Hey everyone, your favorite rumor guy here reporting directly from the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom 12! And what an action packed night it's gearing up to be. We've got a couple WWE guys in the middle tonight, a couple ROH guys, and of course the stars of the show, the wrestlers of NJPW! The theme for this years event was heavy on WWE vs NJPW, and NJPW preserving it's legacy. Most of that legacy rides on Kazuchika Okada tonight. Will he be able to beat Alan? Will he bring the IWGP Heavyweight Championship back... home? Well.. without further ado... here are the results!
Match 1 - New Japan Rumble!
- Kevin Kelly and Don Callis welcome us to the show and we get right to our first match!
New Japan Rumble
Katsuya Kitamura is in first with BUSHI in next. Announcers are saying over 20 guys will be in this one. Kitamura gets his yell on, BUSHI isn't bothered as he attacks from behind and tries to choke him out with a t-shirt. Out third, Delirious! He gets in the ring and tries chopping down Kitamura, both grunt at each other until Kitamura chops him down. Out fourth is Lao Tonga. Tonga with a body slam on BUSHI and he heads towards Kitamura with some strikes. Tonga is towering over everyone! Couple pin attempts, all two. Out fifth, Manabu Nakanishi. Everyone stomps away at each other, not much happening yet. Out sixth, Chase Owens. Delirious pulls Chase's shirt up and rakes both his back and stomach. Package piledriver on Delirious, pin, 1-2-3. Nakanishi then sends BUSHI out over the top rop.
Delirious and BUSHI eliminated.
Out seventh to a nice pop is Yuji Nagata! He goes after everyone, taking down Owens with a suplex. Nakanishi and Nagata go back and forth until Nagata gets speared. Two guys pin Lao Tonga, Nagata takes out his partner, a pack of guys pin Nagata and Owens package piledriver ends Kitamura's night.
Lao Tonga, Nagata, and Nakanishi, Kitamura are all eliminated.
Out eighth, Taka Michinoku, who goes back and forth with Owens. Out ninth, Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Michinoku and Kanemaru team up on Owens. At ten is El Desperado, Suzuki-gun suddenly has a huge advantage. Owens ends up getting water spit in the face and he's tossed out easily.
Chase Owens eliminated.
At #11, Jushin "Thunder" Liger, who gets the biggest pop of the match. Liger clears out two guys, tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Goes for a submission, leaving himself open to get stomped in the face, 3-on-1 advantage at the moment. Coming in at #12, Tiger Mask. He goes right after El Desperado who tries to take off his mask, same for Liger as they try to take off his mask. Now Tiger Mask nearly ripping off El Desperado's mask! Tiger Driver, pin, two. Gino 'Juicy' Gambino out at #13. Desperado's mask gets taken off and somehow Liger gets pinned. Tiger Mask loses his mask and gets pinned. All of Suzuki-gun gets eliminated along the way, it was a bit of a mess.
Taka, Kanemaru, Desperado, Liger, and Tiger Mask are all eliminated.
At #14, Henare who nearly eliminates Gambino. YOSHI-HASHI out at #15, lots of striking from all three guys, no one in danger of being eliminated. David Finlay at #16 and goes right after Gambino. Double pin on Gambino sends him packing. Henare gets kicked over the top rope. Finlay is able to counter YOSHI-HASHI and gets the pin.
YOSHI-HASHI, Gambino, and Henare are all eliminated.
Yujiro Takahashi out #17. Finlay almost instantly gets dumps out over the top rope. Gets back in the ring, but is clotheslined back out. Out at #18 is Shelton Benjamin to a huge pop! Takahashi meets him outside the ring and gets in the first strike. Shelton is able to work his way back into the match, getting a pin attempt. Coming out at #19, Satoshi Kojima. He goes to work on Takahashi, hits the cutter. Takahashi with a nice suplex, goes back to trying to send Shelton out of the match. At #20, it's Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Tenzan in the ring, double chops on Takahashi. Four people in the ring right now. Last wrestler of the match at #21 is Masahito Kakihara, who was able to overcome cancer.
Takahashi is eliminated
Shelton tries to machine gun chop Kojima, but gets turned around and destroyed by chops. Kojima heads to the top rope, but Shelton slowly rolls away in pain. Tenzan and Kojima pair up to take out their opponents, they charge in, miss, and run into each other. Shelton and Kakihara throw strikes, Shelton with less impact. Kojima and Tenzan both charge again and end up going over the top rope.
Tenzan and Kojima are eliminated.
Down to two guys, Kakihara is able to make quick work of Shelton with the Kaki Cutter to win the match!
Winner: Masahito Kakihara via pinfall
After the match, Shelton announces that this was his last match in NJPW and Shelton X Benjamin is on his way back to WWE. The crowd gives him a standing ovation and thank you chants and some good luck chants even!
Match 2 - The Young Bucks vs The Broken Hardyz (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship)
Before the match we get a video package of the build-up between the two teams. The Hardyz have missed a lot of WWE TV to spend time in Japan to hype up this match, and they even cut pounds to be able to compete for the titles.
The Hardyz are out first, with Reby Sky by their side. The crowd chants delete in accordance with Matt's arm swaying.
Next, the Bucks.
