NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: G1 Climax 29, Part 5!
The G1 enters Night 13!
The A Block continues the action!
And the Rainmaker is STILL undefeated! But now, the Cold Skull has another chance to take him down! Will SANADA be the one to end Kazuchika Okada’s streak?
Coverage of the G1 Climax 29 will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Gifs to come courtesy of https://frentique.tumblr.com/
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bad Luck Fale VS KENTA; Fale wins.
- Lance Archer VS Zack Sabre Jr; Sabre wins.
- EVIL VS Will Ospreay; EVIL wins.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Kota Ibushi; Ibushi wins.
- Kazuchika Okada VS SANADA; SANADA wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for another round!
The Rainmaker is STILL unbeaten, even after facing the Killer Elite, Lance Archer. And now he is TRULY the last undefeated man in the G1 Climax as B Block’s Jon Moxley was bamboozled and beaten by the Clown Prince himself, Toru Yano! Kazuchika Okada faces a man he’s never lost to yet in SANADA! Sanada has no chance of making it to the Finals, but perhaps he can use this moment to spoil Okada’s momentum! Will Sanada still check off a future title match by beating Okada once and for all?
Meanwhile, there is a three-way tie for second place between the Ace, the Golden Star and Mr. Takeover! Tanahashi takes on Ibushi in a showdown of role model and follower! Will the Once in a Century Talent’s comeback be halted by the rise of a new ace? And what of Kenta’s run as he looks to stay afloat this close to the end?
Bad Luck Fale w/ Jado & Chase Owens VS KENTA!
Ask and we receive! The Rogue General is the next challenge for #FangRevive in the G1! Kenta wants to stay alive in the round robin, but will the big bad Tongan end all of that here?
The minute Kenta and Fale are face to face, Kenta SLAPS Fale! The bell rings and Fale hoists Kenta up with both hands! Kenta fights out and runs, but his boot only staggers Fale. Kenta tries another, but still nothing. He tries a third time, has to duck Fale’s counter attack, only to get a SMACK from Jado’s kendo stick! Fans boo but the referee just missed that, somehow. Fale grinds Kenta into the mat then drops a heavy elbow! Fale gets mad at fans booing but he just drops more elbows on Kenta. Kenta rolls to ropes but Fale just uses that to stand on him. The referee backs Fale off fast, having seen this before. Fale just comes back to stand on Kenta anyway! Fale lets up at the ref’s count, but Kenta slumps out to get jabs from Jado!
Fale fetches Kenta and stomps him out. Then he rams Kenta into the railing by commentary! Fale goes to the apron and a ring count begins. The count is already past 5 of 20 before Kenta gets to the apron. Kenta is in at 10 of 20 and fans cheer, but Fale drags Kenta up for big clubbing forearms. Fale chokes Kenta into ropes but the ref counts again. Fale lets up at 4, but then he drags Kenta for a cocky cover. TWO, and Fale is upset with the ref. Fale goes back to Kenta but Kenta fires slapping palm strikes! Fale just SLAPS Kenta once and Kenta’s down! Kenta is dazed but Fale scoops him up. Kenta fights out and staggers back. He boots Fale from the corner, then climbs up. Fale staggers into Kenta’s tornado hotshot! Fale staggers away, Kenta climbs and leaps for a flying lariat! It takes Fale down!
Fans cheer as Kenta hurries to the corner. Fale runs in but Kenta dodges! Kenta dropkicks the legs, then whips. Fale reverses but Kenta dropkicks the legs again. Kenta sees Jado and DECKS him! Kenta goes back to Fale for a DDT! Cover, TWO! Kenta keeps his cool and heads to a corner. Fans fire up with him as he springboards for a missile dropkick! Fale only falls into a corner, so Kenta BOOTS him! Kenta runs corner to corner for a helluva boot, then again for the basement dropkick! Fans fire up with Kenta as he climbs up again. Kenta aims, leaps, double stomps! Cover, TWO! Fale survives Kenta’s coup de grace, but Kenta isn’t done there. Kenta slashes the throat and drags Fale up. Kenta tries the fireman’s carry but that’s too much Tongan!
Kenta fires strikes and runs, but into a LARIAT! Fale catches his breath then covers, TWO! Fale grows frustrated but he prepares to finish this. Kenta crawls, but Fale grabs him. Fale pops Kenta up, but Kenta counters to a Triangle Hold! Chase Owens leaves commentary as Kenta wants #GameOver! Jado slips in as Chase distracts the ref! But Kenta stops the kendo, only for Fale to roll him up! Fale wins!!
Winner: Bad Luck Fale, by pinfall; earns 2 points
The Crown Jewel plays dumb as to what happened, but he’s the reason Fale finally gets on the board. Did Bullet Club just kill Kenta’s chances in G1?
Lance Archer VS Zack Sabre Jr!
For the first time, it is Suzuki-Gun’s Killer Elite VS Suzuki-Gun’s Submission Master! But being in the same faction won’t stop either man from doing what they love to do, and that includes Archer decking Young Lions just for fun! But just because #EverybodyDies, does that mean Archer will #JustTapOut?
The bell rings and Archer rushes in, but ZSJ gets clear. ZSJ taunts Archer, and Archer thrusts a big boot, but ZSJ gets clear of that, too. ZSJ keeps egging Archer on, but Archer almost corners him. Archer’s like a bull and ZSJ’s the matador. They circle and tie up, and Archer throws ZSJ into a corner! ZSJ gets out of the corner, but his uppercut is countered to a full nelson! ZSJ slips out but Archer headlocks to wrench to hammerlock, back to headlock! Archer wrenches again to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls but Archer blocks with strength to wrangle ZSJ to the mat. ZSJ slips out and rolls and bridges to spin and reverse the armlock! He spins all around but that sweep doesn’t work on such a tall and powerful opponent. The two fight with arms and legs, and ZSJ manages to get Archer down, only for Archer to kip up and wring ZSJ out!
Fans cheer as ZSJ is shocked by Archer’s agility! Archer taunts ZSJ now, but ZSJ gives it back in shoulder and chest bumps. Archer laughs until ZSJ throws European Uppercuts. They don’t do anything, but Archer’s CHOP floors ZSJ! Archer soaks up the cheers as ZSJ slowly gets up. ZSJ fires off more EuroUppers, then runs, but Archer runs him over! Archer drags ZSJ up and scoops for a one armed slam! Archer stomps ZSJ then grinds a boot into him. The ref counts and Archer lets up, to then drag ZSJ in for a standing toehold. ZSJ works his way up and out but Archer kicks and punches him down. Archer drags ZSJ up for another scoop and slam to a drop zone. Archer tells ZSJ fans to “Shut up!” then jumps up! But his spinning splash misses as ZSJ rolls away!
ZSJ runs back in to wheelbarrow and gets the leg! Archer can’t stay up as ZSJ has the kneebar! ZSJ heel hooks but Archer ropebreaks! ZSJ lets go but comes back to kick at the leg. Archer swats ZSJ down but ZSJ comes back and hops on for a sleeper hold, with body scissors! Archer starts fading but then revives to toss ZSJ off! Archer stomps ZSJ then clubs him hard on the back. He drags ZSJ up to toss him out hard! ZSJ crawls as Archer watches from the apron. But ZSJ sees him and runs away. ZSJ gets in the ring and goes at Archer, but Archer catches him with both hands! Archer lifts ZSJ up but ZSJ counters to an Iron Octopus through the ropes! The ref counts but ZSJ lets go at 4. To come back for the leg! The ref counts the draping kneebar, but ZSJ lets go.
ZSJ throws more EuroUppers, then runs, but Archer goes perpendicular, only for ZSJ to see it coming! He catches the Derailer pounce into a guillotine and body scissors! Archer gets up fast and rams ZSJ into buckles! Archer is free, but he misses in the corner. ZSJ runs in but gets tossed down with an urenage! Archer drags ZSJ up and over to the corner. Archer climbs and goes Old School! And the extension, but ZSJ trips him up! ZSJ climbs up and wants the arm but Archer knocks him away. ZSJ climbs back up for another guillotine! The ref reprimands him, but Archer stands and pushes ZSJ off. Archer boots ZSJ, then LEAPS for a crossbody! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as ZSJ survives that massive splash!
Archer drags ZSJ up again, choke grips and lifts, but ZSJ headscissors for a Triangle! ZSJ drags Archer down but Archer deadlifts. But ZSJ shifts to a take on Rings of Saturn! Archer reaches with his legs for a ropebreak! ZSJ lets go to kick Archer in the chest! Fans fire up as ZSJ runs, but the PK is caught! Archer pops ZSJ up for a scooping powerbomb! High stack cover, TWO! ZSJ escapes the stack, and dodges the claw! He waistlocks and climbs for another Iron Octopus! But Archer powers out, only for ZSJ to sunset flip! Archer grabs down with his claw, but it gets caught into an armbar! But Archer deadlifts again! ZSJ lets go, arm Pele! Then to the other side! ZSJ runs, but into the BLACK HOLE! Cover, TWO! Somehow, ZSJ survives!
Archer grabs ZSJ but ZSJ avoids the claw! But not that powerful right hand! Then the CHOKE SLAM! Cover, but Archer lets up!? Archer hoists ZSJ up because he wants to end this! Inverted crucifix, but ZSJ slips out to a sleeper and body scissors! Then shift to a crucifix pin! ZSJ WINS!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall; earns 2 points
The Submission Master makes Archer regret not finishing him when he had him! Will ZSJ and the Killer Elite still be able to coexist within Suzuki-Gun?
EVIL VS Will Ospreay!
The King of Darkness is a dark horse to say the least in this round robin. But he must win in order to stay alive! Will Los Ingobernables de Japon take care of business, starting with Evil?
