“This is the WrestleMania of Japan,” said Jim Ross at the start of the English language broadcast of Wrestle Kingdom 9. Comparing one company’s biggest annual show to another’s may not be the best idea, opening up a number of undesirable comparisons to sports entertainment in this case, but it does create a useful shorthand and make an immediate impact on people watching New Japan for the first time.
Yes, Wrestle Kingdom 9. This is the first time I’ve
reviewed a New Japan show (their co-productions with Ring of Honor last year
were enjoyable but weren’t full NJPW cards). I thought it would be a good one
to start with for a number of reasons. Firstly it had English language
commentary provided by Jim Ross and Matt Striker, which set it up as a natural
jump-on point for anyone who doesn’t speak Japanese. Secondly it was the
company’s biggest show of the year, which meant a nice recap of recent plots
and what will likely be amongst the most important matches I the company all
year. Plus it simply looked like a good show.
After a pre-show Royal Rumble rules battle royal, won by
Yuji Nagata, the show proper got underway with a four-way tag team match. The
IWGP junior tag team champions reDRagon defended against The Young Bucks,
Forever Hooligans, and Time Splitters. As Kushida and Alex Shelley made their
way to the ring JR discussed Kushida’s 6-0-2 MMA record. His would be a theme
throughout the show (it made a nice substitute for the college football natter
he’s more known for).
It took a while to turn into the spot-fest it was
destined to be but when it got there it was very enjoyable. Highlights included
Shelley super kicking O'Reilly as he leapt off the apron; the Bucks performing
a series of dives onto everyone else; Kushida hitting a Swanton onto the three
other teams; the Bucks throwing out kicks and JR using the words “super kick
party”; a Meltzer driver on Koslov, broken up by Fish and O'Reilly; a double
handspring elbow to reDRagon from Kushida; a Bucks buckle bomb; an assisted DDT
into a German suplex from reDRagon; and the match-ending exploder and Chasing
the Dragon on Koslov. It was the ideal opener, fast paced and action-packed.
Match number two saw Jeff Jarrett, Yujiro Takahashi and
Bad Luck Fale take on Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tomoaki Honma. The
Bullet Club lads had Karen Jarrett (I approve) and Scott D'Amore (I do not
approve) at ringside with them.
It was not the best match, but it wasn't meant to be. It
was a nice concoction of heel shenanigans and hot tags. Being a Jarrett match
this naturally included the use of a flimsy stunt guitar. The introduction of
that prop ended up backfiring on him when he accidentally smashed it over
Takahashi's head, leading to Honma getting a top rope headbutt on Takahashi for
the win.
Sticking with tag action, the third match on the show was
an eight man tag bout pitting Toru Yano and NOAH's Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls (collectively known as The
Mighty Don't Kneel) and GHC heavyweight champion Naomichi Marufuji against
Takahashi Iizuka, Shelton Benjamin (who has reinvented himself as the totally different Shelton X Benjamin in
NJPW) and Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr (collectively known as Killer
Elite Squad).
Yano and Iizuka started with some comedy but it didn't
last long. TMDK and KES soon got into the ring to provide some swift, enjoyable
tag action and make sure the match passed muster. That was followed by a
spirited but sloppy in places exchange between Iizuka and Marufuji. Benjamin
provided the spot of the match with his vault-to-the-top-rope belly-to-belly
suplex on Marufuji. The GHC champ won the match for his team after all the
Suzukigun members bar Iizuka disappeared, leaving their partner to take a
double gorilla press and a tiger uppercut knee lift. The match was short enough
to stop the eight outstaying their welcome but long enough for them to make it
an enjoyable watch.
Match four saw Kazushi Sakuraba pitted against Minoru
Suzuki in a match JR informed us had been a lifetime in the making. Both men had
been taught to wrestle by British shooter Billy Robinson, with Suzuki having
also received training from the equally formidable Karl Gotch (that guy JBL
references every other pay-per-view). It was talked up as a shoot match. It
wasn’t a shoot, but it was super stiff.