Matt &, well.... Matt start off the match. Hardy works the crowd by getting a "delete" chant going. Jackson goes for a superkick but Matt Hardy narrowly dodges it. They work each other with strikes, kicks and punches. Matt (Hardy) gives Matt (Jackson) some pretty vicious knife-edge chops. Jackson then puts Hardy to work with some pretty swift looking reversals. Matt tags in Nick and they plant Hardy with a double dropkick. Hardy rolls out the ring to recover, but Nick is already on him with a diving splash onto the outside! However, Hardy catches Nick in mid-air and plants him with a DDT... AGAINST THE BARRICADE! Nick is already bleeding as Matt (Hardy) works him around the outside of the ring, tossing him into the steel steps! Hardy rolls in the ring, getting more "delete" chants going. Nick barely makes the 20 count, but Broken Matt is already on him with stomps as soon as he rolls into the ring! Broken Matt tags in Jeff, and they start beating down on Nick viciously with their stomps. Matt Jackson has had enough and gets in the ring. He gets Matt Hardy into a COBRA CLUTCH! Jeff sees this, he picks up Nick Jackson and gets him into a COBRA CLUTCH AS WELL! While Matt (Hardy) and Nick are in the cobra clutch from their respective opponents, they also start kicking at each other while in the hold! While in the clutch, Nick manages to get both feet up and hit a dropkick on Matt Hardy, sending both Matt's into the corner! Nick drives his elbow into Jeff's shoulder repeatedly, throwing Jeff into Matt (Hardy) and causing Jeff to splash into his brother! Matt (Jackson) thankfully got out of the way before he was meat, when both Hardyz stumbled out of the corner, the Young Bucks attempted SUPERAHKICKS on both of them! But the Hardyz caught their legs! Matt (Hardy) stuck his tongue out and both he and Jeff turned the Bucks around, kicked them in the gut and went for TWIST OF FATE! However, the Bucks pushed them off, ran to the ropes, and hit double lionsaults! ... Which the HARDYZ narrowly dodged! The Bucks landed on their feet, the Hardyz got up and hit DOUBLE SIDE EFFECT! and yes, they connected! Nick rolls out onto the apron, Jeff follows him and gives him a high bridge suplex right onto the apron. Nick is really selling his back right now as he lays at ringside, with Jeff stomping on him. Jeff spends a few minutes outside the ring working on Nick. Hitting him with moves such as the side effect (again), a back body drop onto the barricade!, a powerbomb on the steel steps, and a sidewalk slam on the end of the ramp. After getting back into the ring and breaking the 20 count, Nick finally tagged in Matt (Jacks) and he goes to work on Jeff, hurricanrana followed up by a clothesline in the corner. Multiple kicks to the body and face, pin, two. Jeff hits a suplex on Matt, then a double suplex on both Young Bucks! Matt gets double jumping knee. Nick with two superkick, but Matt Hardy intercepted the second one for Jeff! Backcracker and one-legged drop kick combo on Jeff by The Bucks. Matt Hardy recovers and counters TWO superkicks at the same time, catching both the Bucks legs and planting them each with leg-DDTs! (It looked kind of weird, but believeable) Matt (Hardy) tries to pin Nick. 1, 2 KICKOUT! Matt (Hardy) then goes to pin Matt (Jackson) 1..2.. KICKOUT AS WELL! Matt (Hardy) wails on Matt (Jacks) with punches, screaming "delete" with each punch, the crowd roaring "delete" throughout the arena! Matt calls for Matt to stand! spinning kick by Matt (Hardy) on Nick, but at the same time Nick is able to hit a clothesline and now everybody is down. Matt (Jackson) and Jeff Hardy are still the legal men. Matt tries for a powerbomb on Jeff, finally gets it, and Nick also throws in a kick to the back of Jeff's head as he comes down. Matt gets up and the Bucks seize him up and finally plant his ass with a SUPAHKICK! Not... not really, Matt (Hardy) catches their legs again! This time Jeff is back up and both the Hardyz hit a 2X TWIST OF FATE ON THE YOUNG BUCKS! They then both go to the top turnbuckles opposite each other and hit 2X THE SWANTON BOMB! THE COVER! 1! 2! KICKOUT BY THE YOUNG BUCKS! THE CROWD IS GOING WILD! Matt (Jackson) recovers and trips down Jeff Hardy with sharpshooter in the middle of the ring, Jeff looks like he's going to tap, but Matt (Hardy) attempts to clothesline Jackson from behind. Matt (Jackson) is forced to drop Jeff as he ducks the clothesline, then he dropkicks Matt (Hardy) over the top rope. Matt (Hardy) hangs on the apron. Nick recovers. More bang for your buck on Jeff, but Nick (Jackson) is kicked in the back by Matt (Hardy) who throws Nick onto Matt (Jackson) from the top turnbuckle. Matt Jackson nearly pinned, Two. Single-leg crab on both Bucks by the Hardyz. The holds are locked in for a long while, about a minute and 30. Nick tries to tap, but Matt holds his hand off the mat! Matt kicks Jeff into Matt (Hardy) to break up the submission. Everyone is down once again. Nick recovers. Jeff recovers, Jeff and Nick start kicking each other's partners in the back over and over. They finally turn their attention to each other and swing away. Matt Hardy recovers and runs at Nick. Nick claps back with a SUPAHKICK, SENDING MATT OVER THE TOP ROPE! Matt (Jackson) follows it up with a crazy corkscrew senton onto Matt (Hardy) Nick and Jeff in the ring, SUPAHKICK! MELTZER DRIVER! THE SHARPSHOOTER! Jeff Hardy is FORCED to tap to Nick Jackson!
Winners: Young Bucks via Submission to RETAIN the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship!
After the match, the Young Bucks celebrate with the titles. The Jap'n'Brit Connection (Kota Ibushi and Adrian Bryant) were watching from ringside. The Young Bucks taunt to them and raise their titles high as fireworks go off on the stage. Adrian and Ibushi get into the ring and stare down the Bucks, but the two teams end up shaking hands. The Broken Hardyz retreat to the ramp. The Young Bucks are left in the ring alone again and taunt as we cut to a 15 second hype promo for Snyder and Okada later tonight.
Match 3 - Marty Scurll vs Bray Wyatt
After both men make their iconic entrances the bell rings. A smirk comes across the face of Scurll as he puts his umbrella under the bottom rope in the corner. He then runs at Wyatt and starts beating him into the corner with right hands and kicks. Wyatt tries to fight back only to get dropkicked into the corner. When Scurll tries to go for a second he is catapulted into the turnbuckles face first. Wyatt takes advantage by delivering a running Body Slice Crossbody onto Scurll and then follows up with a senton for a 2 count. Wyatt looks at the ref and laughs before throwing a few grounded strikes to the face of Scurll. Wyatt then gets back up and fixes his hair before pacing around waiting on Scurll to get up. Scurll gets back up and delivers a knee to Wyatt before hitting him with the Ghostbuster for a 2 count. Scurll looks shocked as Wyatt rolls around holding his head. The Bullet Club emerges from the back and begin surrounding the ring. Scurll smirks as he sizes up Wyatt and delivers a Falcon Arrow. Wyatt is pinned for a 2 before the lights go out and The Wyatt Family is on the rampway looking at Bullet Club. A huge brawl breaks out that sees The Wyatt's brawling with Bullet Club all the way out of the ringside area and to the back. Scurll shrugs and sets up Wyatt for Bird Of Prey. As he goes to deliver he is hit with a Uranage by Wyatt. Wyatt goes to the corner and Spider Walks to Scurll before picking him up in the Sister Abigail postion. Scurll swings out at the last second and Superkick's Wyatt in the face for another 2 count. Scurll gets angry and waits for Wyatt to get up. As Scurll runs at Wyatt he is caught in Sister Abigail and pinned for the 1...2...3.