The bell rings and Ospreay hears the fans cheering him on. He fires up as he circles with Evil. They approach and Evil kicks low to headlock. Ospreay spins out to wrench, wristlock and wrench again. Evil endures and goes after the eyes! Evil whips Ospreay but Ospreay ducks and doges to headscissor Evil out of the ring! Then he keeps moving, only to fake Evil out and handspring superhero land! Fans cheer as Ospreay swaggers about. Evil takes his time returning, wanting to see what’s under the ring first. Red Shoes reprimands Evil already as he finds one chair. Evil struggles getting the chair in, since it went and opened on its own, so he tosses it over the top in frustration. Ospreay takes the chair, simply to taunt Evil with it’s clanging. Ospreay fakes throwing the chair, to hand it to Red Shoes. Evil slips in fast, but Ospreay is ready with kicks!
Ospreay whips Evil but Evil reverses. Ospreay holds ropes and boots Evil back. Ospreay bumps Evil, Evil comes back, they each dodge and counter, but Evil double CHOPS Ospready down! Ospreay dodges the senton, only for his standing shooting star to get knees! Evil runs and runs Ospreay over with a big shoulder! Fans are fired up as Evil watches Ospreay get up. Evil clotheslines Ospreay out hard, then goes out to fetch him. Well, him and a few more chairs. Evil stomps the bad shoulder before setting a chair around Ospreay’s head! Red Shoes reprimands Evil but Evil pushes Red Shoes aside, to swing that chair shot home run! Fans cheer as Evil “watches” it go out of the stadium. Evil then takes a seat as he watches Ospreay rise. Evil brings Ospreay back to the ring and fans cheer as he stalks Ospreay to a corner.
Evil clubs Ospreay on the bad shoulder, then elbows the neck. He drags Ospreay up and turns him for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Evil keeps on Ospreay with a chinlock, digging a knee in Ospreay’s back. Ospreay endures and fans build to a rally. Ospreay fights his way up and out, and then CHOPS Evil hard! Evil elbows Ospreay back, then drags him in for a suplex. Ospreay resists but Evil tries again, only for Ospreay to counter with a stunner! Both men are down and Red Shoes checks on them. Ospreay’s okay to continue as he sits up. Evil follows and even stands first. But Ospreay throws hands, knees and a jawbreaker first! Ospreay kicks Evil then whips, but Evil reverses. Ospreay dodges again for BIG flying forearms! Evil gets to a corner, but Ospreay runs in, only to be put on the apron.
Ospreay hits Evil back then springboards in, Pip Pip Cheerio flying forearm! Cover, TWO! Evil survives but Ospreay keeps his cool. Fans rally up as Ospreay takes aim. Robinson Special avoided, and Evil catches the kick to give to Red Shoes, to mule kick Ospreay! Then snap suplex into buckles! Cover, TWO! Evil keeps his cool as he reels Ospreay in. Ospreay resists the German Suplex and elbows back, but Evil shoves him. Evil blocks the boot, ducks the enziguri, but misses his clothesline. Ospreay comes back to uppercut, then sweep the legs. Ospreay runs but Evil follows to get that clothesline! Fans cheer as Evil has the Aerial Assassin down.
Evil drags Ospreay back up to haul him to the top rope. Evil climbs up to join Ospreay but Ospreay resists. Ospreay pries free of the facelock to forearm Evil off the corner. Evil gets back up but Ospreay leaps, only for Evil to get under! Evil uses Red Shoes as a shield, then kicks to suplex Ospreay onto Red Shoes! Red Shoes panics and doesn’t stay a support for Magic Killer! Ospreay slips out, but Evil kicks low. Evil runs but Ospreay ducks, handsprings, enzugiri! Evil rolls out and Ospreay fires up. Ospreay runs, handsprings, GREAT SASUKE SPECIAL! That takes Evil down but Ospreay himself needs time to recover. Ospreay fires up and the fans fire up with him. Ospreay puts Evil back in, then climbs up top. He aims at Evil, but Evil rolls away. So Ospreay decides to go Coast2Coast instead! Cover, TWO!!
Fans fire up again as Ospreay fires up, too. Ospreay drags Evil up and reels him in. Underhooks but Evil fights out. Evil forearms, roaring elbows, and runs, into the dropkick-flip and enziguri! Ospreay runs but Evil goes to the corner to come back with a lariat! Both men are down, but fans rally up. Evil and Ospreay stir, with Evil up first. Ospreay follows and the two throw forearms from the mat. Evil hits Ospreay and eggs Ospreay on. Ospreay hits back, then they stand. Evil hits Ospreay and Ospreay grits his teeth to come back again. Another from Evil, another from Ospreay and the pace quickens! Evil rocks Ospreay and then goes to fireman’s carry. Ospreay elbows and kicks out, but Evil still powers him up! Ospreay slips out, inverted suplex, but Evil escapes! DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Fans cheer as Ospreay survives!
Evil slashes the throat and spins Ospreay around. But Ospreay spins through to sit-out powerbomb!! Cover, TWO!! Evil shocks Ospreay! Ospreay has the fans with him as he HOOK KICKS! Then from the corner, elbow pad off… HIDDEN- Miss! Evil counters and CHOPS, half ‘n’ half but Ospreay gets out to ROUNDHOUSE! Ospreay runs but into Evil’s clothesline! Ospreay stays up but Evil headbutts him down! Evil prepares his own, waits for Ospreay to get back up, SPANISH FLY counters the lariat! Cover, TWO!? Ospreay doesn’t stay down, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO?!? Evil survives again?! The fans are thunderous as Ospreay is stunned!
We reach the halfway point of this 30 minute time limit match, and Ospreay is determined to try again. He slashes the throat, drags Evil up, and underhooks the arms. Ospreay gets Evil up, but Evil wriggles free. Everything denied, Ospreay waistlocks but Evil standing switches to German Suplex! But Ospreay lands on his feet! ROBINSON SPECIAL! Ospreay vows to end this as he drags Evil to a corner. Ospreay springboards from the very top, but Evil catches the Oscutter!! Into a Half ‘n’ Half! And another! Ospreay is dazed, but Evil is fired up! Evil runs, LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives but Evil vows to end him! He hauls Ospreay up, spins him around, EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, Evil wins!!
Winner: EVIL, by pinfall; earns 2 points
Evil keeps his hopes alive, but will he only have to fight even harder to be a finalist?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Kota Ibushi!
It is a rematch of epic proportions! The Ace and the Golden Star met in the finals of the 28th G1 Climax, and it would be the Ace that won it all! But now, Ibushi has a second chance, can he even things with the man he calls a “wrestling god”?
The bell rings fans are thunderous already for these fan favorites! Ibushi and Tanahashi circle a couple times, then tie up. Ibushi waistlocks but Tanahashi standing switches. Ibushi also switches, but then Tanahashi, and repeat. Tanahashi ends up behind Ibushi again but Ibushi counters to a wrench. Tanahashi counters that wrench with a wrench and then a headlock. Ibushi endures but cannot power out as Tanahashi squeezes tight. Ibushi slips out the back and trips Tanahashi, to get a headlock of his own. Tanahashi powers up but can’t power out as Ibushi grinds him down. Tanahashi fights back then powers out, but Ibushi counters the hip toss only for Tanahashi to counter the hip toss, but then Ibushi blocks the next hip toss. So Tanahashi shifts to an arm-drag! But Ibushi headscissor counters! Tanahashi pops out but Ibushi dropkicks him down! Fans cheer as the Golden Star stands tall over the Ace!
Ibushi goes to pick Tanahashi up but Tanahashi trips him to get the leg! Tanahashi wrenches on the toehold but Ibushi endures. Ibushi tries to counter but Tanahashi drops elbows on the leg! Tanahashi shifts for more leverage, but Ibushi endures. Ibushi reaches for ropes but Tanahashi figure fours the legs for a butterfly deathlock! Fans rally both ways as Tanahashi puts more pressure on the knees. Ibushi endures while keeping his shoulders off the mat. Ibushi drags his way backwards, and gets the ropebreak! Tanahashi lets him go, but stomps Ibushi’s legs. Ibushi eggs Tanahashi on so Tanahashi drags him up, only for Ibushi to fire off forearms! Tanahashi kicks the leg out, then grabs it. Ibushi forearms to stop the screw, but Tanahashi fires off forearms and uppercuts! Tanahashi runs, into a kick!
Both men are down, checking their legs. Fans rally up and Ibushi stands first. He brings Tanahashi up, ducks the palm strike to fire off! Roundhouse decks Tanahashi! Standing moonsault! Cover, TWO! Ibushi keeps his cool as he stands again. Tanahashi slowly sits up but Ibushi waistlocks and lifts him. Tanahashi elbows out, blocks the kick to knee the elbow. Ibushi tries again but gets a dropkick to the other leg! Tanahashi runs but he has to catch another kick, so he gives it a Dragon Screw! Ibushi is down and fans rally up again. Tanahashi drags Ibushi by his leg, grounded dragon screw! And then Tanahashi gets both legs, for the Cloverleaf! Ibushi resists the turn, but Tanahashi still gets him over! Ibushi endures and crawls for ropes again, only for Tanahashi to drag him away!
Tanahashi sits down deep! Ibushi continues to endure, and Tanahashi’s grip loosens. Ibushi crawls and gets the ropebreak! Tanahashi lets him go, but stomps those bad legs more. Tanahashi has Ibushi on the apron and drags him up. Ibushi fights back with forearms, but Tanahashi gets his leg through the ropes, for another Dragon Screw! Ibushi falls to the floor, clutching that leg. Fans rally up as Tanahashi goes to the corner. Tanahashi climbs, but Ibushi scrambles to meet him! Springboard Steiner! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi survives Ibushi’s surprise, but Ibushi keeps his focus. Ibushi scoops Tanahashi and aims for a corner, but Tanahashi slips out. Tanahashi aims for the legs, only to get Ibushi’s double stomps!
