Kevin Kelley introduces us to the Ryogoku Sumo Arena and informs us that tonight, there are 6 titles on the line. Steve Corino says to everyone in New Japan, “Thank you for having me.”
Bad Luck Fale and Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club) vs. Juice Robinson and Ryusuke Taguchi
The Bullet Club is out first, followed by Juice Robinson (CJ Parker from NXT) and the “Funky Weapon” Ryusuke Taguchi. As Taguchi bends backwards to pose for the crowd, Takahachi kicks him before the bell. Takahashi with a boot to Taguchi, both men hit the ropes, Taguchi hits 3 flying hip blocks, but Takahashi gets up and catches Taguchi with a DDT. Taguchi gets up, nails an enziguri, and tags in Robinson.
Robinson run into Fale twice with shoulder blocks, but cannot knock the big man off his feet, a boot off the ropes finally staggers Fale to the corner. Robinson with strikes to Takahashi, the fans chant, “Juice!” Fale throws both Robinson and Taguchi to the outside, then throws the referee into the ropes. Takahashi throws Robinson back in the ring, Fale grabs him by the throat, tosses him in the air, and punches him in the chest, knocking Robinson to the mat, pin attempt, but Taguchi breaks it up.
3 stomps by Taguchi, 2 running hip blocks, goes for a 3rd, but Takahashi trips him and pulls him to the outside. Fale gets Robinson in a fireman’s carry, Robinson wiggles out, hits a back elbow, but Fale spears him dead in the middle of the ring. Fale picks him up for the Bad Luck Fall, as Takahashi holds back Taguchi, Fale covers Robinson for the 1-2-3.
Winners: Bad Luck Fale and Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club) (3:43)
Kelly says, “It’s good to have you back Corino, from the longest suspension in pro wrestling history, 6 months.” Corino says, “Yeah, but now that we’re here in New Japan, I can do what I like, and that’s sitting next to you, here on commentary.”
Kazushi Sakuraba, Toru Yano and Yoshi-Hashi (Chaos) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata (Six-man tag team match)
Corino tells us the faces have 81 years of combined experience, Liger himself is 51 years old. Liger and Yano start it off, Liger goes after Yano, but Yano ducks into the ropes and yells, comes back in, ducks back out again, and yells again to pump up the crowd. Liger off the ropes, but Yano hits an atomic drop, Liger off the ropes again, connects with the clothesline, and this thing has broken down, as all 6 men brawl on the outside.
Yano takes off the turnbuckle, Irish whips Liger into the exposed turnbuckle, clubbing forearms to the back, tags in Sakuraba, submission attempt, but Kojima in to break it up. Yano tags in Yoshi-Hashi, knife edge chop, picks him up, drapes him across the ropes while Yano holds on, Yoshi-Hashi hits the ropes, and delivers a dropkick to the back of Liger. Yoshi-Hashi climbs to the top turnbuckle, Liger throws him off, punch to the gut, Liger goes for the tag, but Yano comes in to stop it. Finally, Liger takes them all out and gets the hot tag to Kojima. Sakuraba goes for a kick, gets caught, enziguri by Kojima. Kojima delivers about 25 chops to Sakuraba, throws him to the corner, Sakuraba puts on the brakes, but Nagata hits him with the running elbow, the crowd is behind Kojima.
Front facelock, Yoshi-Hashi tags in Nagata, they exchange forearms, Nagata hits a Texas neckbreaker, 3 kicks to the chest of Yoshi-Hashi, sends him into the corner, boot to the face, Yano comes in and hits him in the back, but gets met with an enziguri. Sakuraba comes in and then Nagata leaps over the ropes and takes out all the 3 men. Nagata comes off the ropes, misses into a clothesline, Yano gets out of the way and points to his head “smart move”, but receives an enziguri by Nagata to the back of the head.
Yoshi-Hashi with a reversal, Nagata in the corner, Yoshi-shots to Nagata, and then a swinging neckbreaker, pin attempt, kickout. Nagata hits a backdrop suplex on Yoshi-Hashi, 1-2-3, and this one is over.
Winners: Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata (7:06)
The faces celebrate and make their way to the back.
Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii (Chaos) vs. Bushi and Evil (Los Ingobernables de Japón)
Los Ingobernables are out first, then Chaos. Goto and Bushi circle to start, but Evil comes in and smashes Goto from behind, Bushi and Evil tag team Ishii until Goto comes in to assist. Goto and Evil exchange blows, now Ishii in the ring, whips him in, dropkick to the back of the head, Ishii gets up, forearms, trying to fight out but can’t, Evil tags in Bushi. Bushi exchanges chops with Ishii, Ishii knocks Bushi down, Goto connects with a senton, Evil misses with a senton, Ishii crawls for the tag, but Evil cuts off the ring. MW3 says, “I’m surprised to see the crowd is behind Evil.”
Evil send him into the corner, back elbow, but Ishii hits a Saito suplex, and tags in Goto. Goto delivers about 10 forearms to Evil, kick, throws him through the middle rope to the outside, and follows him to the floor. Goto whips Evil into a steel railing, then another steel railing, Bushi comes over with blows to the back, but Goto knocks him out with the forearm, and throws Evil back into the ring. Goto kicks Evil in the upper back, hits a Saito suplex, cover, but Evil kicks out at 2. Evil catches him in a fisherman’s suplex brainbuster. Evil picks him up on the shoulders, and delivers a powerbomb to Goto, Evil with about 10 kicks to the head, but Goto gets up and welcomes them. They trade lariats, then a double clothesline, but Evil got the worst of it.
Tag on both sides, Ishii with a power slam, whips Bushi in the corner, Ishii with a shoulder block, vertical suplex, and near fall. Ishii picks him up for a powerbomb, Bushi fights out of it, Bushi with a kick to the back of the head, a kick to the chest, Irish whip, reversal, Ishii goes in strong, but Bushi flips around the ropes, kick, missile dropkick from the top rope, and does a spin-a-rooni. Bushi with a kick to the leg, a kick to the chest, 1-2, kick out. Whip into the corner, Evil smashes him, then Bushi drops him, whips him into the boot, 1-2, cover, but Ishii kicks out.
Bushi goes for the suplex, Ishii blocks, hits a clothesline, and growls. Ishii hits a powerbomb, stacks him up, but Bushi kicks out at 2. Goto and Evil fight on the outside, Ishii picks him up for a suplex, Bushi gets out, but Ishii hits a clothesline, then Goto comes in and hits a headbutt to Bushi. Evil goes to pick up Bushi into a fireman’s carry, Bushi fights out with a kick, misses, but connects with a kick on the rebound, clothesline, fireman’s carry, back body drop, running lariat by Ishii, stacks him for the pin, 1-2-3.
Winners: Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto (10:36)
After the bell, Evil and Goto get into a slugfest on the floor, and have to be separated by NJPW officials. Ishii and Goto get in the ring to celebrate, but Evil comes back in and goes after both of them, and officials have to separate them again. MW3 points out that David Finley and Jay White are amongst the crowd that is in there to break it up.
Matt Sydal and Ricochet (c) vs. Roppongi Vice (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match)
Baretta and Rocky Romero are out first, then Sydal and Ricochet. Code of Honor is exchanged and they all shake hands. Ricochet and Baretta start it off, collar-and-elbow tie up, Baretta backs him into the corner, does not make the clean break, grabs him into a headlock. They hit the ropes, Baretta with a shoulder block, but Ricochet springs back to his feet, and then meet a forearm from Baretta. Baretta backs him to the corner again, Irish whip, reversal, Baretta goes upside down into the turnbuckle, and then gets an elbow from Ricochet. Ricochet hits the ropes, rolls over the back, and then hits him with the headscissors, dropkick, runs the ropes, back handspring, back flip and poses like Prince Puma and smiles. Baretta up, Sydal knocks him to the outside, goes for a baseball slide, but misses, Baretta and Sydal exchange pin attempts and kickouts.