WINNER: Bray Wyatt
Match 4 - Zack Poe vs Hulk Hogan
We got a pretty nice video package of the hype leading up to this event. Hogan's initial announcing of his return to Japan, his run in New Japan thus far, him wanting a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Zack Poe challenging him to a match at a NJPW press conference. Hogan wanting Zack at WK to make a point to everybody in the back that he can still go. Zack telling Hogan that Hulkamania has to die... Hogan telling Zack that Hulkamania will NEVER die, BROTHER! Hogan says that if he loses this match, he will never wrestle again, and his pursuit for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship will end and be for naught. But Hogan is determined to prove that he can win the World Title once more. He has the spirits of the BILLIONS of Hulkamaniacs around the world, those who will be in attendance for WrestleKingdom and those who will be watching at home, he has the blood of Hulkamania RUNNING IN HIS VEINS, BROTHER! Zack reminds Hogan that he beat him once before... and he'll gladly do it again. "Those who disregard history... are doomed to repeat it. I'm sorry, Hulk. You were my hero--" Hulk interrupts Zack. "CUT THE CRAP, BROTHER! DON'T GO EASY ON ME! DON'T GIVE ME THESE PITY STORIES! GIVE ME ALL YOU'VE GOT! Because I'm giving you all I got... BROTHER! I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR TWO-BIT, DISCOUNT HULKAPHOBIAC ASS ALL OVER THE TOKYO DOME... BROTHER!"
Zack Poe's entrance first. He gets a mixed reaction (from the American fans, the Japanese don't seem to know him). Zack comes out wearing a jacket, blue tights, he has fingerless gloves. Behind the jacket the words "Forgotten Hero" are etched.
Next... HULKAMANIA! HULK HOGAN, BROTHER! Hulk gets an INSANE pop, one of the biggest I remember hearing, as he RILES up the crowd, TAUNTING! He wears New Japan colors, does some flexing, some hand to the ear, as the THOUSANDS in attendance chant his name.
Hogan and Poe stare off as the bell rings, with the crowd still chanting HOGAN. They both start tentatively as they share brief lock ups, before Hogan puts on arm bar. Poe breaks this off and they both shove each other in a 'yeah, what you got' way. Hulk gives Poe a drop toe hold before applying a front face lock. Zack gets out of it and stands up. Hogan and Poe lock up, with Hulk getting the upper hand and tossing Zack across the ring and into the corner. Zack runs at Hogan, but immediately gets dropped with a clothesline. Poe rolls out to the apron and spits something from his mouth. Hogan, surprisingly, goes to his legs and tries to lock in a submission after dragging him to the middle, very rare for the Hulkster to do. Poe screams in pain, but eventually reaches the ropes. Hogan picks him up but Zack gives him chop after chop right to his chest. Hogan backs into the ropes and gets Irish whipped by Zack off the ropes and once he rebounds, Zack jumps up in the air and gives Hogan a massive DDT for a two count. Poe begins to work on his legs, trying to slow down the wrestling icon. Zack hears the crowd chant Hogan and he twitches a little bit, shaking his head. He kicks Hogan in the side. Each time the HULKSTER tries to power up, Zack kicks him back down. Poe picks his legs up and interlocks them, locking in the Sharpshooter in honor of his favorite wrestler of all time, Bret Hart. Hogan lifts up his hand, waving it in the air, looking like he's about to tap out right then and there, but the crowd begins to chant "Hogan! Hogan! Hogan!" Hogan begins to Hulk up and throws Zack off with ease. Zack stands up. Hogan with a clothesline, and another, and another. Poe kips up as Hogan bounces off the ropes and comes back with a big boot. At the exact same time, Poe goes for a superkick. Both of their boots connect onto each other's heads, dropping them both down to the mat. The crowd chants HOGAN as they both get up! Zack and Hogan give each other punches. Then, Zack just wails on Hogan with punches as the chants anger him! Hogan starts SHAKING with rage himself as he begins to no-sell the punches, THEN HE POINTS AT ZACK! The crowd says "YOU"... BUT ZACK GRABS HOGAN'S ARM, LIFTS HIM UP, AND HITS TIME PARADOX! WHAT?! OUT OF NOWHERE! THE COVER! 1! 2! HOGAN KICKS OUT! Zack stands up, he waits for Hogan to stand, then he hits ANOTHER TIME PARADOX! THE COVER! 1! 2! NO! HOGAN KICKS OUT AGAIN! Hogan tries to HULK UP SOME MORE! Zack turns and LAYS HIS ASS OUT WITH A SUPERKICK! HOGAN FALLS! THE COVER! 1! 2! KICK OUT! ZACK IS LIVID! ZACK PICKS UP THE HULKSTER AND TELLS HIM TO "GIVE IT UP, IT'S OVER!" HE THEN PLANTS HULK WITH... A PILEDRIVER! THE SAME ONE OWEN GAVE AUSTIN! HULK ISN'T MOVING AT ALL! THE COVER! 1....2... KICK OUT BY HOGAN! THE SOUL OF HULK HOGAN IS STILL ALIVE! THE SOUL OF ALL THE HULKAMANIACS RUNNING IN HIS VEINS BROTHER, AS HE STARTS TO GET UP! ZACK GOES FOR ANOTHER TIME PARADOX, BUT HOGAN ELBOWS HIM AND HITS A BACK SUPLEX BRAINBUSTER, THEN HE STARTS HULKING UP AGAIN! HE GETS IN THE CORNER AND STOMPS, WAITING FOR ZACK TO STAND, BEFORE HE RUNS AND HITS THAT THUNDEROUS ASS BIG BOOT! HOGAN RUNS TO THE ROPES, HE RUNS BACK, AND HE HITS THE LEG DROOOOOP! THE CROWD IS CHANTING HOGAN, HOGAN, HOGAN, THE LOUDEST THEY'VE CHANTED ALL NIGHT, AS HOGAN LOOKS AROUND. HE SHAKES HIS HEAD, HE GOES TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE, HE PUTS HIS HAND TO HIS EAR, THEN HE JUMPS OFF AND HITS THE SUPER LEG DROP! (Or, alternatively, the Rising Sun Leg Drop) THE COVER! THE COVER! 1! 2! 3! THE BELL RINGS AS THE HULKAMANIACS RUN WILD! HULK HOGAN HAS DONE IT! HULK HOGAN HAS DONE IT! HOGAN ROLLS TO THE ROPES, HE PULLS HIMSELF UP TO THE LOUDEST POP HE'S GOTTEN IN A LONGGG TIME BROTHER!
WINNER: HULK HOGAN... BROTHER!
After the match, Hogan cuts a promo thanking all the HULKAMANIACS showing up and announces the RECORD ATTENDANCE OF 100,000 PEOPLE, BROTHER! Hogan says he has unfinished business with another WWE guy... and he's talking about JOHN CENA! THE CROWD POPS AS HOGAN DROPS THE MIC AND TAUNTS!
Match 5 - Cody Rhodes vs Goldust
Before the match we get a small video package of the hype leading up to this match. Cody's return to NJPW, Goldust returning beside him, them working as a tag team for a little bit before Cody turned on Goldust. And now we're at this match!
