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Imp: It’s essentially the most great time of the 12 months! New Japan Professional Wrestling’s second consecutive 12 months working two nights on the Tokyo Dome as we explode into 2022.
A preventing spirit spectacle of fireside to the tune of the most recent crowd clapping know-how. The trendy day pinnacle of pureso, of sturdy model excellence and coronary heart thumping crescendo. A brand new horizon dawns on the corporate’s fiftieth Anniversary as our battle-hardened gladiators and warriors stride into NJPW’s Colosseum. What new champions shall be topped? Who will dare march towards the Empire on Night time 2?
It’s time. Jeremy, we roll into the brand new 12 months in model as soon as once more!
Jeremy: WRESTLE KINGDOM SEASON BABY! I do know lots of people are pretending that Wrestle Kingdom isn’t taking place, however I’m hyped as normal for an amazing evening of sturdy model puro motion.
Wrestle Kingdom 16
Night time 1
January 4th, 2021
King Of Professional Wrestling Ranbo
Jeremy: Ranbos are like pizza, even when they’re not the most effective they’re nonetheless fairly good. I used to be tremendous excited to see CIMA seem and advance to the following evening. Hopefully, this implies we’ll see NJPW and GLEAT working collectively extra this 12 months.
One other enjoyable shock was Tatsumi Fujinami! The person can nonetheless throw Dragon Screw. Becoming a member of CIMA tomorrow within the KOPW 4 Method is Toru Yano, Chase Owens, and Minoru Suzuki.
Imp: Our wee little bit of Pre-Present enjoyable with good surprises and Minoru Suzuki beating up beforehand formidable Younger Lions. Not likely a match to be taken tremendous significantly, extra a pleasing easing into the evening forward. Kevin Kelly by no means is aware of what number of entrants there are, by no means thoughts the working order.
Some high notch surprises this 12 months with CIMA and God rattling Fujinami popping in for a fast hi there. The previous genuinely qualifying a pleasant change of tempo too. We could have Chase Owens and Toru Yano but once more, however good luck with that nonsense when Minoru Suzuki’s staring you down with eyes set on breaking your leg.
1
Particular Single Match
YOH vs SHO
Imp: An incredible option to kick us off with two of New Japan’s most promising rising abilities. Former Younger Lion finest pals, multi-time IWGP Jr Tag Crew Champions, now everlasting rivals of the spot-plenty variety.
YOH exhibiting some a lot wanted aggression within the face of Dick Togo adjoining shenanigans. A match that had doable interruption darkness in ready, however it by no means overshadowed the quick again n’ forth of this pace-setting opener.
The Home Of Torture man a proper spanner as he swung a spanner with the precise right into a sudden pin from our hero with SHO-ending momentum.
Jeremy: I used to be initially fearful about this match being the opener for this present. Wrestle Kingdom openers are usually fast-paced and set the tone for the entire evening. With Home of Torture looming I feared this may flip into 10 minutes of Dick Togo choking YOH.
Fortunately there was restricted Dick involvement and these two turned up the aggression that this blood feud desperately wanted. YOH as soon as once more out maneuvers SHO and Togo and will get the win with the 5 Star Clutch.
2
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Rysuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs KENTA, El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori
Jeremy: An excellent ole “Highway to” preview tag match right here. All 6 males shall be concerned in championship matches tomorrow. The main focus of this match was on KENTA and Tanahashi. In the course of the Highway to Tokyo Dome exhibits, KENTA has been utilizing all of the plunder to structure Tanahashi.
On this match, KENTA as soon as once more discovered the chance to put into Tana with a kendo stick. Nevertheless, this time Tanahashi has sufficient. The Ace snapped and beat KENTA like a authorities mule inflicting a disqualification. Tanahashi has proved that he shall be prepared to get down and soiled for tomorrow’s No DQ match.
Imp: As Jeremy stated, a double preview for Night time 2 with all 6 of those males set for title matches. Establishing some final minute inquiries to be answered in true “Highway to” trend.