Tag to Romero, punch, elbow to the gut takes him down, tries to hook a Boston crab but Sydal reaches the ropes. Tags in Baretta, RPGV throws him off the ropes, but Sydal hits a double underhook combo slam on both of them. Sydal tags in Ricochet, full nelson by Baretta, kick to Romero, hooks Baretta, picks up Romero plant him on his face back shoulder block, catches him, flips them, and drops him on his knee. Ricochet hits the ropes with a suicide dive onto Romero, Romero kicks out. Baretta in, gets taken down, Baretta kicks out. Ricochet tags in Sydal, standing moonsaults on Baretta, Sydal with the clubbing forearm to the back, Romero comes in, strike to Sydal, takes out Ricochet, Romero gets kicked by both, runs the ropes, ducks under, double dropkick to both, but they catch Sydal with a running knee, Romero runs to the top, jumps over the rope, and then a running knee to Ricochet, then Baretta turns him inside out, drapes him across the top rope, and Romero comes off the ropes for the double foot to the back of the head. Romero with a baseball slide kick to the head, pin attempt, but Sydal kicks out.
Ricochet tags in, Romero runs into the corner, and then running arm blows to both men in opposite corners, and then Sydal and Ricochet with kicks to Romero, Sydal sunset flip, hooks him, but Romero kicks out. Sydal sets him up, Romero counters, backslide, pin attempt, and Baretta tags in. Ricochet with a suplex, modified vertical drop backbreaker, and then Romero with the DDT on Ricochet. Sydal in, kicks Baretta hard, takes out Romero, Ricochet drives him down for the End of Times, but Baretta kicks out. Romero comes in, Sydal sends him to the ropes, Romero catches himself, then nails the dude buster, but Romero kicks out. Ricochet comes in, trading elbows, European uppercut by Ricochet, kick to the face of Romero, another kick, picks him up in the fireman’s carry, but Romero gets out, and then hit a clothesline that turns Ricochet inside out.
Romero puts Ricochet on the top turnbuckle, delivers open hand palm strikes to the face, goes for the hurricanrana, but Ricochet catches him, pulls him up, Romero connects with the hurricanrana this time, but Ricochet lands on the feet and superkicks him. Baretta comes in, double knee by RPGV, suicide dive by Romero to the outside, almost into the crowd. Roppongi Vice sets him up and connect the Strong Zero on Ricochet, cover, 1-2-3, Romero pins Ricochet.
Winners and 46th NEW IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions: Roppongi Vice (15:48)
Roppongi Vice celebrate in the ring with the belts.
Kushida (c) vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Kushida is sporting a mohawk tonight. The bell rings and we’re off. Kushida runs the ropes, they exchanges mat maneuvers, kick, 2 elbows to the back of the head, whips Kushida into the ropes, atomic drop on Ospreay, down low for the drop kick, but Ospreay springboards to his feet and kicks Kushida in the face. Kelly says, “The pressure must be tough when the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Okada personally endorse as you, brings you into the company, and says oh yeah, by the way, I got you a title match.” European uppercut by Ospreay, throws Kushida, but he holds onto the ropes, Ospreay with the forearm, taking his time.
Ospreay handstands off the ropes, but Kushida kicks the left wrist, Kushida climbs to the top turnbuckle, and then a front flip dive onto Ospreay on the floor. Kushida throws Ospreay back into the ring, goes to work on Ospreay’s left arm, puts his hand to the mat, stands on his elbow, and then steps hard on it, picks up Ospreay, twists the wrist, slams him to the mat, and then locks in an arm lock submission. Ospreay tries to flip out but can’t, Kushida still has the arm lock in, Ospreay tries to kick out again, but Kushida keeps the arm lock synched in. Ospreay almost gets out, connects with the head scissors, but Kushida goes right back into the arm lock, hooks both arms, but Ospreay reaches the ropes.
Ospreay fights out with shots to the ribs, drops Kushida on his chin, handstands off the ropes, but his left-arm collapses and he winces in pain. Kushida goes back to work on the left arm, but Ospreay connects with an enziguri, Ospreay gets kicked in the arm, then flies to the outside, knocking down Kushida. Ospreay with knees to the midsection, standing corkscrew splash, cover, but Kushida kicks out. Ospreay catches the leg, jumping knee, goes to the second rope, corkscrew spinning splash, hooks the leg, but Kushida kicks out.