Fans rally as both men slowly stir. Ibushi is up first and brings Tanahashi back into the scoop. LONG DART! Tanahashi hits buckles face first, but both men are down as Ibushi catches his breath. Ibushi goes after Tanahashi on the apron for a familiar deadlift. SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi still lives, and Ibushi starts to grow frustrated. Fans rally up as Ibushi stands. Ibushi brings Tanahashi up, powerbomb lift but Tanahashi slips out to SLAP! But Ibushi just gets mad. Ibushi CHOPS then fires off on Tanahashi! But Tanahashi doesn’t back down! They start throwing big SLAPPING palm strikes. Tanahashi swats Ibushi, then Ibushi just fires off one after the other! Tanahashi doesn’t flinch, and now both men are throwing slapping haymakers! Tanahashi rocks Ibushi, only to throw more! But Ibushi spins around with a LARIAT!
Both men are down but fans refuse to give up on either. The rally returns, and Ibushi is up to his feet. He drags Tanahashi up, wants the bomb, LAST RIDE! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi will not die! Ibushi is too tired to be frustrated, but he has enough left to be determined. Fans duel and rally as Ibushi vows to break the wrestling god! Wristlocks, but Tanahashi catches Kamigoye into Twist ‘n’ Shout! And then a second! And then Ibushi counters the third, but only for a moment! Tanahashi hits a third Twist ‘n’ Shout! The hat trick is complete, but Tanahashi runs, to SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!! Ibushi survives but Tanahashi fires up! Tanahashi climbs, Ibushi stands, Ace’s High crossbody! And that leads to Tanahashi going back up… for High Fly FLOP!! Ibushi moves out of the way just in time!
Tanahashi clutches his knee from the impact, but Ibushi feeds off the energy in the crowd. Ibushi aims like the King of Strong Style, “YAO!” BOMAYE! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives the borrowed power of the other NJPW Wrestling God! Ibushi hears the halfway mark announcement, but he has his own move. But Tanahashi flips down to victory roll! TWO, ROUNDHOUSE! Tanahashi stays on his feet! Only to get a second ROUNDHOUSE! Now Tanahashi is down, and now Ibushi has the wrists, and now, KAMIGOYE!! Cover, Ibushi wins!!
Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall; earns 2 points
The Golden Star has beaten the Once in a Century Talent!! Ibushi trumps The Ace with both respect and determination. Tanahashi returns that respect, but will even his encouragement be enough for Ibushi to return to the G1 finals?
Kazuchika Okada VS SANADA!
The Rainmaker is THE IWGP Heavyweight Champion that is undefeated in this year’s G1, that is on a streak reaching back to last year’s G1, and has never lost to Cold Skull in the six times they’ve met. But this could be lucky number seven for Sanada. Will Sanada end the streak and punch his ticket to a title match even without the G1 tournament’s grand prize?
The elaborately designed jackets come off and the bell rings. Fans are thunderous again for two more fan favorites. Okada and Sanada take a moment to hear the cheers and chants, and even encourage it. They finally circle and approach. They feel out the grapple, remembering the six times before. Okada gets the waistlock but Sanada the wristlock and switch. Okada wrenches back to wristlock, but Sanada slips through. Sanada wrenches but Okada rolls to get the leg takedown. Okada has the toehold, but Sanada keeps calm. Sanada pries Okada off to an armlock, but Okada works his way up and around. Sanada avoids the cover but Okada facelocks him. They stand and Sanada wrenches but Okada wrenches back. Okada headlocks and grinds Sanada down.
Sanada fights back and powers out, but Okada runs him over! Things speed up, Okada counters the hip toss to a hip toss, but Sanada shoves Okada away. Sanada sweeps the legs to cover, ONE, and roles reverse. The two stand off and fans cheer. Okada backs off to check knee pads and catch his breath. Sanada also backs off to his corner to reset. The two circle and tie up again. Okada pushes Sanada back to the ropes, then as is his way, fakes the chop to pat Sanada’s shoulders. Okada kicks Sanada, snapmares but Sanada handsprings through! Sanada dropkicks but Okada gets clear, only for Sanada to get clear of the senton! Sanada basement dropkicks Okada this time! He looms over Okada now and brings him up for clubbing forearms.
Sanada has Okada in a corner, but whips corner to corner. Okada boots but Sanada blocks, and trips him up. Fans anticipate what’s coming as Sanada ties Okada up! Okada powers out then runs, but into Sanada’s elbow! Cover, ONE! Sanada keeps his cool as he keeps on Okada with a chinlock. Okada endures and works his way back up. Okada fights out but Sanada knees low. Sanada whips but Okada ducks and dodges to back elbow! Fans cheer as Okada evens things up. Okada brings Sanada up now and whips him corner to corner. Okada hits the back elbow, then kicks low to DDT Sanada down! Cover, TWO! Sanada is stinging but he still survives that spiking move. Okada scoops Sanada and slams him, then heads up top. Sanada gets under the leap, but Okada powers Sanada to the top rope, to dropkick him down and out!
Sanada is down in front of commentary as fans cheer and rally. Okada takes his time going out to fetch Sanada, and whips him into the barriers! Then boots him over! Okada drags Sanada up onto the railing, for the draping DDT! Sanada writhes and flails from being spiked again! Okada leaves Sanada behind to get in the ring. Red Shoes sees Sanada is okay to continue, so the ring count begins. Okada rests while the count climbs to 10. Sanada grits his teeth as he sits up and stands. Sanada is up at 14 and in at 15! Fans cheer as Okada goes right at him with a basement dropkick! Okada has a cocky cover but Red Shoes disapproves. Okada smirks when Red Shoes refuses to count, so he just walks around Sanada a moment. He hears the fans rally up for Sanada, so he drags Sanada up. Sanada fights back with body shots, but Okada forearms back.
Sanada swings but misses, Okada hits his uppercut. Okada whips but sees Sanada hold ropes. Okada stops his dropkick, only for Sanada to dropkick his leg out! Both men are down from the damage done in this match, but Sanada stands up first. Sanada throws forearms then whips, but Okada reverses to forearm back. Things speed up and Sanada hurdles to dropkick Okada down! Okada goes out, but Sanada slingshots for the plancha! Fans fire up and Sanada takes a moment to soak it up. Sanada drags Okada up and into the ring, which fans also cheer. Sanada gets in and brings Okada up again. Okada blocks the saido and elbows Sanada off. Sanada kicks but Okada spins him. Okada kicks but Sanada blocks, and trips him up! Raimaker in Paradise! And as fans cheer again, Sanada dropkicks Okada out of Paradise! Cover, TWO!
Sanada keeps his cool as he brings Okada up to a corner. He whips Okada corner to corner, then runs in, but Okada dodges. Okada comes back in but gets an elbow. Sanada moonsaults but Okada gets under, to flapjack Sanada on the return! Both men are down again but fans cheer them on. Okada sits up first but Sanada follows. They stand and Okada boots Sanada. Sanad goes to kick but Okada blocks, so Sanada forearms Okada instead. Okada rebounds but misses the dropkick. He dodges the moonsault but not the basement dropkick! Sanada drags Okada up, BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps focus as he works on getting his arms moving. He drags Okada up for a fireman’s carry. Okada slips out but Sanada elbows him away.
Sanada whips Okada but Okada reverses. Sanada tumbles out and jumps up, but Okada is there to catch him! Into the Alabama, for the Air Raid neckbreaker! Okada drags Sanada up again for a scoop and slam. Then he goes up top, and fans know what he’s after. Okada leaps, the Macho Elbow hits hard! And now, Rainmaker Pose! Okada stalks Sanada, drags him up and reels him out, but Sanada dodges to Shiranui into Skull End! Okada fights out with big haymakers, then climbs the corner for the gut wrench! TOMBSTONE! Rainmaker Pose 2! Okada drags Sanada up again, wristlock ripcord, but Sanada ducks! Suplex and hanging MAGIC KILLER! Both men are down from all the damage, and the fans are thunderously dueling!
Okada and Sanada stir, and Okada hurries after Sanada. He brings Sanada around, and throws a forearm. Sanada grits his teeth as he gives it back. Okada shakes out some cobwebs before throwing another. Sanada has to shake his own cobwebs before giving it back. Okada hits again, but Sanada still returns. They go back and forth and start picking up speed. Sanada staggers and Okada brings him around for another. Okada eggs Sanada on with a flurry of words! Sanada gives that forearm back, but just uses his icy stare to egg Okada on. Sanada hits Okada again, but Okada dares him to keep trying. The brawl continues back and forth, fast and furious! EuroUpper from Okada only fires Sanada up! Sanada gives a EuroUpper of his own and it staggers Okada!
Okada comes back with another EuroUpper, but Sanada gives him an even stronger one! Okada won’t fall, but Red Shoes is concerned. Sanada wants another, so he brings Okada back up, for that third EuroUpper! But Okada spins Sanada around for the dropkick! Okada whips, and hits another dropkick! He keeps going, wristlock ripcord, but Sanada dodges again! Sanada Shiranuis, but into the Tombstone position! But Sanada flails and gets out to the dragon sleeper! Sanada has Okada in Skull End phase 1, then waits until Okada fades, for a TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Sanada was so close and yet so far! But he vows to end it all now! Sanada fireman’s carries Okada to the TKO! Cover, TWO!? Okada barely survives, but this only encourages Sanada to MOONSAULT!
Okada dodges and Sanada lands on his feet! Sanada staggers but comes running back in. Okada boots him, then runs out, only for Sanada to dodge and moonsault again! He catches Okada into the dragon sleeper! Drop down, but Okada rolls through to point-blank Rainmaker! But Okada knows that’s not good enough for this seventh time around! He brings Sanada up for another point-blank Rainmaker! And then another Rainmaker Pose, for the wristlock and STOLEN RAINMAKER!! Sanada counters the lariat with a lariat! And now, dragon sleeper, SWINGING Skull End! Body scissors, too! Okada flails and reaches but they’re in the middle of the ring! Sanada holds on tight as Okada tries to roll around. The time is closing in, but Okada pops out of the sleeper!