A novel change of the tide as Tanahashi swung himself into disqualification. Was he exhibiting the a lot wanted aggression when going through a fiend like KENTA? Or an indication that the Bullet Membership man has efficiently gotten into the Ace’s head and blinded his judgement?
You’ve obtained to tune in tomorrow to search out out!
3
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb & Nice O’Khan
Imp: Our second tag preview of the present, 4 of the six set for singles matches towards one another as Will Ospreay takes it simple forward of his massive fundamental occasion second tomorrow..
If you’re BUSHI in a multi-man and also you’re the one one with out a singles match on Night time 2… yeah I don’t fancy your possibilities. Hey, at the very least his music performed!
Jeremy: Will Ospreay has lastly returned to Japan. It’s been 8 months because the chief of the United Empire was seen in Japan. Ospreay understanding that he has an enormous fundamental occasion match tomorrow barely lifted a finger on this match.
Cobb and O-Khan did the heavy lifting as they tried to ascertain dominance over their evening 2 opponents. Ultimately, Ospreay lastly obtained within the match and knocked BUSHI’s head off his shoulders with the Hidden Blade.
4
Common Wrestling Guidelines
Katsuyori Shibata vs ? (Ren Narita)
Jeremy: This. Was. AWESOME!
First, we discover out “X” is Ren Narita. Narita is considered one of my favourite younger lions and he’s been killing it on NJPW STRONG. Then we get the epic return of Shibata in gear within the Tokyo Dome. May it get any higher than this? Sure, it might! Shibata grabs the mic and says that is not a catch wrestling match, it is going to be an everyday professional wrestling guidelines match.
Narita goes maintain for maintain and strike for strike along with his LA DOJO coach. However on the finish of the day, Narita was no match for the lethal sleeper maintain/PK combo. An incredible return match for Shibata. The Wrestler is again! I’m excited to see what the long run holds for each of those males this 12 months.
Imp: Eeeeee! Feelings! I simply sat again and soaked this in. What a particular second. Shibata could slowly ease again into wrestling, but when this seems to be it my coronary heart is full.
The Wrestler didn’t simply return from harm, he defeated loss of life itself. The very fact he’s not simply standing in a wrestling ring but additionally competing in a Tokyo Dome match… it’s completely unbelievable to see.
5
NEVER Openweight Championship
Tomohiro Ishii vs EVIL
Imp: From an emotional second I’ll really keep in mind ceaselessly, to an EVIL match with Dick Togo at ringside. Brace for that warmth, brother! Interference, distraction, cheeky weapons and all. Shenanigans galore as Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO and YOH all jumped in for his or her say.
EVIL tried to capitalise on all of it, however an Ishii on the Dome simply pops proper again up. All our fears coming true as Home Of Torture ran pure HEAT and nothing else. Mate, at the very least open a window for some air. The entire affair felt stuffy because the room crammed with blokes interfering, swinging weapons and punching dicks.
Hey let’s not kink disgrace, however this actually isn’t my factor.
Jeremy: Welp, this match was what all of us anticipated. Ref bumps, Home of Torture interference, Garrote wires, and low blows. YOH tried to even the percentages however couldn’t maintain off 3 males by himself. EVIL is now a double NEVER champion and I NEVER wish to see him wrestle once more. That is simply one of many worst matches in Wrestle Kingdom historical past.
6
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Crew Championship
Harmful Tekkers vs YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto
Jeremy: The Tokyo Dome curse continues and we have now new Tag Champs in Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. This match was hard-hitting and filled with a number of callbacks from their World Tag League match. Harmful Tekkers scrambled and hit a whole lot of their massive signature strikes. Nevertheless, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI have been only one step forward of the Tekkers. In direction of the tip of the match, ZSJ was laid out permitting Taichi to be overwhelmed by the Chaos boys.
Imp: The 12 months of YH lastly kicks into fruition!
An pleasing trip of sudden affect and close to falls as each groups simply stored discovering methods to remain within the match. The sheer variety of tag group strikes our CHAOS boys pulled out was significantly spectacular, solely matched by the champions kicking out of all of them.