Goldust asks for a handshake but Cody slaps his hand away, then Cody hiptosses him and Goldust throws him in the corner. Cody goes to lock up but feigns and kicks Goldust in the stomach, then he goes for a bulldog but Goldust slams him on the mat. Cody rolls outside to regroup, then Goldust kicks him a few times before heading up top. Cody slams him down and stomps him in the corner, then he rolls outside and shoves Goldust into the apron. He rolls Goldust back in and applies a waistlock, but Goldust shoves him back and Cody calls for Dark Matter. Goldust drops down and snapmares him. Cody kicks Goldust a few times before Goldust elbows him and sends him outside, then Cody throws a few elbows and sends him into the ring. Goldust rebounds and clotheslines Cody, then hits a bulldog before he goes for a clothesline, and Cody counters with a rolling cutter attempt! Goldust counters and heads up top, hitting a standing elbow! Pin... ONE... TWO.. KICKOUT! Goldust follows his brother as Cody crawls to the ropes... CODY KICKS GOLDUST IN THE SHIN! Cody stands, leaps off the rope, and hits the BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! THE COVER! ONE! TWO! KICKOUT BY GOLDUST! Goldust quickly and they're back to even stevens. Goldust gives Cody a chop and Cody replies with a big punch to the head of Stan, as if to say “Well if that's what you want to do, bring it”. They then end up trading chops/punches and eye rakes (which they both no sell), before Goldust just has enough of this shit and dumps Cody through the ropes and onto the outside. He goes right after Cody and tries sending his head off the post, but Cody blocks it and Goldust ends up head first into it. Cody briefly gets back in the ring to break the count out, before going back after Goldust with some punches before planting his face over the guardrail and onto a desk. Cody rolls Goldie back into the ring, taunting him. Cody calls for a running elbow but Goldust ducks and clotheslines him, then he calls for Curtain Call but Cody bails outside. Cody tries to leave but Goldust splashes him and throws him back inside! yet... Cody once again tries to leave so Goldust slams him on the barricade. Goldust tosses his brother back into the ring. Goldust stomps him a few times and the ref backs him away, then he stomps him a few more times before rolling outside. Goldust paces back and forth as Cody begins to recover. Cody lays against the ropes with his head sticking out, which allows Goldust to just destroy him with a big boot! Cody lays in the ring as Goldust rolls inside. Goldust goes to the second turnbuckle and drops down with a quick splash, for the cover. One, two, Cody kicks! Cody rolls away from Goldust, then out the ring. Goldust follows Cody but Cody doesn't stop walking, trying to recover. Cody then pops up with a forearm to Goldust! Goldie falls into the barricade as Cody wails on him with punches! Cody grabs Goldie by the head and bull dogs him into the steel post. Cody taunts Goldie and picks him up, then he hits him with an Alabama Slam right on the DAMN RING APRON! You can hear something in Goldust's NECK as it hits the apron! Goldust rolls around, holding his neck as the ref goes to check on him. Cody looks down at his brother, he feigns concern... BEFORE STOMPING ON HIS NECK VICIOUSLY! The ref tries to hold Cody back but Cody throws the ref to the side! He picks up Goldust and plants him with a SILVER SPOON DDT INTO THE GROUND! CODY ROLLS IN THE RING AND TAUNTS! THIS CROWD IS GIVING HIM A LOT OF SHIT! A LOT OF SHIT! Those American fans are actually THROWING stuff at Cody! The ref rolls in the ring and starts the count after checking on Goldust. (Goldust said he was able to continue and told the ref to go away). Goldust just BAREEELYYYY makes that 20 count. Cody picks up Goldust and is already going for the Cross-Rhodes, but Goldust flips out of it and clotheslines Cody! Both men are down now as the crowd chants for GOLDUST! GOLDUST STANDS UP, CODY STANDS UP, THEY START SOME KNIFE EDGE CHOPS AT EACH OTHER! GOLDUST HITS A BIG ASS CHOP AND KNOCKS CODY DOWN!!!!!!!!! Cody rolls into the corner and Goldust follows him! Cody taunts Goldust by saying he was "ALWAYS DAD'S FAVORITE SON!" Goldust gets wide eyes, he gets emotional, and then he LAYS IT ON CODY WITH THUNDEROUS STOMPS! (No lie, he hits about 50 of them, I counted) The ref FINALLY managers to get Goldust away as Cody lays slumped in the corner. Goldust walks back to Cody, he hangs him in the corner, obviously setting up for Shattered Dreams. Goldust gets the crowd hot as he walks around, prepping the move. He runs at Cody and goes for it... but then... stops? Cody looks defeated, dejected, he's sobbing, he's shaking his head. He says "I'm sorry, brother." Goldust looks down at his boot, which is hanging as if getting ready to kick, then he looks back at his brother. Goldust takes another look at his boot... WHICH GIVES CODY AND CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THE ROPES AND HIT THE DARK MATTER! THE COVER! 1! 2! 3! THE BELL RINGS AS CODY RHODES GETS THE DARKEST FUCKING BOOS OF ALL TIME! (Darkest boos... yeah... dark matter.. get it?)
WINNER: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Cody gets nuclear heat as he taunts over his fallen brother. Cody laughs at Goldust as Goldie sits up in the corner. Cody then rolls out the ring and backs up on the ramp. It seems like this feud is far from done in New Japan!!!
Match 6 - Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Hirooki Goto (NEVER Openweight Championship - Hair vs. Hair/Nobody At Ringside)
Huge strike by both wrestlers to kick things off. Suzuki locks in a choke, gets back into the ropes, climbs up to the second rope and is strangling Goto. Finally he stops and Goto just drops to the mat. Doctor is in the ring and they are checking on Goto. Suzuki stomps the Doctor and sends him out of the ring. Ref shoves Suzuki away to check on Goto. Action spills to the outside, Goto thrown hard against the barricade. Suzuki grabs a chair at just hammers Goto's back. Ref is trying to pull away the chair and is finally able to do so. Suzuki smiles in the ring as he continues to beat up the challenge, big kick to the back. Goto with chops to the chest and Suzuki is laughing at them. Slow, massive strikes by Suzuki as Goto tries to return fire to no effect. Suzuki goes for a penalty kick, blocked, Goto gets bashed right in the face. Goto tries to recover, but Suzuki with multiple submission to keep him slowed down. Gotch-style piledriver attempted, nope, Goto hits Ushigoroshi, both men down. Suzuki-gun attempts to get in the ring, but the Young Lions hold back most of them. Taichi sneaks in with a chair, but YOSHI-HASHI runs in and holds him back. Goto with a strike to drop Taichi. Suzuki slinks in from behind, multiple forearms. Suzuki goes on an absolute flurry of strikes to the face and body, wow! Locks in another choke as Goto looks to be fading, but fights back. Ref almost stops it, Suzuki goes for the gotch-style piledriver to finish it off. Goto fights out and shoves him into the corner. Both on the top rope, Suzuki with a nasty headbutt. Front face lock on Goto while standing on the top rope. Goto switches it into a super Ushigoroshi! Ouch. Goto with multiple strikes to Suzuki's face, who keeps laughing at them. Goto with a headbutt, Suzuki didn't laugh at that. GTR by Goto. GTR again and that will get the win!