Ospreay climbs to the top rope, but Kushida catches him with a handstand back kick, climbs the ropes, hooks him for a suplex, and then catches him with a cross armbreaker, into an armbar off the top rope. Kushida has the armbar locked in solid, but Ospreay gets his leg under the bottom rope. Kushida with a running dropkick to Ospreay’s left wrist, Kushida goes for pump handle, but Ospreay gets out, hits the ropes gets a kick, Kushida with the forearm, Ospreay with a kick, Kushida with a 3 forearms, Kushida with an open right hand, Kushida with 5 kicks to Ospreay’s head, Ospreay starts to Hulk up, the two men exchange forearms, and Kelly says “It’s a hockey fight.” Kushida goes for a punch to the head, Ospreay moves out of the way but collapses anyway in a fake-looking spot, the fans boo. Ospreay connects with Kushida, cover, kick out.
Ospreay climbs to the top rope, perched on top, Kelly says, “22-years old and he could win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut”, but Kushida catches him, climbs up top, Ospreay gets out, Kushida is hung on the second rope, and Ospreay kicks him in the head, Ospreay now climbs to the top, and goes for a 450 Corkscrew, because Kushida gets the knees up, pin attempt, kick out. Kushida again with kicks on the left arm, goes for a tilt-a-whirl, up and over, Ospreay kick, spinning kick, climbs to the second rope, but Kushida catches him in mid-air for the armbar. Ospreay picks him up while Kushida holds the arm bar, fireman’s carry, Kushida fights out, transitions into the hoverboard lock, Ospreay goes for the ropes, Kushida rolls back through to the hoverboard lock again, and Ospreay taps out.
Winner and STILL IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion: Kushida (15:07)
Kushida spit shines the belt with his elbow pad, poses on the turnbuckle, Jushin Thunder Liger comes out, and ask for the microphone. He congratulates the champion, offers a handshake. Liger challenges Kushida and says he wants to be a 12 time Junior Heavyweight Champion. Kushida says he has a lot of respect for Liger and accepts the challenge.
Kushida comes over to commentary, Kelly offers a headset and Kushida says he wants to challenge for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship. Corino says, “We will take that message back to Jay Lethal.”
Intermission
Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson (The Elite) (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin and Yoshitatsu (NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship match)
When we return, Yoshitatsu makes his return to the ring. Next out is unbreakable Michael Elgin and his partner Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Bullet Club’s music hits and the Elite make their way to the ring accompanied by Cody Hall, Matt sprays Elite spray, and Omega pauses in front of the camera, “Let me have a little word with you all. A lot of you people wasted your money and time on something that you saw maybe last week. I’m going to show you what you should have been watching all along. Watch and learn, and that doesn’t just go for the fans, that goes for the wrestlers too, goodbye.” The Elite pose in the ring, Nick says “How you doin, CM Punk? And the same goes for New Day, you know it!”
All six men brawl from the start. Omega sets up Yoshitatsu for the Styles Clash, but Tanahashi comes in to break it up, and the bell finally rings. Double suplex on Jackson and Omega by Tanahashi and Yoshi, and then Big Mike picks them both up for a suplex. YB make their way to the exit ramp to leave the arena, but the faces follow after them, Cody Hall joins in too. Nick Jackson climbs above the tunnel, and dives off with a swanton in a huge spot, and everybody is down. Cody Hall takes a nasty bump in the process.
Omega put a trash can on Elgin’s head, pushes him on a cart, and Nick superkicks him, Elgin is out cold. Omega again sets up Yoshitatsu for the Styles Clash, but Yoshitatsu fights out, and Tanahashi breaks it up. Matt with strikes to Tanahashi, Irish whip to the corner, runs in, Tanahashi gets out of the way, sends in Omega, dropkicks Nick to the knee, swinging dragon screw leg sweep, send Nick’s kick into Matt, but Omega hits a running knee, Nick with a handstand headscissors, and Nick takes out Yoshitatsu. Kelly says, “And now, a moment brought to you by the Elite.” The Young Bucks bang on the mat, and then all three of them going flying to the outside, YB with dual suicide dives and Omega with a suicide front flip, take out all three faces.
Nick with a strike to Tanahashi, YB throw him back into the ring, Omega slides under the bottom rope, pin attempt, 1-2, kickout. Omega tags in Nick, Omega picks him up for a backbreaker, Nick picks up Tanahashi, and Matt with a swinging neckbreaker across Nick’s knee, Nick covers, hooks the leg, 1-2, but Tanahashi kicks out. Tanahashi crawls across the mat, but Nick cuts off the ring, and tags in Matt. NJPW and paramedics are seen loading Cody Hall onto a stretcher.