Okada reaches but Sanada reels him back in! Okada fights off the arms and scrambles with his legs! Sanada holds on desperately, and ditches the scissors for the sleeper! Then he drops back down, further from the ropes! Okada is stuck back in Skull End, but he refuses to give up! Red Shoes asks him if he’s giving up, and Okada starts fading. Okada grabs at Red Shoes to do anything but tap! Okada pops out and bridges back, TWO!! SKULL END AGAIN! The third time, and Okada is running out of time!! Red Shoes asks Okada if he’s still in this, but Okada is fading fast! Okada keeps a spark of life going, but Sanada lets him go, to climb up and MOONSAULT! ONTO KNEES! Okada saves himself at the last second! But this could also be the last seconds of his streak!
Osaka is at a fever pitch for both men as they slowly stir. Okada is dazed as he looks for Sanada. Sanada finds him first, and we have ONE MINUTE left! Dragon sleeper, but arm-drag! Dropkick! Okada roars as he drags Sanada up, wristlock reel- POP UP CUTTER!! Thirty seconds as Sanada MOONSAULTS Okada’s back! But then another to the front! Cover, Sanada wins!!
Winner: SANADA, by pinfall; earns 2 points
With 13 seconds to spare, the Cold Skull finally defeats Okada! Sanada ruins the streak while pinning the IWGP Heavyweight Champion! We will hear from the shocking winner after the break!
NJPW returns as Sanada is given the mic.
Osaka is thunderous as Sanada finds the energy to speak. “I did it. I finally won against my rival.” It’s been a while since Sanada’s closed a show, are the fans okay with that? They cheer in approval, and we get a spotlight! Fans have the lights on their phones as Sanada says, “To tell you the truth… Last year, in this building here in Osaka, I lost to my rival, Okada.” He hated Osaka for that. But that all changes tonight. Osaka is now his number one favorite place in ALL of Japan! Osaka is happy to hear that! “Hey, Osaka. See you next time!”
NJPW Media Backstage Interview
Sanada asks, “There are people watching who couldn’t come to the arena, right?” That thing he did at the end is his gift to the TV audience. And with that, Cold Skull moves on having just gotten the biggest win of this entire tournament. When and where will Sanada get his shot at the championship?
My Thoughts:
WHOA, what a night! Just when I thought it was a shame AXS TV couldn’t get us other big matches, we actually got the biggest one of all. And it was after some really good matches on their own. Bullet Club keeps up the usual antics, and it pays off this time in screwing Kenta out of second place. Kenta will have plenty of things to do after the G1, so him going against Bullet Club would be interesting to see. Suzuki-Gun VS Suzuki-Gun was great, and it was great for ZSJ to get the surprise pinfall off Archer instead of a submission, the expected finish from the Submission Master. And then going into Night 15, Evil wins to keep his chances alive before facing Okada. Ospreay’s story is clearly that he’s still not quite at that level yet, even with two more rounds to go, but he could still finish strong to give himself hope.
The final two matches were the truly incredible action of tonight. Tanahashi VS Ibushi this year was on par, if not better than their G1 Climax finals match from last year. And it means so much for Ibushi to win here tonight, he is certainly going to reach the top of NJPW within the next year. He might even win G1 Climax 30 next year if things keep going this way. And it keeps Ibushi alive in a clear 2nd place behind Okada before they face off on Night 17, the final round. But of course, the biggest thing yet, Sanada finally gets on the board against Okada! For Sanada, it doesn’t even matter what happens with Okada and the G1 Finals, he has a match in his back pocket, and their eighth match will surely be even more amazing than this one.
As for Okada, he can still be a champion that wins the tournament, but I feel like that would only negate the importance of Sanada’s win here. If anything, Okada loses to B Block’s finalist, who could still very well be Jon Moxley. And that way, we still have a possible Champion VS Champion match at Wrestle Kingdom 14. The real question might, and perhaps should, become: Will it be Okada or Sanada with the title by then? There’s always intrigue on Mr. G1 Climax making it to the end of the year with the contract, since it can be defended like a title, but perhaps the pressure should be put on the IWGP Heavyweight Champion to make it to meeting Mox. Either way, there’s a lot of great potential going on here, and that’s always good for wrestling.
My Score: 9.5/10
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NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: Power Struggle 2019 Part 2!
Even more gold is on the line!
The struggle for power and glory continues!
As the Super Junior Tag League wraps up, Will Ospreay defends his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship! Will Black Mask Bushi strike gold?
Coverage of Power Struggle 2019 will be as broadcast by AXS TV
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI VS Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi; Ibushi & Tanahashi win.
- Super Junior Tag League Finals: Roppongi 3K VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado; Roppongi 3K wins the 2019 Super Jr. Tag League.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA VS Tomohiro Ishii; KENTA wins and retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS BUSHI; Ospreay wins and retains the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for Power Struggle’s second act!
Titles and tournaments are all on the line! After ruining the run in the tournament for the Birds of Prey, the Jet Black Death Mask wants his shot at Will Ospreay’s title! The Aerial Assassin will let Bushi be his third defense, but hopes to fly high to close out 2019! At the same time, the Openweight Division brings the Stone Pitbull back within reach of the Fang Revived. Tomohiro Ishii wants to take a bite out of Kenta for both payback in that Bullet Club betrayal and in taking back the NEVER Openweight title for a sixth time! But first, the Super Jr. Tag League finals see an epic rematch of Suzuki-Gun’s Kanemaru and Desperado and Chaos’ Roppongi 3K! Who will prove themselves the best in their division as we continue on the homestretch to Wrestle Kingdom?
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI VS Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi!
Hold on! The Rainmaker and Golden Star aren’t going to just sit back and wait for Wrestle Kingdom 14’s epic IWGP Heavyweight Championship match! They each find a strong ally to join them in a tag team tune-up match! Will Okada and the Headhunter be trumped by Ibushi and The Ace?
NJPW on AXS jumps right in as Tanahashi has Hashi in the Cloverleaf! Tanahashi sits deep but Okada runs in to fight him off. Ibushi chases but runs into a gut wrench! Ibushi turns it around but Okada fights out. Tanahashi grabs Okada and helps Ibushi lift, but Okada slips out to double dropkick the down! Okada tells Yoshi-Hashi to finish this off! Hashi runs to AX BOMBER Tanahashi! Then he brings him up, fisherman scoop, KUMAGOROSHI! Cover, Okada anchors Ibushi, TWO!?! The Ace survives the Bear Cutter?! Hashi won’t stop now, he brings Tanahashi up, pump handle and half nelson, but gets TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The spinning neckbreaker takes Hashi down and Tana fires up, to run into a CHOP! Hashi SUPERKICKS, whips, but Tanahashi reverses to a SLINGBLADE!
Okada and Ibushi are still fighting outside as Tanahashi goes up top. Tanahashi aims, HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Tanahashi and Ibushi win!
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi, Tanahashi pinning
The champion and challenger were too busy with each other in the background, but the Once in a Century Talent gets it done! But with neither Ibushi or Okada in on the ending, who really has momentum going into their monumental main event?
But wait, the lights go down. And on the titantron, it’s someone beating up Tanahashi cosplayers. Who is this mysterious mugger? It’s CHRIS JERICHO!! The Painmaker gives Tanahashi a warning. “Wait and see what I do to you, January 5th in the Tokyo Dome!” Jericho VS Tanahashi, “It’s going to be a classic match.” And Tanahashi’s last! “Sayonara.” Y2J VS The Ace?! What an amazing match! Tanahashi grabs a mic to respond. “JERICHO! Good news! Next year, January 5th in the Tokyo Dome… I’m available.” And it’s official! Tanahashi is ready for that match, but will he be feeling the Judas Effect in the New Year?
Super Junior Tag League Finals: Roppongi 3K VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado!
Former Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions meet once again, and are once again ready to prove which duo is better. But even before getting in the ring, the Suzuki-Gun goons go right after Sho and Yoh from behind! Kanemaru and Desperado beat RPG3K down, and while Desperado beats Sho down, Kanemaru brings Yoh to ringside. Desperado gives Sho a back suplex on the ramp! Yoh is whipped into barriers, and both men writhe in pain. Kanemaru stomps Yoh down but the referee reprimands him and Desperado. Team Suzuki-Gun put Yoh in the ring while leaving Sho for dead. The bell rings and this match finally begins.
Kanemaru stomps Yoh then drags him into an open corner. He whips Yoh corner to corner but Yoh dodges! Yoh dropkicks Desperado but Kanemaru kicks low. Kanemaru whips but Yoh dodges and hits back with flying forearms! Fans fire up behind Yoh, and he blocks a kick from each man! Double dragon screws send Team Suzuki-Gun down! Desperado bails out so Yoh goes after Kanemaru. Sho is in view, crawling his way down the ramp, but Yoh throws hands on Kanemaru. Kanemaru boots back but Yoh dumps him out! Yoh PESCADO! Fans fire up with Yoh again as he stomps Kanemaru down more. Sho is getting closer as Yoh puts Kanemaru in the ring. Yoh drags Kanemaru up to throw forearms. Sho wills himself towards the ring as Yoh stomps away on Kanemaru. Yoh wrenches and whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Kanemaru puts Yoh on the apron.
Yoh forearms back but Desperado anchors a foot! Kanemaru boots Yoh down! Desperado brings Yoh up to whip into railing! Kanemaru keeps on Yoh while Desperado sees Sho. Kanemaru whips Yoh into railing, and with Yoh hanging over the edge, Kanemaru hops up to drop a guillotine leg drop! Yoh flops over and Desperado whips Sho hard into railing on the other end! Sho is writhing and screaming as the referee starts a ring count. Desperado mocks the RPG3K fans while hearing the ring count. Yoh hurries, he’s at ringside at 18, but in at 19.5! Kanemaru stomps and grinds Yoh down with his boot, but lets up at 3. He drags Yoh up to feed to Desperado’s boots. Desperado tags in now and “wonders” where Sho is right now. He drags Yoh up for a big scoop slam, but Sho finally makes it to the RPG3K corner. Desperado taunts Sho while grinding Yoh down.