WINNER AND NEW!: HIROOKI GOTO
Match 7 - Kevin Owens (w/ Jack Carter) vs Kenny Omega
Video package before the match. Kevin Owens costing Kenny Omega the US Heavyweight Championship. Kenny Omega calling out Kevin Owens, but Owens not responding. The constant shading between both on Twitter. Kenny Omega doing an interview and playing a fighting game at Tokyo Game Show 2017 and being attacked by Kevin Owens! Kevin Owens hit a POP-UP POWERBOMB off the stage that Omega was playing on! Kevin Owens evading Kenny Omega for MONTHS. At NJPW 149, Kenny Omega was filmed showing up backstage to a WWE LIVE EVENT TO ATTACK KEVIN OWENS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE! This is where Kenny Omega challenged Kevin Owens to a match... AT WRESTLEKINGDOM! "YOU'RE NOT A REAL CANADIAN! YOU'RE NOT EVEN A REAL KO! KENNY OMEGA?! WHILE YOU WERE AT SOME NERDY GAME SHOW PLAYING VIDEO GAMES, I WAS BUSY KICKING YOUR ASS!" Kevin Owens taunting Kenny Omega. "THIS ISN'T STREET FIGHTER, KID, THIS IS REAL LIFE... AND YOU'RE UP AGAINST A REAL PRIZE FIGHTER." Kevin Owens taunting as flashing lights in the background half-cover his face. "SO AT WRESTLE KINGDOM... WHEN WE GO HEAD TO HEAD... MANO E MANO... I'M GOING TO END THIS CLOWN SHOW! THIS 'KENNY OMEGA' ERA! I'M GOING TO SHOW EVERYONE THAT YOU WERE NOTHING MORE THAN JUST A FLAVOR... OF... THE WEEK! A FLASH IN THE PAN! AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT... YOU WILL REMEMBER THE NAME... KEVIN OWENS! But NOBODY... will remember the name... KENNY OMEGA..."
Kevin Owens theme hits as he gets booed by the Japanese people in the crowd tonight. He walks out with Jake Carter beside him. Kevin makes his way down the ramp and stops before the steps he looks around at all the people and flips them off before walking up the steps and getting in the ring. He gets in a corner and waits as Kenny Omega’s theme hits to a big ass pop as they start clapping the Terminator theme. Kenny Slowly emerges from the stage kneeling down rising from under the stage. After he completes his raise he spreads his arms out and his robe flies off him as Pyro goes off in the arena. Omega makes his way down the ramp as the fans clap hands with kenny on the way down. he makes his way up the steps and gets in the ring. He goes to a corner. Kevin runs at Kenny and back attacks him while his back is turned. Omega stumbles chest first into the corner. Kevin would keep the attack going by kicking the back of his knee cap as Kenny goes down to one knee. Kevin then grabs Kenny’s head and gives him a short drop DDT. Kenny would hold on to his head on the mat. Kevin would turn kenny over and get on top of him and starts raining down right hands on his forehead. Kenny finally throws Kevin off him as he slowly stands up leaning on the ropes. Kevin would run at Kenny trying to clothesline him over the top rope. Kenny Ducks under it and back body drops Kevin over the top rope. Sunset bomb to the outside on Omega, who initially was able to hold onto the ropes. Omega is slow to get up, Jake Carter starts KICKING on him while KO distracts the referee! Jake Carter picks up Kenny Omega and plants him with a BRAIN BUSTER on the GOD DAMN FLOOR! Kenny Omega groans as Jake Carter runs to the other side of the ring. Kenny has trouble gathering his bearings, officials are checking on him, ref begins the 20-count, and Omega crawls back into the ring. Owens immediately stomps Omega, superkick to the back of the head. Omega gets a breather when he sends Owens face first into the corner. Multiple clotheslines followed by a hand spring dropkick by Omega. Double german suplexes by Owens as the ref checks on Omega yet again. Botched move off the top rope by Owens, looks like he was trying for a hurricanrana to the floor. Owens pulls off an insane senton, landing incredibly hard on the floor! Double knee drop on Omega, pin, 2-count. Owens goes for another sunset bomb, back-flip reversal by Omega, Owens tries for an aerial attack off the apron and ends up in an armbar out of nowhere! The 20-count starts up, Omega eventually throws Owens back in the ring and starts throwing a number of nasty kicks to Owens's head, back, and arm. Hoverboard lock by Omega in the middle of the ring, roll through as Owens tries to escape. Victory roll by Omega, 2-count! Another submission attempt that eventually leads to both wrestlers just punching each other right in the face, both go down. The crowd is going nuts for this match! Kevin gets up, he runs at Omega for a clothesline! Omega traps him in a chickenwing submission, then he lifts him up and drops him outside the ring, KEVIN OWENS LANDS ON HIS HEAD! Kenny turns around and waits for Kevin to get back up. Kevin would start to get back up slowly as he turns toward Kenny. Kenny would run off the ropes and comes back and flips over the ropes landing on top of him. However, JAKE CARTER STEPS IN THE WAY AND TAKES THE FALL FOR KEVIN! Kenny rolls to his feet, looking down at Jake, then back at Kevin! THEN KENNY JUST BIG BOOTS THE FUCK OUT OF KO! Kevin would take it and land on the floor holding himself, while Kenny landing on one knee. Kenny grabs hold of his ribs pulling himself up by the apron. Kenny would give Kevin a few stomps while he is down. Kevin would flop with each shot. Kenny would pick Kevin up and try to whips him into the steel steps. But Kevin reverses it and sends Kenny into them instead. Kenny would lean on the steel steps holding himself. Kevin comes over and chokes Kenny with his boot. Kenny waves his arms around and tries to push kevin away. After a few second Kevin lets go and taunts the fans “ I’M BETTER THAN HIM!!!!!” Kevin turns to look at Omega but as soon as he turns around he is met with a V-Trigger! V-TRIGGER!!! Kevin owens is stunned but doesn’t go down Kenny omega backs up and gives Kevin a 2nd V-trigger!! AGAIN!!! Kevin owens feels it good this time as he lands on top of one of the announce table. Kenny Gets hyped up as he rolls in the ring and climbs the top turnbuckle. He points a finger gun at kevin before jumping off and hoping