Matt with a handspring flip, rakes the back, tags in Omega. Omega slams. Tanahashi into the corner, YB hold him, Omega rakes the back. Omega tags in Matt, Omega hold the boot on Tanahashi, while Matt delivers kicks to the ribs and chest. Matt sinks in a front headlock on Tanahashi, Tanahashi fight out with elbows to the gut, forearms to Omega and Nick, Matt catches him, throws him, Irish whip, runs in, Tanahashi hits the back elbow, and then a springboard crossbody off the second rope. Tanahashi goes for the hot tag, but Omega and Nick pull Yoshitatsu and Elgin off the apron. Omega walks by the camera and says, “I’m so smart.” Jawbreaker from Tanahashi on Matt, rakes the back, and tags in Yoshitatsu.
Yoshitatsu jumps off the top rope, Matt ducks, hits the ropes, and then Yoshitatsu with a spinning heel kick. Nick comes in but Yoshitatsu take them out, then takes out Omega, and yells to the crowd, the fans cheer. Yoshitatsu with 4 kicks to Matt’s backside, 3 kicks to the chest, spinning heel kick, cover, Matt kicks out. Yoshitatsu Irish whip, reversal, Yoshitatsu delivers a shoulder block to the gut, smashes Matt into the turnbuckle, nails a springboard drop kick, but Matt kicks out. Yoshitatsu sends Matt off the ropes, goes for an armdrag, blocks it, Nick goes for a superkick, but superkicks Matt, Elgin comes in, picks up both and suplexes them over his head. Yoshitatsu hooks Matt’s leg, an Indian deathlock variation, Matt yells in pain. Omega comes in and sprays Elgin, Takahashi comes and gets sprayed, then Yoshitatsu. Omega sprays his armpits, then sprays Matt’s feet, Matt tags in Omega.
Matt throws him into Nick on the apron, then Nick leaps over the rope for faceplant on Yoshitatsu, gets back to the apron, and then a DDT on the floor to Big Mike. Omega runs into Yoshitatsu in the corner, while the YB kick him in the back of the head, Omega and Matt hold Yoshitatsu draped across the ropes while Nick connects with a swanton off the top rope, Omega covers, but Tanahashi breaks it up. Matt throws Tanahashi to the outside. Kelly says, “You’re in there with 3 men who don’t care about your well-being,” and then all 3 members of the Elite superkick Yoshitatsu. Omega sets up for the Styles Clash, but Tanahashi and Elgin come in and spray all three members of the Elite. Roll up by Yoshitatsu, 1-2, but Omega kicks out.
Omega with a running knee, Elgin with a springboard back elbow, Nick springboards but misses, Elgin connects with a German suplex, goes for another one but Matt comes in, and then a double German suplex on both YB. Tanahashi comes in, knocks Omega off the corner, flying hip block by Yoshtatsu on Nick, running clothesline by Elgin, running Splash by Tanahashi. Tanahashi gets on Elgin’s shoulders, Elgin whip slams Tanahashi, but Nick gets the knees up. Omega in, but Elgin takes him out, but meets a superkick from YB.
Matt sets up Yoshitatsu for the 5-star Meltzer Driver, but Elgen interrupts, catches Nick and throws him over the top rope onto Omega. Yoshitatsu catches Matt with an knee, Elgin hooks Nick for an over the rope Falcon Arrow suplex, cover 1-2, but Omega breaks it up. Elgin climbs to the top, Tanahashi picks up Nick, sets him onto Elgin’s shoulders, then Big Mike delivers a top rope Super Elgin Bomb, pin 1-2-3.
Winners and 5th NEW NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Michael Elgin and Yoshitatsu (14:46)
Elgin and Tanahashi pick up Yoshitatsu up on their shoulders and celebrate as the 5th NEVER Openweight 6-man Champions. Omega comes into the ring, Elgin stares at him, Omega holds up the belt, “You want this? You want the big chance? You ain’t shit, you aren’t in my league, you’re going to find out. You’re not stronger than me, I’m the strongest mother f***** in this promotion, so if you want this, you think, you think for one second, what the f*** are you doing?” Elgin lays down his belt, Omega lays down his belt and gives the Bullet Club sign to Elgin. It appears that Elgin is the next contender for the Intercontinental title. Corino says, “These two Canadians are going to clash.” The fans chant, “Yoshitatsu!”