Desperado sucker punches Sho! But Yoh fires back with haymakers! Desperado knees low and whips him into the Suzuki-Gun corner. Kanemaru tags in, scoop slams Yoh fast, then drags him up for a suplex! Cover, TWO! Yoh is barely hanging in as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Desperado tags back in. He drags Yoh up, but Yoh suplexes Desperado! Both men are down and fans are rallying up. Kanemaru runs in to boot Sho down! And then whip him into railings again! Yoh can’t do anything to save his friend, and then Kanemaru drags him down. Desperado stands on Yoh as Kanemaru dropkicks him! Desperado covers, TWO!! Fans cheer as RPG3K lives. Desperado drags Yoh up and tags Kanemaru. Team Suzuki-Gun mug Yoh then double whip. Yoh ducks, sends Desperado at Kanemaru, catches Kanemaru and kicks Desperado, DDT Complete Shot combo! Fans fire up and Sho is back on the apron! Sho and fans rally, Yoh crawls over, hot tag to Sho!
Sho fires off forearms on Kanemaru then whips. Kanemaru reverses but Sho reverses back to kick, kick and SUPERKICK! Sho hits Desperado down for good measure before going back to Kanemaru. Sho dead lifts Kanemaru in a waistlock! But Kanemaru elbows free! Kanemaru kicks and runs, but Sho runs him over! Sho grits his teeth to get through the back pain. He brings Kanemaru up to throw big forearms then whips, but Kanemaru reverses. Kanemaru grabs the ref to distract as Desperado gets a CHAIR SHOT in! Sho goes down hard and Kanemaru laughs as he tags Desperado back in. SPEAR takes Sho down! Desperado drags Sho up, Kanemaru dropkick-starts the side slam! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives but Desperado is right on the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER! Kanemaru whips Yoh into railing again as Sho suffers! Desperado keeps him from the ropes and just goes after that leg with ferocity!
But something is happening in the background! Someone goes crashing into more equipment, and as Sho goes for ropes, Kanemaru SPITS WHISKEY! The ref missed it! Yoh gets back in, but Kanemaru intercepts! Sho endures as Desperado also has an arm! Yoh powers up to barrel Kanemaru into them! Sho is freed but the damage is done. Desperado vows to end it as Yoh gets sent into more barriers. Desperado underhooks but Sho breaks out to use that super strength to back drop Desperado! Desperado comes back with stomps and a CHOP. He runs, but Yoh is back, RPG3K KNEES! Yoh drags Desperado up, suplex to Sho for the Canadian rack. Kanemaru trips Yoh and Desperado knocks Sho down! Desperado suplexes, Sho slips out and waistlocks! Desperado flails desperately, but Sho is just too strong!! German Suplex hits!!
Sho fires up and the fans do, too! Sho drags Desperado up again, powerbomb lift, pop-up BACKBREAKER! Sho crawls to the cover, but Kanemaru breaks it! Kanemaru stomps away on Sho then clubs him down. Kanemaru whips and corner clotheslines to then throw Sho down. Kanemaru hops up, Sho stands, but he gets clear! Yoh returns, Kanemaru turns around into 3K!! Fans are thunderous as Yoh fires back up. Desperado is alone as Yoh stomps it out. Fans rally and Desperado flounders over. But Desperado denies a 3K for him, kicking and throwing hands! He throws Sho into Yoh! But Sho blocks the clothesline, only for his clothesline to feed into an inverted half-nelson gutwrench! Spin-out Powerbomb!! Cover, TWO!?! Sho survives!? Desperado is furious! He drags Sho up again, underhooks, but Sho resists! Sho fights against Pinche Loco so Desperado knees low.
Sho fires back with forearm from all sides! But Desperado rakes eyes and ROCKS Sho with that right! Desperado runs, into Sho’s LARIAT! Sho powers up and Yoh returns. Sho drags Desperado up, tucks the arms under for double pump handles, but Desperado lands on his feet to headbutt back! But Yoh is back, 3K OUTTA NOWHERE! Cover, ROPPONGI 3K WINS!!
Winners: Roppongi 3K, Sho pinning; 2019 Super Jr Tag League Champions
That’s a THREE-PEAT! And they’re clearly emotional over this amazing and historic victory. They take the trophies, and with a win over the current Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions, they surely have a chance at the titles again! Will the New Year be golden for RPG3K? But speaking of the champions, El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori strike! Bullet Club won’t let Chaos celebrate! Fans boo as Bone Soldier drags Yoh up for ELP to SMASH with the belt! And then they do the same to Sho, with a punch to the balls! Ishimori Electric Chairs Sho and ELP says BANG, a FULL METAL DOOMSDAY! Wrestle Kingdom has their Junior Heavyweight Tag title match, but will Bullet Club put a stamp on their title reign?
NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA VS Tomohiro Ishii!
This all started when it was revealed in treacherous fashion that Mr. Takeover was the newest part of Bullet Club’s arsenal. Bullet Club also helped Kenta take that title off the Stone Pitbull, which only soured the taste in the Pitbull’s mouth. Will Ishii bare his fangs against #FangRevived and get payback for it all?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and tensions already run high on this golden grudge match. Said match will begin after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns with the bell and fans are on Ishii’s side as he and Kenta tie up. They are in a deadlock but Ishii manages to get Kenta to ropes. Kenta turns it around, and SLAPS out of the break! But Ishii slaps back! And they start slapping back and forth! It’s a slap fight! Kenta steps it up to forearms but Ishii responds in kind. They talk trash and throw more forearms. Kenta turns, boots but Ishii rebounds to forearm. Kenta rebounds and boots, Ishii rebounds to forearm again. Ishii runs but Kenta follows to boot. Kenta runs but Ishii runs him over! Fans cheer as Kenta is sent rolling. Ishii toys with Kenta and drags him up to CHOP. And CHOP! Ishii whips but Kenta grabs ropes to bail out, but Ishii is right on him! Ishii puts Kenta in and rains down rights, which the fans like to see!
Kenta slips out to a corner and uses the ropes as a defense. Red Shoes tells Ishii to stay back, but Kenta pokes the eyes! Kenta kicks low and DDT’s Ishii down! Kenta rains down rights of his own then walks it off. Fans rally for Ishii but Kenta stomps him down. Kenta swiftly kicks Ishii in the chest and then the leg and back tot he chest. He boots Ishii to a corner and starts slapping. Ishii just eggs him on! Kenta slaps but Ishii wants more! So Kenta gives more. Ishii slaps back and the slap fight is on again. Kenta SLAPS Ishii down! And then more! Kenta goes corner to corner while Ishii flounders and falls. Kenta drags Ishii up and turns him for a neckbreaker, cover, TWO! Kenta drops knees over and over, then pulls down the knee pad, to hop over and scuff Ishii’s face. Fans boo the Low Sweet as Kenta stomps Ishii more.
Kenta toys with Ishii now, but Ishii just gets annoyed. Kenta kicks him around, but Ishii powers up to throw hands. Kenta knees low then runs, but Ishii stays up after the boot! Ishii dodges another boot and ducks the clothesline, but Kenta fights off the waistlock. Ishii forearms then ducks the clothesline to get Kenta into a suplex! Both men are down and Kenta goes to a corner. Ishii is up and after Kenta with CHOPS! He won’t let Kenta sit down, he stands him up for more CHOPS! And again he makes Kenta stand to take the CHOPS and forearms! Forearm, CHOPS, repeat! Then a whip corner to corner, and Kenta bounces off buckles into a spinning powerslam! Cover, TWO! Ishii keeps his cool as he keeps on Kenta. Ishii waistlocks but Kenta gets to ropes. Red Shoes calls for a ropebreak but Kenta has to elbow Ishii off.
Kenta gives Ishii forearms then eggs him on. Ishii forearms back and we have another back and forth. Ishii says he doesn’t feel Kenta’s shots! Ishii rocks Kenta then runs but into the kitchen sink knee! Kenta made him feel that one. Kenta kicks Ishii while he’s down then stomps him on the apron. Red Shoes reprimands Kenta so he lets up. Kenta brings Ishii up and through the ropes, for kicks to the chest. Then he has him draped, for the DDT! Ishii writhes but Kenta covers, TWO! Kenta is ice cold as he brings Ishii up. Ishii fires forearms again, but Kenta kicks away on the legs! Kenta back kicks then runs corner to corner, a soaring boot! And then corner to corner again, flying basement dropkick! Classic Kenta as he continues up top, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives the coup de grace and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Kenta gives Ishii more swift kicks to the chest. But Ishii powers up again! Ishii just takes the kicks to feed off them! Kenta keeps trying but Ishii bluntly CHOPS Kenta down! Red Shoes reprimands, Ishii needs to watch how high he aims. Ishii goes after Kenta with CHOPS again but those are still up high! Ishii wants these to hurt! Red Shoes has to back Ishii off, but Ishii doesn’t care. Ishii drags Kenta up to hoist him to the top rope. Ishii climbs to join Kenta, and lifts him way up! He even holds him there before the SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Kenta survives but he’s spitting up a little bit of blood. Ishii keeps going, powerbomb lift but Kenta slips out. Ishii ducks Kenta’s back hand and gets a German Suplex! Kenta is up but gets another German! Ishii runs, Sliding D into an armbar! Kenta turns it over for Game Over!