for the best Kevin tho moves out of the way as Kenny goes crashing through the announce table. Kenny seems to be out cold as Kevin slowly makes his way over to Kenny and throws him into the ring. Kevin gets in with Kenny and waits for him to get up. Kenny gets up slowly and turns to Kevin. Kevin lifts kenny up and hits him with a pop up powerbomb. Kenny lays dead on the mat as Kevin goes down and pins him….1….2…. KICK OUT BY OMEGA! Kevin Owens gets up, screaming as he stomps furiously on OMEGA! KEVIN SLAPS HIM AROUND A LITTLE BIT! Kenny trips Kevin down and goes for the BOSTON CRAB! But Kevin OWENS kicks Kenny OMEGA into the ref, taking the ref down! KEVIN STANDS UP AND GRABS KENNY, HE CROSSES HIS ARMS BEHIND HIS BACK AND HOLDS HIM THERE AS JAKE CARTER COMES IN WITH A CHAIR! JAKE BEATS DOWN ON KENNY WITH THE CHAIR, REPEATEDLY, UNTIL KENNY IS BLEEDING! Jake then taunts Kenny, calling him a PHONY, A FRAUD, A FLASH IN THE PAN! JAKE THEN GOES FOR A BIG SWING TO KENNY, BUT KENNY SOMEHOW GETS OUT OF IT, AND THE CHAIR SHOT HITS OWENS INSTEAD! Jake's eyes WIDEN as he looks down at his fallen friend! Kenny HOOKS JAKE UP AND PLANTS HIM WITH THE CROSS-LEGGED FISHERMAN'S BUSTER, THE AOI SHOUDOU! Kenny kicks Jake out the ring, but when he turns around, KEVIN OWENS TRAPS KENNY OMEGA AND HITS THE STEENALIZER! THE REF RECOVERS! OWENS PINS HIM! 1! 2! KICKOUT! KICKED THE FUCK OUT! KEVIN IS LIVID! HE PICKS UP OMEGA, THROWS HIM INTO THE ROPES, AND THEN FUCKS HIS WHOLE LIFE UP WITH A POP-UP POWERBOMB ON THAT CHAIR THAT WAS IN THE RING! THE COVER BY KEVIN OWENS! 1! 2! ANOTHER KICK OUT BY KENNY OMEGA! KENNY IS SHAKING! OWENS IS SHAKING! KEVIN OWENS COMPLETELY SNAPS AND JUST STOMPS ON KENNY OMEGA! (I counted, he stomped about SIXTY TIMES... way more than the last mass stomping!) KEVIN OWENS THROWS KENNY OMEGA INTO THE ROPES, HE KICKS HIM UNTIL HE'S SEATED IN THE CORNER! HE RUNS TO ONE CORNER, REBOUNDS OFF, COMES BACK AT KENNY OMEGA WITH THE CANNONBALL CRUSH! KEVIN OWENS STANDS UP AND TAUNTS TO THUNDEROUS BOOS! "I'M NOT SOME FLAVOR OF THE WEEK! I'M THE REAL DEAL! I'M HERE TO STAY!" KEVIN OWENS TAUNTS AS HE LOOKS DOWN AT KENNY OMEGA, THEN HE SPITS IN HIS FACE! KENNY OMEGA TRIES TO GET SOME FIGHT BACK IN HIM... HE TRIES TO STAND, BUT KEVIN OWENS SUPERKICKS HIM BACK DOWN INTO THE CORNER! "STAY DOWN, YOU STRING FUCK!" KEVIN OWENS SPITS ON HIM AGAIN! The fans are going NUTS as Kevin looks down at Kenny. Kenny grabs hold of Kevin’s gear as he tries to pull himself back up. Kevin looks at him the whole time. Then lifts him up going for another pop up powerbomb. But all of a sudden Kenny reverses it into a THIRD! V-trigger. Kevin is stunned. Kenny omega lifts Kevin up and puts him on his shoulders as he looks around. THIS IS IT... KENNY TAUNTS... Then drops him with a ONE WINGED ANGEL! KENNY HIT IT! KENNY HIT IT! Kenny grabs THE LEGS! 1….2…. THREE!
WINNER: KENNY OMEGA!
The bell rings as Kenny’s theme hits throughout the arena. Kenny slowly makes it up to his feet with the help of the ropes. The Ref comes over and lifts KENNAY'S HAND as the KENNY raises his free hand in the air. Kenny drops to the mat and rolls out of the ring walking backwards up the ramp looking at Kevin the whole time. Kevin starts to come to as he looks at Kenny with a rape face. Jake Carter helps Kevin up the ramp and points at Kenny. Kenny just gives them a smirk, he shrugs his shoulders and TAUNTS!
Match 8 - Tetsuya Naito vs Hiroshi Tanahashi (Main Event #1)
Tanahashi is dealing with a torn biceps, while Naito has been working through a shoulder injury. They worked a slow start, with some stalling by Naito. Tanahashi then started to heel it up, slapping Naito a few times. Naito powdered to the floor. Naito returned to tranquilo, but Tanahashi attacked as he posed. Tanahashi looked to pick up the pace, but Naito cut off the high cross with a dropkick. He then started to attack the arm on Tanahashi, kicking at it and wrapping it up in the ropes. This is good and smart control by Naito, working the arm and just grounding Tanahashi. Tanahashi finally is able to hit a beck breaker to slow Naito’s attack. The flying forearm, elbow drop and senton all follow. Tanahashi even cut off Naito’s corner dropkick combo, hitting a dragon screw and looking to focus on the leg! Tanahashi then went up top, hitting the high fly high cross to the floor. Back in and Naito fights off the cloverleaf, making the ropes. Naito fights off the dragon screw, attacking the arm of Tanahashi and then hitting a dropkick to the arm. Naito follows with a draping neck breaker, picks up the pace and hits Gloria for a near fall. Tanahashi avoids destino and hits a straightjacket German for a near fall. The crowd has firmly swung to Naito’s side, Tanahashi up top and Naito cuts him off, attacking the arm and then hitting the RANA but Tanahashi rolls through and into a sunset flip for 2. Tanahashi tries to fire up and they trade rights center ring. Naito spits at Tanahashi and they slap the shit out of each other, and Naito then hits a German for 2. Tanahashi fight off a dragon suplex, but Naito pummels him along the ropes and again attacks the arm; Tanahashi counters the flying forearm and hits a pair of sling blades for 2. Tanahashi up top and hits a high fly flow high cross. Back up top and MISSES the high fly flow. Tanahashi now misses a corner charge, Naito hits a draping neck breaker and heads up top and looks for destino, Tanahashi fights him off and dragon screws him off the ropes; the clover leaf follows and Naito is trapped center ring. He fights but Tanahashi sits down on the hold and Naito again musters up the energy to fight and makes the ropes. Naito looks spent, Tanahashi looks to attack again but Naito manages to kick him away. Tanahashi looks to go back to the leg, but Naito hits the tornado DDT as the crowd is really great here. Naito pulls Tanahashi up, and hits destino variation out of the corner but Tanahashi kicks out! Tanahashi counters the second try, hits rolling neck breakers, but Naito fights back, DESTINO. DESTINO and Tanahashi is done! NAITO WINS!