The pair brawled out onto the entrance ramp within
minutes of the opening bell. There Sakuraba applied a kimura to his foe. He
ended up breaking when he was told he had to get into the ring to earn a
victory. Not that Suzuki had tapped out.
When they returned to the ring Suzuki was clutching his
arm. He took a barrel-load of kicks and survived an armbar before they exchanged
slaps and he managed to apply a rear naked choke. Sakuraba passed out in that. Suzuki
won via referee stoppage. After the match Sakuraba offered a handshake. Suzuki
accepted after a Dramatic Pause™.
That slobberknocker (which, amazingly, Ross had to be
prompted to say) was followed by another. NEVER openweight champion Tomohiro
Ishii defended against Togi Makabe. The early going was characterised by
elbows, clotheslines, power slams, chops, forearms, and no-selling. Lots of
no-selling. It wasn’t in danger of being overly flashy but both men put such
force and ferocity into their performances that even the basic moves they were
running through seemed devastating.
The second wrestling move of the match was a northern
lights suplex from Makabe. Ishii followed up with a lariat to a cornered
Makabe, a stalling suplex from the second rope, and a power bomb. Makabe kicked
out and floored the champ with a lariat, then dropped him with a power bomb
before hauling him back to his feet for a German suplex.
They returned to the corner, where Makabe hit a ropey
fire carry off the top rope. Ishii kicked out, no sold some lariats, fell to a Makabe
lariat, and kicked out at one. Back on his feet he gave 'The Unchained Gorilla'
a German suplex, but Makabe rolled to his feet... where he was dropped by an lariat
from ‘The Stone Pitbull’.
More clotheslines followed. Makabe got a near fall off a
dragon suplex. They traded more forearms, then headbutts, and then double arm
sledge shots. Makabe ended it with a knee drop from the top rope. By what
Striker said it was something of an upset as Ishii is the more popular of the
two and has been on a hot streak. Perhaps it was done to get the title off him
to free him up for bigger and better things later in the year?
After a lengthy bit of shilling for future shows (which
could have been boring but was presented in such an energetic fashion that it
wasn't) we were treated to the IWGP junior heavyweight title match. Ryusuke
Taguchi, former Apollo 55 tag team partner of Prince Devitt, defended against 'The
Cleaner' Kenny Omega. Yes, 'The Cleaner'. JR said Omega reminded him of Brian Pillman.
His new entrance gear gave him a look that reminded me of Rhett Titus and Cliff
Compton, with Razor Ramon's toothpick thrown in for good measure.
The match had a great opening stretch, being heavy on
lightning counter sequences. Omega took control when he sprayed Taguchi in the
face with what could have been anything from spray paint to hair spray (judging
by Omega’s hair it could have been black tinted hair spray). The challenger controlled
the match for several minutes before Taguchi came back with some topes that
wiped out both Omega and The Young Bucks, who were acting as heel cornermen.
Taguchi tried for Eddie Guerrero’s Three Amigos but Omega
halted it after one. He hit the champion with a Fameasser and then a drop kick
as Taguchi went for a cross body block from the top. A power bomb earned him a
two count. Power bomb by omega.
Taguchi hit a Chickenwing facebuster, which used to form
the basis of Apollo 55’s Black Hole Vacation. That got him two. Sensing their
man was in trouble the Bucks tried to distract the champion but ended up
getting knocked off the apron. Left alone without any Bullet Club assistance
Omega seized the initiative, delivering a German suplex and a knee to the
temple on Taguchi. He then pulled him to his feet and gave him an electric
chair driver, the One Winged Angel, taking the victory and the championship and
ending a great match.
The gold kept coming as IWGP tag champs Karl
Anderson and Doc Gallows, representing Bullet Club, defended against Hirooki
Goto and Katsuyori Shibata, collectively known as Meiyu Tag. What followed was
a lively bout with plenty of strikes, traditional tag psychology, and power
moves. Shibata and Goto worked well together, overcoming the power, dirty
tactics and experience of the Bullet Club to capture the titles off a double
team alarm clock and a PK on Gallows.