Ishii endures the modified LeBelle Lock as Kenta cranks back! Fans rally but Kenta loses grip. Kenta goes after him again but Ishii refuses to quit. Ishii wriggles around, rolls Kenta over but now he’s in a triangle hold. Kenta then cranks back to get the Game Over again! Ishii endures, unable to see with Kenta’s hands over his eyes. But Ishii feels around with his legs and gets the ropebreak! Kenta lets go in frustration. Kenta backs off as Ishii crawls his way up the ropes. Kenta comes back to knee him into ropes! Then runs again, building up speed, but he sees Ishii’s counter attack coming and boots it away. Kenta also ducks the southpaw lariat to GERMAN SUPLEX! Kenta runs to Penalty Kick, but Ishii catches it! Only for Kenta to BOOT him with the free leg!
Both men are down again and fans build to a rally. Kenta aims from a corner, runs at Ishii, PSYCHO KNEE! But Ishii rises!? Kenta ROUNDHOUSES him down! But Ishii sits up again! Fans are firing up as Kenta runs and builds speed, another Psycho Knee! Cover, TWO!?! Ishii still lives and Kenta can’t believe it! Kenta drags Ishii up into the fireman’s carry, but Ishii pops out to a dragon sleeper! Kenta slips around and suplexes but Ishii fights that off. Kenta dodges the clothesline and fires forearms but Ishii spins to LARIAT! The southpaw hits but Ishii rests in the red corner. Kenta gets up to kick and forearm Ishii, then slap away on his head! Ishii stands right up to stare him down. Kenta forearms but Ishii just steps into them! Ishii backs Kenta down with every strike to then DECK Kenta!! That was as loud as it was hard!
Ishii wants Kenta to stand and Kenta slowly rises. Ishii runs in, corner clothesline to a whip to another clothesline. Kenta manages to reverse the whip but still gets a clothesline! Ishii drags Kenta up, lift and powerbomb! High stack, TWO! Ishii sits Kenta up, SLIDING D! Cover, TWO!! Kenta still lives but Ishii is firing up! Ishii drags Kenta back up, suplexes, but Kenta slips out to a sleeper! Ishii powers out, Kenta clotheslines back but Ishii doesn’t budge! Ishii clotheslines back but Kenta stays up. Both men run, Ishii’s clothesline takes out Kenta! Then the suplex, but it’s Kenta’s Falcon Arrow! Kenta is down and too tired to make a cover, but fans are rallying up again. Kenta rises first but Ishii follows. Ishii fires off elbows from all sides, but Kenta LARIATS back! Kenta drags Ishii up, Penalty Kick!
Kenta slashes the throat and fireman’s carries Ishii, for GO- NO! Ishii lands on his feet, suplexes, but Kenta slips out. Both men fight for suplex control, Kenta cradle counters, TWO! They both stand fast and Kenta back hands, but Ishii PELES! Kenta rebounds, Psycho Knee! Both men are down again but fans are still rallying. Both men stand and Kenta boots but Ishii blocks. Kenta gives the right hook then palm strike after palm strike. Ishii gives one back! Ishii runs into the fireman’s carry! GO TO SLEEP!! But Kenta doesn’t want to end it here?! He pulls the knee pads off and drags Ishii back up. Another fireman’s carry, GO TO SLEEP AGAIN!! Cover, Kenta wins!!
Winner: KENTA, by pinfall; still NEVER Openweight Champion
It wasn’t even about needing another, it was about wanting to do damage. The Bullet Club kept their hands clean of this match, and Kenta sends the Stone Pitbull to the back of the line by himself. Will #FangRevived continue to sink his fangs into NJPW?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS BUSHI!
The Aerial Assassin and fellow Bird of Prey, Robbie Eagles, were on a great run in the Super Jr Tag League, but the masked wrestler of Los Ingobernables de Japon didn’t care about any of that. He spat the green mist that screwed Ospreay over and then staked his claim to this match. Will Bushi pay for the mist spray? Or will Ospreay define his reign with another win over another rival?
The introductions are made, but the belt isn’t raised before Ospreay shotgun dropkick blasts Bushi down! Red Shoes hurries to ring the bell as Bushi bails out, and the match officially begins with Ospreay’s PESCADO! Down goes Bushi and Ospreay fires up! Ospreay drags Bushi up, whips him into railing, and Bushi hits hard. Ospreay gets the fans fired up as he drags Bushi up again for big haymakers. Ospreay puts Bushi back in the ring and he drags Bushi up for forearms and CHOPS! Ospreay whips, Bushi holds ropes and boots back, then huricanranas Ospreay out. Bushi slingshots to huricanrana again! Bushi evens things up and catches his breath as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay has made his way to the gap. Red Shoes checks on him but he’s okay to continue. Bushi goes and fetches Ospreay to then whip into railing hard! Ospreay writhes but Bushi is ice cold as he stomps Ospreay down. Bushi puts Ospreay in the ring and finally takes off his shirt, to use it to choke Ospreay! Red Shoes reprimands but Bushi lets up with just one hand at 3. Ospreay gets to ropes so now Red Shoes counts the ropebreak, Bushi lets go at 3. Bushi drags Ospreay up to knock him down! Bushi hooks a leg for the STF! Ospreay endures as Bushi cranks back on the crossface portion of the match. Ospreay powers up but Bushi hooks his face! Ospreay still gets the ropebreak and Bushi lets go reluctantly.
Bushi stomps Ospreay then drags him up, but Ospreay fires forearms back. They brawl with forearms now, and Bushi clubs Ospreay down. Bushi runs into a BIG Pop-Up Flapjack! Ospreay can breathe and recover as Bushi crashes down. Fans rally and duel as Ospreay drags himself up by ropes. Ospreay drags Bushi up for forearms then whips but Bushi reverses. Ospreay dodges, handspring, flying enziguri! Cover, TWO! Ospreay doesn’t stop, he wants the fans to get loud. The fans respond and Ospreay heads to a corner. Ospreay springboards, Pip Pip Cheerio flying forearm! Cover, TWO! Ospreay keeps his cool as he drags Bushi up again. Ospreay reels Bushi in, underhooks and lifts but Bushi resists. So Ospreay kicks away, only for Bushi to catch a leg. Bushi rakes eyes, runs, but into the dropkick-flip and enziguri!
Bushi bails out and fans fire up as Ospreay builds speed! But Bushi gets in to block the Sasuke Special. Bushi drags Ospreay out through the ropes and jumps, BOOSTED draping DDT to the apron! Ospreay hits so hard but both men are down on the outside. Bushi gets up and leaves Ospreay behind in the 20 count. The count passes 10 as Bushi stomps Ospreay, but Bushi does put Ospreay back in at 13. Fans applaud Bushi doing this the right way, and Bushi stomps Ospreay before putting him in a corner. Bushi whips corner to corner then runs in for double knees! He pushes Ospreay down and hops up, missile dropkick sends Ospready down! Bushirooni! Bushi keeps going, fisherman swinging neckbreaker! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay lives and this match continues after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Bushi heads up top. Ospreay rises and Bushi leaps, but Ospreay gets under. Ospreay dodges Bushi in the corner but is hung up on the ropes! Bushi CHOPS then hops up again, to SUPER STEINER! But Ospreay lands on his feet?! Bushi swings into the Half ‘n’ Half! Ospreay fires himself up and the fans follow. Bushi is outside, Ospreay SASUKE SPECIALS! He just manages to hit his target! Ospreay grits his teeth to ignore the pain in his neck as he goes back to Bushi. He puts Bushi in and takes aim from the red corner. Bushi sits up, ROBINSON SPECIAL! The spin kick hits but Ospreay moves through his formula. Ospreay springboards, but Bushi blocks the cutter to shove Ospreay into Red Shoes! Ospreay checks on the ref but he has to continue the match.
Ospreay drags Bushi up, but Bushi wants to spit! Ospreay covers Bushi’s mouth! Then he kisses Bushi!? Because he steals the mist to spray at Bushi!! Bushi flails and Ospreay grins and winks. ROUNDHOUSE rocks Bushi! Red Shoes is reviving and Ospreay shouts for him to hurry. Ospreay springboards, but Bushi uses Red Shoes as a shield to take the OSCUTTER! Ospreay just assassinated the referee! And no one knows what to say! Ospreay looks around but where did Bushi go? He finds him by commentary, and drags him up. Bushi goes to low blow but Ospreay blocks and whips. Bushi reverses it but Ospreay stops himself. Ospreay and Bushi go to the ring, Ospreay gets Bushi with a springboard dropkick! Ospreay heads up top, aims at Bushi, SHOOTING STAR onto knees! And the BLACK MIST RETURNS! Bushi still had some left to use on Ospreay!
Fans rally as Red Shoes is still down. Another ref hurries in to take Red Shoes’ place, just as Bushi hits a DESTROYER! Cover, TWO!?! Ospreay lives and Bushi can’t believe it! But Bushi just heads up top again. He waits for Ospreay to stand, and leaps into a roundhouse! Both men are down again but a Young Lion gets Ospreay water. Ospreay splashes his eyes clean and then aims from a corner. HOOK KICK! Then the armband comes off, HIDDEN- NO! Bushi ducks the back hand, runs at Ospreay but his monkey flip is blocked! So Bushi springs up to SPIKE-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay escapes and blocks a kick, ducks the enziguri but not the rewind mule kick! Bushi runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Now Bushi survives but Ospreay is not done yet! Ospreay slashes the throat, drags Bushi up and underhooks, but Bushi slips out to backslide! And bridge! TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Ospreay pops Bushi up, but gets a CODE BREAKER! Bushi vows to end it and he goes up top again. Ospreay rises, Bushi leaps, MX!! Cover, TWO?!? Ospreay survives Bushi’s modified Code Breaker!? We pass 15 minutes as Bushi heads back to the corner. He’s up again, but leaps into a CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but Ospreay takes aim from the corner. HIDDEN BLADE! Ospreay isn’t done with Bushi yet, he hops up the buckles, SUPER OSCUTTER! But he holds on?! And rolls Bushi around, underhooks, STORM BREAKER! Cover, Ospreay wins!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall; still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
A third defense on this run but Ospreay has run the table in 2019! Best of the Super Juniors, Super J Cup, Super Jr Tag League, what more is there for Ospreay to do? Perhaps we’ll hear from Ospreay after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay has the mic.