As Elgin and Yoshitatsu make their way back through the curtain area, Tanahashi comes over to commentary, but suddenly Fale comes out and attacks him. Carino says to Kelly, “You had your hand out the high-five him!” Fale destroys Tanahashi before his teammates return for the save. Masahiro Chono joins the Japanese commentary.
Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NEVER Openweight Championship match)
Out first is the “Fighting Bull” Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Slow calming music plays, it quickly turns into a fast guitar beat, and the champion Katsuyori Shibata makes his way to the ring. Corino tells us the Shibata left New Japan 5 years ago to become the face of MMA in Japan, he came back in 2012 and won the IWGP Tag Team Championship with Goto, and then just this past January won his first singles championship against Ishii. The bell sounds and here we go.
The two men lock fingers, Shibata pushes Tenzan to the ropes, Tenzan reverses, the referee calls for the break, Shibata comes out with forearms about 6 or 7 of them, runs the ropes, and then a shoulder tackle by Tenzan, drop toehold, goes for the kick, Tenzan ducks and both men stare as the fans applaud.
Shibata takes Tenzan to the mat with a leg lock, transitions into an ankle lock, then a figure 4, but Tenzan find the ropes. Shibata with kicks, forearm, boot, 3 kicks, forearm forearm stom, 5 kicks, throws the referee out of the way, delivers more kicks, more forearms, running baseball slide kick, and then a running dropkick. Shibata picks up Tenzan, but Tenzan connects with 5 headbutts, 3 Mongolian chops, stomp, kick to the back of the neck, headbutt, 2 Mongolian chops, headbutt, stomp, 3 closed fist strikes, headbutt, 3 kicks to the head, punch, Irish whip, shoulder block, close line, 2 kicks, suplex, cover, 1-2 kickout. Tenzan locks in the anaconda vice, Shibata gets to his feet, then trip Tenzan to break the hold.
Headbutts to the gut and head, 2 Mongolian chops, but then Shibata blocks and gets a triangle lock armbar, until Tenzan finds the ropes. Shibata with 4 kicks, runs the ropes, spinning heel kick by Tenzan, pin attempt, but Shibata kicks out at 2. Tenzan with a Cobra clutch, drops him to the mat, and another near fall. Shibata with the dropkick to the back of the leg, catches Tenzan on the turnbuckle, delivers a powerbomb, cover, but Tenzan kicks out at 1. Shibata hits the ropes, Tenzan catches him and delivers a headbutt to the side of the head. 3 headbutts, 2 Mongolian chops, Shibata catches him, and then Tenzan delivers 2 headbutts knocking Shibata to the mat.
Headbutt by Tenzan and then locks in the Cobra clutch. Shibata’s eyes start to roll into the back of his head, he’s fading, the referee checks him, starts to gain strength, kicks his legs, and meets the ropes. Tenzan with 2 kicks to the head, looking for the suplex but Shibata blocks, then drops Tenzan on his head using Tenzan’s own maneuver, cover by the champion, but Tenzan kicks out. Shibata locks in a rear naked choke, kicks by Shibata, then back to the rear naked choke, Tenzan is passing out, Shibata hits the PK Pentalty Kick in the center of the chest and this one is over.
Winner and STILL NEVER Openweight Champion: Katsuyori Shibata (10:47)
Nagata and Kijomi come to check on Tenzan. Shibata kicks Nagata in the head. Nagata stands up, takes off his shirt, and stares down Shibata. Shibata holds the championship high. Kelly says, “It looks like these two will meet for the NEVER Open Championship, the only question is when.”
Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma (G.B.H.) (c) vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa (Guerrillas of Destiny) (IWGP Tag Team Championship match)
The Guerrillas of Destiny (sons of Haku) are out first, followed by G.B.H. Roa and Makabe start it off, Roa thrones Makabe to the mat, collar-and-elbow tie up, but Tama comes in, now all four men are going at it. The Gorillaz back GBH into the corner, Irish with them at each other, reversal Makabe with a shoulder tackle to Tama, and then Roa gets clotheslined over the top rope. Honma with a shot to the back, shot to the rib, and then gets Irish whipped into the steel rail. Makabe fights with Roa, Roa stands on his neck, until Honma comes over to help. Roa drives Makabe into the apron, rolls him back into the ring.