Tetsuya Naito and AJ Styles were up after that. Worth
noting is that Ross and Striker discussed the controversial nature of the
Styles Clash as AJ walked to the ring. In case you’ve missed the hubbub around,
Styles has legitimately broken the necks of Lionheart and Yoshi Tatsu after
they instinctively tucked their chins when taking the move, instead of tilting
their head back. It was a clever move to get the discussion in as it reminded
everyone how dangerous the move and made Styles appear heelish for continuing
to use it.
It's a good job they mentioned it during the entrance
because Styles went for the move as soon as Naito was in the ring, kicking the
match off with a bang. Naito fought him off and they brawled to the outside, AJ
taking a drop kick from the apron and sprawling into the guardrail. Back in the
ring he turned the tables and worked over Naito’s leg, softening him up for the
Calf Killer. After a couple of minutes Naito got a little bit of hope when he
hit Styles with a tornado DDT, a drop kick to the back of the head, and a
senton splash. He couldn’t keep control of the match though, Styles soon
regained the advantage, fighting out of a top rope hurricanrana and smashing
Naito with a springboard forearm.
Naito tried a suplex. Styles countered into a neck
breaker. Naito took a German suplex and then got a flash rollup for a two
count. He smacked Styles with a series of chops then set him up for the
Stardust Press but Styles made a quick recovery and trapped him in the Calf
Killer. After a lengthy bit of time trapped in the hold Naito gallantly made it
to the ropes, but it was clear the damage had been done. He managed to hit 'The
Phenomenal Ome' with a Uranage and a dragon suplex but quickly found himself
blasted with a Pele kick and Prince Devitt's Bloody Sunday.
Then Styles tried a Styles Clash again. Naito escaped,
back dropping Styles over the top rope to the floor. When he returned to the
ring he was met with a drop kick and propped up on the top rope for a
hurricanrana. That would be Naito’s undoing: Styles halted the move halfway
through, turning it into a Styles Clash from the second rope for the victory.
It was a good match, constructed and wrestled so well that Naito wasn't
weakened by the loss, but that Styles was strengthened by the win.
After that we got, astonishingly, the first video package
of the night. It showed us Kota Ibushi and Shinsuke Nakamura talking to the
camera, interspersed with shots of them competing. The most noteworthy part
(for someone who didn't understand the promos) was that Ibushi snuck up on
Nakamura during an in-ring promo and gave him a German suplex. That was
presumably the way of setting the match up, Ibushi sending a message to
Nakamura that he wasn’t intimidated by his status and wanted a chance to
compete for the IWGP Intercontinental title.
Ibushi entered in a T-shirt. Nak entered wearing a
humorously long cape and a crown. The match began with a feeling out process
that Ibushi got the better of. He couldn't maintain control though. Nak turned
things around with a variety of knee strikes and stomps. Ibushi would get a few
shots in at points but Nakamura always fired back with a strike that would
floor him.
That changed when Ibushi got Nak outside the ring and hit
him with a top rope moonsault. Back in the ring he followed up with a
springboard drop kick, a wild knee to the face and a standing shooting star
press. Nakamura wheeled out his one legged drop kick and a flapjack suplex.
Ibushi came back with a top rope hurricanrana. That didn't get him a win. Nor
did a standing corkscrew moonsault.
A roundhouse kick floored Nakamura, putting him out long
enough for Ibushi to hit a sit out power bomb. Nak kicked out and avoided a
phoenix splash, connecting with a Boma Ye to the back of the head and firing
himself up with a prolonged series of kicks on Ibushi before punching him in
the face. Ibushi tried to come back with a lariat but Nak turned it into an
armbar. When Ibushi escaped he gave the champ an inverted exploder suplex
before kneeing him with his own Boma Ye, complete with Nakamura-esque pose
beforehand.
A series of strikes followed, Ibushi getting the final
word with a double stomp to a running Nakamura. A German suplex from the apron
into the ring earned Ibushi a two count. ‘The King of Strong Style’ came back
with half a dozen elbows to the back of ibushi's head, connected with his
second Boma Ye, a fireman's carry driver, and a third Boma Ye for the victory.