WINNER: TETSUYA NAITO!
Match 8 - Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs Anthony Chandler - IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship (No Holds Barred)
Another epic video package before the match with 'My Sacrifice' by Creed. When Anthony Chandler was first in New Japan back in 2014, after he secured an open contract with WWE, Shibata kicked his ass. Shibata beat Chandler so bad that Chandler was disgraced and seldom came back to Japan. Chandler talks about how he has trained since then, he's grown, he's become stronger, faster, better. Shibata stares him down at a press conference, then he just headbutts Chandler. Chandler falls off the stage. Outside of that very press conference, Chandler viciously attacks Shibata and throws him into a brick wall, head first. Anthony says Tokyo Dome is the site of his redemption in Japanese wrestling. Some nice highlights of Shibata's headbutts, his victims, and Anthony training. At NJPW 149, Anthony and Shibata won a tag team match but destroyed each other after the match, with both men having to be carried out. "You don't know how bad I want this... not just your championship... but how bad I want... your blood." Anthony VOWS to DEFEAT KATSUYORI SHIBATA IN THE TOKYO DOME AND REDEEM HIMSELF!
Anthony is out first, to an insane pop. He wears his usual hoodie, but this time with a nice pair of tights to complement. When Shibata comes out, he gets a pop as well. Shibata hands his title to the referee and gets in Anthony's face as the announcements begin. Anthony doesn't take his eyes off of Shibata, and vice versa. The two of them are poised and ready for battle. Just as the bell rings, Chandler gets the first hit with a loud chop to the chest! He then gives Shibata some repeated elbow strikes to the face, running to the ropes, coming back, and planting Shibata with a running single leg high knee! Shibata rolls to his feet quickly after, and Anthony is back on him again! Shibata gets Chandler up against the ropes, ref calls for a break, Shibata slaps Chandler in the chest and backs off. Mat wrestling to kick things off with Shibata getting the best of their exchanges. After receiving a rear naked choke, Chandler on the apron and receives a hard kick to the back. Shibata goes for a number of submissions including an armbar, which Chandler breaks with a foot on the bottom rope. Shibata kicks Chandler in the face over and over. Misdirection by Chandler who finally lands a big move. Elbows by Shibata, spinning heel kick by Chandler, stomp to the head by Shibata, lot of back and forth in that sequence! THE CROWD POPS FOR THAT! Chandler kicks a downed Shibata in the chest, Shibata rises back up, Chandler continues to kick him in the chest seemingly not causing any damage. Shibata stomps Chandler in the corner, running drop kick, suplex, pin for a 2-count. Shibata puts DA FUCKING BOOTS to Chandler, who chooses to return the favor. Shibata lets Chandler chop the hell out of him, kips up and drops Chandler with a forearm. Sick! Chandler gets back up and welcomes Shibata with a back suplex. Shibata drills Chandler several times in the corner with strikes before a big jumping kick. Shibata applies a chinlock and transitions into a spider hold before Chandler gets to the ropes. Shibata attacks Chandler in the corner, but Chandler turns the tides. Shibata gets in Chandler's face and drops Chandler with a forearm, but Chandler gets up. Clothesline from Chandler, dropkick from Shibata. This is violent. Back and forth German suplexes, both men down. The two end up on the ropes, where Shibata applies a double wristlock. Chandler gets out and kills Shibata with a lariat. Shibata lands a suplex, then applies an armbar before transitioning into a triangle. Chandler hits a big lariat and a powerbomb! The nice cover! 1, 2, ONLY two. After more strikes, Shibata plants Chandler with a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER... FOR THE TWO COUNT! Shibata applies a sleeper, but Chandler gets out and walks into kicks. SHIBATA GOES FOR IT! PK! But... Chandler stops the PK and FUCKING HEADBUTTS Shibata! SHIBATA'S HAVING NONE OF IT AND GIVES CHANDLER A HEADBUTT OF HIS OWN! The two heabutt each other, but Chandler can see the future and just corkscrew back drops Shibata. Chandler runs to the ropes, he comes back and hits a rolling thunder, into an arm-bar! He works Shibata, but Shibata gets to his feet! Shibata shoves Chandler away! HE RUNS AT CHANDLER! Shibata with a spinning back fist AND A PK! BUT CHANDLER FALLS OUT THE RING AFTER TAKING IT! SHIBATA ROLLS OUT AFTER HIM AND THROWS HIM HEAD-FIRST INTO THE STEEL POST! CHANDLER IS MORE THAN BUSTED OPEN NOW! Suplex on Chandler, he rises up with a lariat, Shibata with a kick to the face, Chandler with another lariat, both men just go back and forth until Chandler rips Shibata's head back to his knee. STO by Shibata to slow things down, the "fighting spirit" in this match is highest of any of the matches. Both men on their knees, elbows back and forth as the crowd cheers on. Two standing rear naked choke attempts by Shibata, eventually bringing Chandler down to the mat. Chandler slowly rolls to the ropes and is able to get his foot on the bottom rope. Shibata shoves Red Shoes (ref) down and both men start throwing headbutts at each other, THEY'RE GOING TO TOWN! CHANDLER IS ACTUALLY SLOWING SHIBATA DOWN WITH THE HEADBUTTS! CHANDLER SEEMS TO BE GETTING THE UPPER HAND IN THIS HEADBUTT WAR! CHANDLER SCREAMS, BOTH MEN WITH BLOOD POURING FROM THEIR HEADS! SHIBATA STOPS THIS... with a hard kick to the chest. YOU CAN HEAR THE KICK ECHO THROUGHOUT THE