He wants to know, “Are you having fun?” Ospreay wonders if there’s anyone else who wants a shot at Ospreay. He beat Shingo Takagi, El Phantasmo, Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero, Sho and Yoh, Amazing Red, Bushi, and even his pal, Robbie Eagles. “God damn, I’ve beaten everyone.” Who is left in NJPW to challenge him!? Anyone from anywhere! This is your chance!! Ospreay hears fans wanting Hiromu but “he ain’t here.” So then, until someone steps up, “get a look, Osaka. Forever, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Thank you very much.” The Aerial Assassin heads out but the lights go down! “TIME BOMB will blow up soon.” The Time Bomb is coming back?! The countdown says 62 days, but then the screen changes. That’s not Daryl but a very similar cat on screen. And he lights the fuse. A new countdown begins!
3, 2, 1! BOOM! Hiromu Takahashi IS BACK!! He and his cats head to the ring! But before he gets in, he makes sure the cats are under careful watch at commentary. Hiromu then has a ball running himself into the railing! And then up the ramp to take a tumble! “This is it!” This is what Hiromu has been missing. This is what Hiromu has been wanting! Ospreay puts the belt on the mat to welcome Hiromu back! Fans cannot believe what they’re seeing as Ospreay dares Hiromu to get in the ring. Hiromu hops up onto the apron, and walks into the ring, to get up on the ropes and soak up the adulation! But then he does turn his attention to Ospreay as he gets himself the mic. “I am Hiromu Takahashi!” And he thanks them all so much for waiting. “Now that I’m back, we’re gonna have even more, more, MORE fun in NJPW! You can rest assured of that.”
But surely they’re a bit worried, right? “Can he really do it?” “He just came back, isn’t he being a little cocky?” “He’s just gonna change his style anyway.” Heh. Hiromu grins as he says “Who besides me would challenge a beast like him!?” Fans agree, “Nobody, that’s who!” So just watch and see. Hiromu jumps and hits the mat with his back! Then runs into buckles and throws himself around, showing that he can still be as reckless as ever! He may be physically alright, but he still might not be mentally all there… But fans still support him as he bridges up. “Mic please.” Ospreay gets Hiromu the mic. “Congratulations, Will Ospreay. Now, you are the most strongest Junior Heavyweight wrestler.”
But then Hiromu sits up to say, “But Hiromu is back!” And he challenges Ospreay, for Wrestle Kingdom! If you didn’t do the math on that countdown, that’s where it was all headed. And then he licks the title…? Ospreay grins, one of his favorite rivals has returned. And even gives him a hug. And as Hiromu makes his way out, he has one more thing to say to Ospreay: “Thank you meow.” Will Ospreay remain the most dominant Junior Heavyweight when he finally gets a rematch against the most chaotic?
My Thoughts:
I did not realize this was going to be TWO HOURS when I started putting this together. But what a great two hours it was! We got the bonus tag match of Okada & Yoshi-Hashi VS Ibushi & Tanahashi. Looking at that match, it was obvious Hashi was taking the pin. And it was very smart to give the pinfall to Tanahashi. This way, Okada and Ibushi stay even because neither is gaining momentum off a finish. Then Jericho calling Tanahashi out, that is an instant classic right there. With two months to go, I really wonder if Jericho is still AEW World Champion by then. Much like how ROH didn’t let Jeff Cobb be world champion during the G1 to lose and make them look bad, I’m not sure AEW wants their top champion to look bad losing a non-title match. Even with Tanahashi being a great staple of NJWP, pretty sure Y2J won’t be Le Champeon by then.
The Super Jr Tag League finals were great! RPG3K and the Kanemaru-Desperado combo make for great rivals, and what a great achievement for RPG3K to be triple tag league winners. That is an amazing thing for those two. I still remember their excursion to ROH as the Tempura Boys, and those boys have grown so much since then. I would be really surprised and perhaps disappointed if they didn’t beat Bullet Club for those tag titles at Wrestle Kingdom. That would be big, and I think the Junior Tag Division could use something like that. The NEVER Openweight Championship was another great and stiff match for Ishii and Kenta, and that’s great. It was also telling that Kenta didn’t need to cheat. He is being allowed to be as strong as he deserves to be, so that’s a plus.
And then we get a double dose of greatness out of the main event. The match itself was incredible, so much story went into Ospreay VS Bushi. I love that black mist spot, I have never seen someone steal the mist like that! Ospreay winning makes a lot of sense, he has just been on a tear. Plus, it was the perfect set up for him to count his wins in 2019 and that cues the shocking and totally amazing return of Hiromu Freakin’ Takahashi! It is so great to see him again, to know he’s back in wrestling shape, and to get one more Ospreay VS Hiromu match at Wrestle Kingdom. As it stands, there is no predicting who wins. Ospreay has amazing momentum, but Hiromu never truly lost the title since he went out with injury. Either way, their match will be “even more, more, MORE fun,” as Hiromu put it, than everything up to this point.
My Score: 9.1/10
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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NJPW AXS TV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: Power Struggle 2019 Part 1!
Does Hirooki Goto Breath with The Switchblade?
Is the Cutthroat Era rising again?
With everyone chasing the same goal of becoming a dual champion, Jay White has a head start as THE IWGP Intercontinental Champion! But does Hirooki Goto end that tonight?
Coverage of Power Struggle 2019 will be as broadcast on AXS TV.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Jay White VS Hirooki Goto; White wins and retains the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for Power Struggle’s beginning!
The freshly minted IWGP Intercontinental Champion looks to hijack Tetsuya Naito’s destiny by becoming the first dual champion in NJPW first. However, for The Switchblade to usher in the new era, he must get through the Fierce Warrior of Chaos! The 2019 record between them is tied, so this tiebreaker is golden! Who leaves Osaka leading the race towards history?
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Jay White VS Hirooki Goto!
There’s no point in delaying the inevitable! Does White’s journey to history begin now? Or does Goto deny it outright?
Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this tiebreaker on the road to destiny begins after the break.
NJPW on AXS returns and fans rally up for Goto already. White and Goto circle, but then White slips out of the ring. The classic strategy is in effect already, and Goto demands White gets in. White takes his time returning, and circles with Goto to actually tie up. Goto puts White on the ropes but lets up, only for White to pie face and slip away again. White wants Goto to stay back and the ref keeps Goto in the ring. White gets up and in again, dodges a clothesline and headlocks. Goto powers out, but White grabs ropes and slips out a third time. White laughs until Goto gives chase. They go into the ring, White runs but Goto is ready and they bump shoulders. Neither budges so White tries again. Still nothing, so he tries a third time. White bumps Goto, Goto staggers back, but White gets out of the ring before Goto can return.
Goto gives chase again but White slips back in the ring. White stomps Goto as he slides back in then fires off clubbing forearms. White runs but Goto runs him over! Fans cheer this bit of karma on White. But White puts Goto in a corner to CHOP! Goto turns it around to fire off furious forearms! The ref backs Goto off but Goto throws White into buckles! Goto drags White up and snapmares him to a swift kick to the back! White scrambles but Goto drags him back for another kick! White writhes and Goto brings him up for ropes. Goto whips, White holds ropes again but he boots this time. Goto clotheslines White out anyway! Goto goes out but Gedo gets a cheap shot in! The ref reprimands Gedo but Goto glares at the traitor. White attacks from behind but the forearms barely do a thing. Goto DECKS White with a right!
Goto tells the ref to keep Gedo back, which he does. But this all distracts Goto from seeing White pick up a chair! White JAMS the chair into Goto’s back! White tucks the chair back under the ring and then plays innocent. The ref wants them to get this back in the ring, but White brings Goto up to RAM into railing! And again! The ref reprimands White but he just takes Goto around the way. White says hi to Katsuyori Shibata on Japanese commentary, before snap suplexing Goto into the railing! Shibata stands and the ref has to keep him at bay now. White hurries off into the ring to rest, and the ring count begins. The count climbs to 5, then 10 of 20. Goto stirs at 11 and crawls at 14. Goto rises at 17 and hops in at 18! But White is on that battered back with knee drop after knee drop!
White grabs a leg and turns Goto over for a Half Crab! Goto endures as White sits down deep. Fans rally up while Gedo taunts Goto. Goto powers up and crawls, reaches, and gets the ropebreak! But White holds on until the count of 4! Goto winces but White keeps the ref’s attention. Gedo yanks the blue corner’s buckle pad in the distraction! White whips Goto that way, and Goto hits bare buckles hard! Goto goes down, White covers, TWO! The Fierce Warrior won’t fall so easily, and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS is back and White is back on Goto with a chinlock. White digs his knee into Goto’s back, but Goto endures. Goto works his way up to his feet and fights back with body shots. White clubs Goto’s back to then throw him down by his hair! White drags Goto up but Goto blocks the suplex. Goto hits back with body shots again, but now White blocks the suplex. White clubs Goto’s back over and over, and over and over! But Goto fires up! Only for White to rake his eyes, and throw him down by his hair again! White soaks up the heat but Osaka rallies for Goto. White drags Goto up, dodges Goto’s retaliation and rocks him with a right. Goto stays on his feet, and dares White to hit him harder! White throws a BIG right forearm, but Goto still wants more! White throws another, and starts growing annoyed with Goto’s fighting spirit.