Roa with a slam, leg drop, kick out, Tama tags in. Jumping elbow, cover, kickout, jumping elbow, cover kickout, tags back in Roa. Headbutt, kick, whips him to the corner, tags in Tama, stomp stomp stomp, then stomps by Tama, stomps by Roa, then stomps by Tama, pin attempt, but the referee says “You’re not the legal man,” and Tama yells “What the f***, man!” Tama tags in Roa, Makabe gets the shoulder up. Roa tags in Tama, drops Makabe back to the mat, cover, another near fall. Tama punches Makabe in the head, Makabe gets to his feet and eggs him on, 3 forearms, headbutt, now Makabe fighting back with forearms to the head, ducks a clothesline and then nails a clothesline, Makabe tags in Honma.
Honma hits a back elbow, then body slam, throws him into the corner, running forearm. Kelly tells us, “Honma’s voice is reduced to a growl, because of vocal cord damage.” Goes for a headbutt, picks him up, runs the ropes, Honma runs the ropes, leapfrog, ducks a clothesline, and then a running lariat by Honma. Tama springs to his feet and runs right through him with a spear. Tama tags in Roa, headbutt, elbow, 2 stomps, leg drop, cover, kick out. Roa hooks him for the suplex, but Honma blocks, slides over the back, kick, sent to the corner, runs in misses, Honma catches him with an arm drag, hits the ropes, headbutt, Kokeshi diving headbutt, tags in Makabe.
Makabe and Roa run into 2 closelines from each other, they hit the ropes again, and Mugabe gets the better of the last one. Magape pushes him to the corner, climbs up on the second rope, and delivers multiple fists to the forehead, suplexes him into a bridge cover, but Roa kicks out. Makabe goes to suplex him by the waist, Roa fights out with back elbows, hits the ropes, but get smacked with a clubbing forearm, meanwhile, Taba in goes for the Gun Stun, no Makabe hits a padlock suplex. Roa gets sent off the ropes, German suplex with a bridge, but Roa kicks out. Honma goes after Tama on the outside, Makabe goes to the top for the King Kong knee drop, but misses and jams his right knee into the mat. Roa up to his feet, picks him up on the shoulders, powerslam to the mat. Tama has made it back up to the apron, Honma in now with a back elbow to Tama, throws him off the ropes, slides around, and then a standing dropkick by Tama. Picks him up into the fireman’s carry, backdrop onto his face, cover, 1-2, Honma kicks out.
Double underhook DDT attempt, but Makabe comes in with a clothesline and slaps his partner Honma in the face to wake him up. Double team smash from the front and back by both men, Death Valley driver, and then Kokeshi, 1-2, but Tama kick out. Whips Tama to the rope, back elbow from Honma, clothesline for Makabe, picks him up on his shoulders Honma climbs to the top rope, but Roa and knocks him off, and then Tama turns Makabe inside out with a swinging neckbreaker. Roa is in now, he picks up Honma, Irish whip to the corner, runs in with a double clothesline, splash, another double clothesline, Tama picks him up, sends him to Roa for a spinebuster, cover, but Makabe comes in to break it up. Roa and Tama double team, throw Makabe into the ropes, but he nails a double clothesline, knocking both GoD to the mat. Goes off the top ropes, Tama runs right through Makabe, but Honma drops him and goes up to the top turnbuckle for the Kokeshi, but he misses.
5 forearms, headbutt, flying headbutt by Honma. Honma picks him up on his shoulders, but Roa grabs his partner by the legs, and flips Honma over, but Makabe into break it up. GoD throw Makabe off the ropes, he runs through it, gets caught, and GoD double-team a neckbreaker. Realizing that Honma is the legal man, they pick him up for their own version of the Magic Killer, but Honma kicks out. GoD pick him up again for 2nd Magic Killer, might be too much, cover, and there is no doubt about it, 1-2-3.
Winners and 70th NEW IWGP Tag Team Champions champions: Guerrillas of Destiny (16:54)
Tama looks into the camera and says, “You see these titles? This is the Bullet Club, this is a new era, you’re either with us or you’re not.“ A video package is shown hyping up tonight’s main event.
