloverleaf but Okada rakes the eyes. Dropkick to the knee from Tanahashi, Okada rolls to the floor. Tanahashi to the apron…he’s going up top. Oh God. THINK OF YOUR KNEES! TOP ROPE CROSSBODY TO THE FLOOR one final time! Both men recover while Red Shoes delivers the 20 count. Okada makes it back in at 15 but Tanahashi is right there for a dragon screw through the ropes. Slingblade attempt but no, Okada catches him with a flapjack instead. Tanahashi charges, Okada catches him again, this time with an Air Raid Crash over the knee. Body slam, Okada to the top, elbow drop…RAINMAKER MIDDLE FINGER POSE! He goes for the Rainmaker but Tanahashi elbows out of it. Twist & Shout! Another! One more to nail the trifecta. Slingblade is again reversed, this time right into a tombstone piledriver from Okada!
Shotgun dropkick sends Tanahashi to the outside once more, and now Okada takes Tanahashi up onto the ramp. Tombstone on the ramp!! Huge heat from the Dome. Okada casually strolls back to the ring while Red Shoes checks on Tanahashi. Tana struggles while the count continues…he’s still on the ramp at 16…on his hands and knees at 19 but at the last second makes it inside. Okada laughs and delivers a jumping tombstone, and pins for 1, 2, Okada lifts his head up to stop the count! Roaring lariat, not quite a Rainmaker, and he covers for 2. Rainmaker attempt, Tanahashi slaps him! Lariat by Okada, wrist control maintained. Another lariat delivered. Rainmaker ducked, ACEMAKER!! Tanahashi levels Okada and both men are down. They both duck Rainmakers until Okada finally hits one! 1, 2….noooooo! Tanahashi gets the arm up! Okada twists Tanahashi into a Boston Crab but Tanahashi won’t give up. He makes it to the ropes! Dropkick connects, Rainmaker ducked, big boot, SLINGBLADE! Sleeper applied by Tanahashi, gets Okada down to his knees…PK!! And Tanahashi gives the Nakamura pose!!!! BOMA YE!! Tanahashi to the top rope…HIGH FLY FLOW! 1, 2, NOOOO! Okada tries a Rainmaker again but Tanahashi counters into a Slingblade. Dragon suplex, bridging pin! 1, 2, no. Tanahashi back up top, High Fly Flow to the back. He goes for another but Okada gets the knees up!!
Both men duke it out on their knees now. They battle to their feet and Tanahashi eats the blows. Uppercuts from Okada, elbows by Tanahashi. Okada looks for a German, can’t get it, delivers a dropkick once more. Okada is spent but he picks Tana up for another tombstone, can’t get him up though. Tanahashi tries one, but Okada reverses into a Destino! Cobra Flowsion follows, and now Okada nails a Rainmaker. Cover, 1, 2, NOOO! Tanahashi is still in this one! Okada wants to hear from the crowd as Tanahashi struggles to his feet. Body slam, Okada with another elbow drop. RAINMAKER POSE!! The legit one! RAINMAKERRRRRR! 1, 2, 3!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Time: 33:02
Rating: ****1/2 – Tanahashi’s knees are shot but he rolled back the years to give us a ‘best of’ compilation of some of the great spots from the Okada/Tanahashi series along with that neat sequence harking back to the Three Musketeers of NJPW. This was a beautiful sendoff for Tanahashi, with him surviving a ton of Okada’s best offense, only for the ‘OG Rainmaker’ finally putting him down. It didn’t feel like 30 minutes in the slightest which shows just how engaged we all were for this special occasion. Props to the crowd for being utterly invested too; they were molten throughout.
*Okada on the mic says Tanahashi must be tired. He wants to say one thing…thank you. Okada bows to Tanahashi and shakes hands with Tana who is lying flat on his back in the middle of the ring. Okada swiftly exits the ringside area in a classy move to let Tanahashi take back the spotlight.
*Ah dammit, Tanahashi is crying and that’s gonna be all of us gone. The retirement ceremony begins now.
*SWITCHBLADE JAY WHITE! White makes his way out in a slick black suit. White presents Tanahashi with more flowers and bows to him.
*WILL OSPREAY! Ospreay gives him flowers and they pose for photos.
*KENNY OMEGA! AND KOTA IBUSHI! Ibushi is hobbling out without even a walking stick. Please don’t take a bump Ibushi! Desperado and Umino help Ibushi into the ring, that’s awesome. Haha Tanahashi pretends to give him some forearms! I love this.
*IT’S SHIBATA! Katsuyori Shibata is walking towards a New Japan ring one more time, repping The Opps shirt. Haha he rips it off, oh God they’re grappling, wtf is happening, they’re chopping the shit out of each other! And they embrace! I can’t cope, this is tremendous.
*Keiji Mutoh! Mutoh gets up from the commentary desk and has his moment with Tanahashi. And now Tatsumi Fujinami takes his turn, glorious. Tanahashi is just sobbing. Haha Mutoh gets a quick selfie.
*TETSUYA NAITO! Well, he sure takes his time to come out, and even Tanahashi is tapping his watch hahaha. Presumably BUSHI is here (under a thicker mask) with the GHC tag belts they won recently, and finally Naito appears. Yes, it is BUSHI, but Naito makes BUSHI hand Tanahashi the flowers. Naito takes the mic. Naito says Tanahashi was the standard he looked up to. Last year, Naito left him and even despite that, Tanahashi was the one to let him walk down the Tokyo Dome ramp one more time. Maybe he’ll never wrestle in this ring again but he’s looking forward to perhaps meeting Tanahashi in New Japan once again, one day. Naito raises his fist in the LIJ salute…and Tanahashi meets his fist there! Tana says he was ready for the cheapshot ha!
*Now it’s Tanahashi’s time to speak. He thanks everyone for coming tonight. He’s finally been able to see from a New Japan ring what a sold out Tokyo Dome looks like. He retires here today but from now on the wrestlers in New Japan will fight with everything in their hearts, and he hopes everyone will keep on supporting them.
Tanahashi stands in the middle of the ring…and someone tosses him a massive air guitar. Tanahashi strikes up the band leads the Tokyo Dome in some air guitar one last time. The traditional 10 Bell salute to officially mark the end of Tanahashi’s career sounds. And with that, the Wrestle Kingdom broadcast comes to a close. Thanks for joining us everyone! See you next time.