White throws forearm after forearm after forearm after forearm after forearm, but none of them slow Goto down! So White just keeps throwing more, and then adds European Uppercuts! Goto comes back with ONE BIG forearm and floors White! Goto whips White but White reverses, but Goto blocks the hip toss to give a hip toss! Osaka comes alive for Goto ash e runs at White. But White catches and EXPLODER SUPLEXES Goto out of the ring! The ref checks on Goto after he crashes and burns, but White adds on by whipping Goto. Goto reverses to send White into railing! Goto clotheslines White over! White is down in the gap but Goto goes after him. Goto drags White back to ringside, to whip into railing on the far side! White writhes but Goto won’t stop, he whips White back the other way! White falls to his knees but Goto drags him up to put into the ring.
Fans rally up as Goto catches his breath. Goto runs in, windmill kick in the corner! SAIDO SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! White survives but Goto is not deterred. Goto drags White up again but White clamps onto a leg. Goto clubs White then drags him up into a fireman’s carry. But White rakes eyes! White gets to the apron and holds onto the ref as he “apologizes.” Goto staggers over, White shoves the ref at Goto! Goto pushes the ref out of the way but White hotshots Goto! White slides in, DDT drops Goto! White watches Goto crawl while also getting himself to a corner. White runs corner to corner, BIG EuroUpper! Fireman’s carry, Death Valley DDT! Cover, TWO! White is frustrated but Osaka rallies up again.
White gives toying kicks and slaps to Goto, and then brings Goto up. Goto blocks the suplex and suplexes back, but his back holds him back. Goto still resists White’s suplex, spins out, but White forearms away! White whips but Goto reverses to reel White in, but White dodges to CHOP! White runs but Goto follows, White dodges to run again but Goto still follows. White dodges again, but Goto keeps going, only for White to follow now. Goto dodges now, only to run into a Complete Shot! DEAD LIFT GERMAN! White grits his teeth, but Goto is up to German Suplex him back! Goto keeps moving, LARIAT! Both men are down as we go to break!
NJPW on AXS returns as White drags Goto up. Goto elbows out of the sleeper, but White forearms him in the lower back. White grabs Goto again but Goto standing switches to throw White down by his hair, across Goto’s knee! Turnabout’s fair play! White and Goto crawl to opposite ends. Gedo is on White’s side but Osaka is on Goto’s. Goto runs in but misses in the corner, snap saido from White! White staggers and drags Goto over at the 20 minute mark. White hoists Goto up top and throws a forearm. White climbs to join Goto, but Goto resists the superplex with body shots. Goto headbutts White a few times, then drags White in. Goto stands up but White claws at his face! White clubs away on Goto, positions himself on the very top, SUPERPLEX! White rises fast and drags Goto up, but Goto gets him into the fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI!
Both men are down, but Osaka is rallying up again. Goto drags White up and into the dragon sleeper, but White drops to snapmare free. White clubs away on Goto, Goto fireman’s carries to the dragon sleeper! But White fights out with wild hands, only for Goto to suplex him up! White fights free, but swings into the dragon sleeper! White slips out, but Goto denies Blade Runner by pulling hair! Goto powers White down into position, headbutts away, but Gedo distracts the ref! LOW BLOW UPPERCUT! White sneaks it in and Osaka boos! Gedo backs off and White drags Goto up into the sleeper hold, SLEEPER SUPLEX! But White isn’t done there, he drags Goto up, only for Goto to HEADBUTT! And now, Goto drags White up, reels him in, fireman’s carry, but White elbows free. So Goto headbutts again! Goto has White up, for Reverse GTR!
But Goto is not done! He drags White up, suplexes, SHOTENKAI! Cover, TWO!? White survives and shocks Goto, but does not discourage him. Goto drags himself up as Osaka rallies again. Gedo distracts but gets DECKED! Goto has to catch his breath, but he fires up as he focuses his power. White ducks the kick, but walks into a fireman’s carry. White slips out again, has Goto in a dragon sleeper but flips him around, in position, but still no Blade Runner as Goto slips out! Goto has dragon sleeper, but White slips out, spins Goto around, SLEEPER SUPLEX! But Goto is up!? BUZZSAW! Fireman’s carry, G T W!! The fusion of Ushigoroshi and GTR! Cover, TWO!?! White survives?! But that only fires Goto up more! Dragon sleeper, TRUE GTR!! Cover, but Gedo YANKS the referee out!! Goto had this won and Gedo knew it!
Gedo laughs as he gets in the ring. He stalks Goto, but here comes SHIBATA! Shibata may not be an active competitor, but he can be an enforcer! Shibata gets rid of Gedo and tells Goto to finish this! Then he puts Gedo in a sleeper! Goto drags White up, but KENTA attacks!! The Bullet Club’s Fang Revived strikes while there’s no authority! He drags Goto up, fireman’s carry, GO TO SLEEP! Then he BOOTS Shibata on the way out! Fans boo but Bullet Club gets away with more shenanigans! The referee returns, and Kenta whips Shibata into railing! And then fires off vicious kicks! White drags Goto up despite being dead weight, for BLADE RUNNER! Cover, White wins!!
Winner: Jay White, by pinfall; still IWGP Intercontinental Champion
Or rather, Bullet Club won this match. Shibata risked a lot getting involved and paid for it at the hands of Kenta. White benefits the most by keeping his half of history going. Will White fight his way from here to another chance at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship? We will hear from The Switchblade after the break.
NJPW returns as Jay White speaks.
“Osaka~…!” The fans boo as White says he’ll keep this short. “I did what I said I was going to do, and Goto is done. Finished! Career over!” White promised this would happen. Goto lived up to be the embarrassment he always was. But White is the one who “single-handedly” sold out Madison Square Garden! White is the Last Rock ‘n’ Rolla, “and that’s rrrreeal!” White is still your IWGP Intercontinental Champion! “But wait, there’s more!” White again vows to be the first-ever dual Intercontinental AND Heavyweight Champion! And not the first night of Wrestle Kingdom, no, no. He vows to be on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 to go right up against the winner of Kota Ibushi VS Kazuchika Okada! Which means Ibushi and Okada should “come on down!”
White waits, and wonders where the top two guys have gone. But wait, it isn’t Ibushi or Okada that comes out, it’s NAITO! Fans cheer as Tetsuya Naito walks to the ring. White thinks Naito is here to congratulate White on winning tonight and soon becoming the first-ever- Naito stops White right there by snatching the mic. Naito says, “Holding the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight titles at the same time. The first man to accomplish this tremendous feat… Will be me.” So sorry about this, but Naito will need the Intercontinental Championship back. White understands what Naito’s up to and wants the mic back. But Naito isn’t giving it over. And now Ibushi heads out! The G1 Climax 29 winner, the Right to Challenge holder, and yet another man who declared himself the future historic dual champion, enters the ring!
Ibushi takes the mic to tell Naito and Jay that it’s been a while since he’s been in the ring with them. And Ibushi agrees about the double champion. Last January, Ibushi choose NJPW, “looking to change my life.” But there is someone out there who doesn’t agree with them. That is OKADA! Ibushi and Naito wait, but White “begs” Okada as an “old friend from Chaos” to appear. Well maybe Gedo should ask, he’s an older friend than White. Gedo doesn’t want to. But even so, Okada does appear! The Rainmaker makes his way to the ring, joining the three men who want his title as part of their mission. Okada gets on the mic to ask, “What did you say?” Ibushi wants to be a double champion, Naito wants to be a double champion and White wants to be a double champion. “What the hell are you thinking!?”
Okada holds up his belt, because he is proud to fight for THE IWGP title! THE title in NJPW! An IWGP Heavyweight Championship match, or a double title match? Okada repeats this question. Fans like the former, and aren’t so sure about the latter. So Okada asks again! IWGP Heayvweight Championship match? YAY~! Double Title Match? Boo~! Well, that’s still more than Okada expected. “So, on the subject of the Tokyo Dome… Naito, there was an election recently, wasn’t there?” Should they let the people vote for what they want to see? Naito considers it, and there’s a bit of a stand off. White takes up the mic and says, “That’s enough. All of you **** off, I want my confetti, this is my night!” Okada takes his leave, as does Ibushi. White refuses to accept Naito’s challenge. Naito reluctantly leaves and White says he wants to be announced as both the Intercontinental and soon to be FIRST-EVER DOUBLE CHAMPION! And then get the confetti!
But Naito stops on stage as Gedo explains to the ring announcer. The announcer does as White says, and White gets his confetti. Naito watches on, still aiming for his part of history. However, will that poll Okada mentioned go a way White doesn’t want? Is there going to be an even more historic match on the horizon?
My Thoughts:
A pretty good episode to start NJPW Power Struggle on AXS, though perhaps not the most exciting. Osaka wasn’t as loud as I would’ve expected, but as the usual order of AXS encores, the last part is usually first just to get the vies and ratings. Osaka might’ve been tired from action earlier in the night, but at the same time, the usual pace of a Goto and/or White match isn’t usually what excites. The story was all there, though. White is good at trolling and playing the long game, but things did liven up for the fans as the match reached the end. However, White beating Goto because of Bullet Club should’ve been obvious. It’s good ol’ fashioned Heel tactics, but perhaps too typical. Shibata getting involved was surprising, too. Is this them testing the waters to see if he’s getting better? It would be quite the amazing moment in wrestling if he came back from the head injury that took him out.
What was really intriguing was White being confronted by Naito but also getting the two men he wanted in Ibushi and Okada. Wrestle Kingdom 14 being two nights this year, there’s a chance we get both Naito VS White for the Intercontinental and Ibushi VS Okada for the Heavyweight title, and then each winner moves on to night two for THE historic match. Okada trying to get Osaka to respond to his question clearly took a couple times to get fans to respond, but I was really surprised NJPW fans weren’t as enthusiastic about a double championship match. I almost thought there’d be a Fatal 4 Way Winner Takes All, but NJPW doesn’t like matches that are more than 1v1 like that. The two separate title matches leading to the dual champion match is more likely, and would make for a good reason as to why WK14 is a two day event.
My Score: 8.3/10
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
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SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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