After the match Nakamura and Ibushi did a little fist bump. It was another
cracker of a match that elevated both men and told a compelling story: Ibushi
got closer and closer to beating Nak as the match progressed, only losing at
the last minute after Nak fired himself up and hit a series of moves. It was
clear that Ibushi could have won if
things had just been a little different. For me this was the match of the
night.
Finally we came to the main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi defending
the IWGP heavyweight championship against Kazuchika Okada. It was only the
second match on the card to get a video package. It focused on Tanahashi's
history in New Japan, specifically how popular and successful he is, and
Okada's G1 Climax win, which earned him the title match, and his previous
matches opposite Tanahashi, before giving way to comments from both men. During
the entrances JR and Striker put over the importance of the match. Tanahashi
was the biggest name in the company, the man who'd helped rebuild it over a
course of years, with more world title reigns and Tokyo Dome main events than
anyone else. Okada was one of the fastest rising stars ever, the man being
built as the future of the company. They had had five previous matches, with
Okada winning three and Tanahashi winning two. It was presented as a match that
could turn Okada into 'The Man' if he won.
They wrestled at a steady pace, so as not to burn
themselves out across the half hour they were allotted.
They expertly built up to a frenzied and incredibly
enjoyable final five minutes. Tanahashi kicked out of a Rainmaker before the
two traded forearms on their way back to their feet. Okada grabbed Tanahashi
for a Tombstone but the champ rolled through and straddled him for an attempted
pin. Tana laid into Okada with slaps before Okada ducked one and school boyed
him for a two count.
Tanahashi ducked a Rainmaker and got a straightjacket
suplex for another two count. Okada escaped a dragon suplex and hit a German
suplex. He held on as Tanahashi kicked out and tried to give him another
Rainmaker but Tanahashi ducked and hit a German suplex of his own. Okada kicked
out and nailed the champion with his much-ballyhooed drop kick. Another
Rainmaker attempt failed and ‘The Ace of the Universe’ was able to twist Okada
with a pair of nasty dragon screw leg whips in the ropes.
This left Okada propped up against the ropes, allowing
the champion to leap to the top rope and hit him with a High Fly Flow. A seated
Okada was hit with a second, and then a third as he lay on the mat staring up
at the ceiling. It was too much for him to kick out of. Tanahashi got the win
and retained his championship.
It was a top notch main event that ended a top notch
show. Following the match Tanahashi took a microphone to tell Okada he’s a long
way from being the ace of New Japan and that he was proud to still be champion.
Because Tanahashi’s character is basically that of late 90s Rob Van Dam: a guy
who knows he’s the best and isn’t shy about saying so. Then he gave a short
promo and played air guitar to send people home happy. Lovely stuff.
I’d watched New Japan matches in isolation before but
this was the first card I watched start to finish. I’m pleased I did. There
were no bad performances across the entire show, each match being given exactly
enough time as it needed to fulfil its role. Every wrestler seemed motivated
and keen to put on the best show possible. There were two early match of the
year contenders (Nakamura v Ibushi and Tanahashi v Okada) and some gems on the
undercard (Makabe v Ishii and Omega v Taguchi). In an ideal world New Japan
would sort out some English language commentary for their top four or five
shows this year, but with or without it I’ll definitely be watching more from
the promotion.
***
Results summary:
reDRagon def The Young Bucks, Time Splitters and Forever
Hooligans
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tomoaki Honma def
Jeff Jarrett, Bad Luck Fale and Yujiro Takahashi
Toru Yano, Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste and Mikey
Nicholls def Shelton Benjamin, Takashi Iizuka, Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith
Jr
Minoru Suzuki def Kazushi Sakuraba
Togi Makabe def Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER openweight
championship
Kenny Omega def Rysuke Taguchi for the IWGP junior
heavyweight championship
Meiyu Tag def Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows for the IWGP
heavyweight tag team championship
AJ Styles def Tetsuya Naito
Shinsuke Nakamura def Kota Ibushi
Hiroshi Tanahashi def Kazuchika Okada
No comments:
Post a Comment