ARENA! CHANDLER FALLS TO HIS KNEES, AND SHIBATA GIVES HIM MORE KICKS TO HIS FUCKING CHEST! CHANDLER DUCKS ONE OF THE KICKS, HE KIPS UP AND HITS A CORKSCREW NECKBREAKER ON SHIBATA! Chandler continues to focus on the back of Shibata's head, one of the few things that has slowed him down this match. Chandler parades on Shibata with stomps to his head! Chandler knows how to PLAY THIS GAME! Both men are throwing elbows and headbutts at a rapid pace before Chandler gets the best of the exchange! AGAIN! THEY BOTH RUN TO THE ROPES, COME BACK, AND COLLIDE HEADS WITH EACH OTHER, SPILLING OUT INTO THE MAT! THE CROWD CHANTS FOR THIS MATCH AS SHIBATA AND ANTHONY LAY ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER! WHEN THEY RISE, THEY GET INTO A SCARY SLAP BATTLE! YOU CAN HEAR THE SLAPS ECHO LIKE THUNDER, RAIN, AND LIGHTNING! Anthony leaps up and hits a CODEBREAKER on Shibata! Shibata stumbles into the ropes, he comes back to Anthony, Shibata comes right into a SWINGING LEG HOOK BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX BY ANTHONY! THE COVER! 1! 2! KICKOUT BY SHIBATA! ANTHONY DOESN'T LET SHIBATA BREAATHE! HE JUST RAINS DOWN ON HIM WITH A FURY OF PUNCHES TO HIS HEAD, BLOOD FLYING EVERYWHERE! ANTHONY LETS OUT A BATTLE CRY! THE TIME FOR PLAYING IS OVER! ANTHONY CHANDLER IS GOING TO TOWN ON SHIBATA! ANTHONY PICKS SHIBATA UP AND SETS HIM UP... AND HE HITS HIM WITH A HEADLOCK DRIVER! SHIBATA WON'T STAY DOWN! HE'S ALREADY GETTING BACK UP! AN ENRAGED ANTHONY GRABS HIM AGAIN AND HITS ANOTHER HEADLOCK DRIVER! THEN ANOTHER! THEN, WHEN SHIBATA WON'T STAY DOWN, ANTHONY HOOKS HIM UP AGAIN, HE RUNS AND DRIVES HIS HEAD DOWN FOR A.N.O.T.H.E.R HEADLOCK DRIVER! THE COVER! 1...2.. KICKOUT BY SHIBATA! ANOTHER KICKOUT! GOOD GOD, WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE?! THE CROWD IS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY ELECTRIC FOR THIS MATCH! Anthony helps Shibata up, before Shibata gives him a hard slap to the CHEST! Shibata grabs Anthony's arm and pulls him into another SLAP to the CHEST! SHIBATA STARTS PLAYING TENNIS WITH ANTHONY'S CHEST! THE SLAPS CAN BE HEARD FROM ACROSS THE WORLD! Chandler slumps to his knees... he looks up at Shibata... who gives him a THUNDEROUS KICK TO THE CHEST!
Anthony tries to get up and clothesline Shibata, but Katsuyori is having NONE OF IT!
Shibata stands over Chandler, admiring his handy work. Chandler starts to rise again before Shibata goes RIGHT BACK TO WORK WITH THE KICKS!
DOWN GOES CHANDLER ONCE AGAIN! Shibata still has a hold of his arm... he pulls him up... ANOTHER... SLAP!
Shibata seizes Anthony up... FOR THE PK PENALTY KICK! YOU CAN LITERALLY HEAR CHANDLER'S CHEST FALL APART AS HE FLOPS TO THE MAT! Shibata picks up Chandler, he HAULS him into the corner, then he RUNS, WITH ANOTHER KICK THAT SENDS SHOCKWAVES THROUGHOUT THE MULTIVERSE! With Chandler in the corner, Shibata just lays on him with vicious HEADBUTTS! Shibata is in COMPLETE control of this match now! Shibata pulls Chandler out of the corner for a LEG-HOOK STO (MUSHA GAESHI!) and Chandler is once again back on the mat! Shibata isn't done! He wants Chandler to come back up! Chandler slowly rises to his feet... SHIBATA GOES FOR ANOTHER HUGE KICK TO THE CHEST! CHANDLER CATCHES IT! HE TRIPS SHIBATA DOWN AND LOCKS IN A ONE-LEGGED BOSTON CRAB! ANTHONY SCREAMS, SHIBATA SCREAMS, ANTHONY PULLS BACK THE PRESSURE ON THE HOLD! SHIBATA FLIPS ONTO HIS BACK, HE KICKS CHANDLER IN THE CHEST AND HEAD REPEATEDLY WITH HIS FREE LEG! CHANDLER IS FORCED TO RELEASE THE HOLD! ANTHONY LEANS AGAINST THE ROPES, LOOKING AROUND, SHIBATA IS COMING BACK AT HIM FOR ANOTHER KICK! CHANDLER DUCKS IT, THEN HE HOOKS SHIBATA UP AND MOVES HIM TO THE CORNER FOR A REVERSE STO INTO THE TURNBUCKLE PAD! Shibata BLINKS as he leans against the pad. Anthony backs up, gathering his bearings and looking at Shibata... HE RUNS AND SUPERKICKS SHIBATA JUST AS THE MAN TURNS! Shibata stumbles into the ropes, he comes back to Chandler, WHO GOES FOR A HEADLOCK DRIVER! SHIBATA PUSHES HIM AWAY, HE GOES FOR A KICK, ANTHONY DUCKS IT, HE KICKS SHIBATA IN THE GUT, HE HOOKS HIM UP, HE GOES FOR THE NEUTRALIZER, SHIBATA GETS THE FUCK OUT OF IT, SHIBATA HEADBUTTS CHANDLER, HE LIFTS HIM OVER HIS SHOULDER, HE SCREAMS! SHIBATA GOES FOR IT! THE G2PK! GO 2 SLEEP PENALTY KICK! DOES HE HIT IT?!
HE HITS IT! THE COVER!
ONE...
TWO...
THREE! AND THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE!
WINNER: KATSUYORI SHIBATA
What a MATCH! The crowd is giving both of these men a STANDING ovation! The commentators say that Chandler may not have won but he definitely redeemed himself in the Japanese wrestling world! Shibata looks down at Anthony and he wipes his head, looking at the blood on his hands, then back at Anthony! Anthony sort of just... lays on the mat, but the crowd gives him a standing ovation as well! The ref hands Shibata his IWGP US Championship and Shibata takes it. Shibata wraps the title around his waist, looking down at Chandler. Again... what a MATCH!
MATCH 10 - THE MAIN EVENT! ALAN SNYDER (c) w/ ASHLEY SNYDER VS KAZUCHIKA OKADA FOR THE IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP!
Read the full match
HERE!
All in all, this was an AMAZING SHOW! One of the best wrestling shows I've ever attended. Match of the night obviously goes to Okada vs Snyder, who put on another clinic, but Shibata vs Chandler is a VERY CLOSE SECOND! Hell, EVERY MATCH TONIGHT WAS PRETTY GOOD! I'll be on hand to cover the next NJPW event later this month, where Alan will defend his IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Tanahashi.
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