Nicely, all however one. Ultimately the wear and tear and tear left the champions down and out, with no different selection than to tip their cap to the higher males after the match.
7
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship
El Desperado vs Hiromu Takahashi
Imp: WHITE & GOLD SEXY DESPY!
Bloody hell, the tempo of this match was unbelievable. Lightning from the off because the Junior model virtually whiplashed us into life. Each males charged and dove at one another with no regard for his or her private security, earlier than getting again into the ring to cost at that very same tempo as soon as once more.
A mad 15 minute sprint and I completely liked it.
Story smart I like the distinction of Hiromu in his profession ambition for greatness towards a champion who has stood tall within the face of greatness roughly thrust upon him. Despy retaining was an amazing shock, however it makes all of the sense on the planet as he really takes on the duty as a frontrunner of the Junior Division.
Jeremy: Wow, what a banger this was! From the opening bell, these two labored at a breakneck tempo. Each males unloaded massive bombs early. Despy lands a stupendous flip suicide dive and Hiromu solutions again with a sundown bomb. The final time these two confronted off they went to a 30 minute draw. Though that they had double that restrict on this evening each males needed to finish this rapidly.
Desperado who sometimes wrestled a extra methodical tempo didn’t decelerate one second. He let Hiromu set the tempo and he matched and surpassed it. Two Pinche Locos later and Desperado retains. He lastly defeats Hiromu on a giant stage. This win will assist elevate Desperado’s Star energy and create a brand new high attraction for the junior division.
8
MAIN EVENT
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Shingo Takagi vs Kazuchika Okada
Jeremy: Night time 1 concludes with an epic conflict for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. This was a standard NJPW Most important Occasion masterpiece.
The match began with a deliberate feeling out course of. Each males calculated every transfer with a view to acquire a bonus. Okada focused Shingo’s head whereas Shingo focused Okada’s again. Okada tried to make use of the Cash Clip earlier on, which is the transfer he used to defeat Shingo in G1 30. Nevertheless, Shingo was ready and had each counter prepared for the Cash Clip.
Shingo’s brute energy was on show all by the bout. The Dragon continued the work on the again with a devastation Loss of life Vally Driver on the lengthy Wrestle Kingdom ramp. Shingi unleashed a number of lariat variations together with a Pumping Bomber that caught Okada proper within the face!
There have been so many nice sequences, reversals, and callbacks on this match. In the course of the closing stretch, Shingo fought his hardest to keep away from the Rainmaker Clothesline. Victory was in his grasps as he obtained Okada up for The Final of the Dragon. However Okada would escape and finally drill the champion with the Rainmaker.
This was a completely unbelievable match! Put up-match Okada says goodbye to V4 IWGP Heavyweight Title and at last accepts the World Heavyweight Title. Now we’re all set for an additional nice fundamental tomorrow as Okada will defend towards Will Ospreay.
Imp: Massive match Kazu cometh for The Dragon! The champion with an entrance befitting a remaining boss, the rumbling thunder booming beneath such an amazing massive time contact.
The impediment to beat for Okada being that he’d by no means hit The Rainmaker on Takagi, resulting in audible gasps out from the gang because the champion dodged and threw his personal. This was something however Okada merely returning to his rightful throne forward of Night time 2, a Pumping Bomber lariat to the attention positive despatched that message.
Yeah, now enter a forearm alternate contest with the champion. Each single time Okada went to swing his lariat, there was Shingo with a solution to the query. The variety of instances Chris Charlton gasped on commentary in response to a Takagi counter with a, “Jesus!”
Yet one more superb Kazuchika Okada Wrestle Kingdom fundamental occasion. That man’s the reward that retains on giving and we do all of it once more tomorrow!
And that brings us to the tip of the Night time 1 Evaluate! What did you make of the primary evening of Wrestle Kingdom Tokyo Dome motion? Remark under and we’ll you’ll want to pop our heads in. Or hit us up on Twitter @TheDamnImplicat and @JeremyLDonovan. Jeremy and Imp shall be again tomorrow with a assessment of Night time 2 as we make the web drive all the way down to Japan as soon as once more.