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito (IWGP Heavyweight Championship match)
Naito is out first, Evil and Bushi accompany him. Kelly tells us “Naito has never been the man, always a second-tier guy,” says Corino, “but I think this guy is ready.” Kelly wonders, “When did he change? When did he evolve?” Corino tells us, “It was after global Wars last May after competing in Ring of Honor, he didn’t come out victorious, but stayed in America, and went to CMLL and that’s when this transformation became more real.” Kelly says, “Naito should have been main eventing Wrestle Kingdom, but he lost in a fan vote, and that’s when he felt everyone turned their back on him, and that’s when this transformation took place.”
Okada is out next, Kelly says “Naito thinks this is his destiny, but Okada knows that this is his time, the leader of the industry, the man in charge, everything is built around him.” They clear the ring of Okada dollars and the introductions are made. Corino comments, that the crowd is inexplicably behind Naito. Kelly says, “Naito can be arrogant, but at 28 years old, it’s hard to not be arrogant.” The bell rings, and we’re off.
Collar-and-elbow lock up, Okada backs him to the ropes, clean break, and Okada pats him on the chest. Lock up again, waist lock by Naito, wrist lock by Okada, wrist lock by Naito, full nelson by Naito, hammerlock by Okada, Naito reaches the ropes, and the ref calls for the break. Naito grabs Okada, turns him to the ropes and pats him on the chest. Naito kicks him in the gut, 3 shots to the back of the neck, sends him off the ropes, reversal, Naito catches himself, forearm, runs the ropes, and then Beefcake poses in the middle of the ring. Okada comes back in, but Naito goes to the outside. Naito walks around the outside of the ring, crawls back through the ropes, climbs back outside, and walks around some more.
Naito back in, Okada charges in, but Naito with kick kick, shot to the back of the head, hits the ropes, but Okada meets him with a back elbow, and a kick to the back of the head. Okada with a chin lock on Naito, hooks both arms, arm-assisted chinlock sleeper, but Naito finds the rope. Okada throws Naito off the ropes, back elbow, standing moonsault, cover, but Naito kicks out at 1. Okada picks him up, throws him to the apron, springboard flip misses, hits the ropes, but Bushi trips him, and Naito kicks him. Corino says, “I don’t think the referee saw him, because Gedo started barking, and then Red Shoes looked over at Gedo.”
Naito follows him to the outside, forearm, whips him into the steel rail, then sends Gedo into the steel rail, and throws Gedo in the ring, 5 stomps, and stands on his head. Evil wraps a chair around Okada’s neck and then smashes another chair, hitting him in the hand, connecting with his face. Okada climbs back in at 16, kick, strike, rolls around the back, Naito hangs Okada upside down on the turnbuckle in the tree-of-woe, 3 stomps and then Bushi chokes him. Naito with a sliding dropkick, rolls Okada over, locks in a headscissors, bridges over twice to increase the leverage, a third time but Okada meets the ropes. Naito with 4 stomps, picks up Okada, 7 elbow shots, and the champion is in trouble.
Naito comes in, Okada sets Natio on the top rope, Naito with a kick to the face, swinging neckbreaker, a kick to the back of the neck, cover, but Okada kicks out at 2. Kelly says, “Naito is confident, in control, and playing with the champion.” Okada gets to his feet, lands 3 shots the ribs, but Naito hits a clubbing forearm to the back of the neck. Okada to his feet again, 3 forearms, whip, reversal, swing-and-a-miss with the clothesline, and then a modified neckbreaker by Okada. Naito came down hard on the back of his head.
2 elbows by Okada, Naito ducks a clothesline, and meet a boot to the face that turns him inside out. Okada picks him up, Naito goes for a swinging DDT, but Okada sets him on the top turnbuckle, and then kicks him to the outside. Bushi is up on the apron, Okada comes outside, sends Naito into the barricade, and clotheslines him into the first row, as the fans clear out of the way. Okada tosses Evil into the seats, then Bushi. Okada lines up and hits a crossbody on all three men into the second row, as ringside patrons scatter.
Okada throws Naito back to the ring, picks him up, powerslam, climbs to the top turnbuckle, Naito is up, ducks the elbow, double boot to the chest, atomic drop, swinging neckbreaker by Naito. The crowd is firmly behind Naito. Both men are to their feet, 2 forearms by Okada, then Naito spits in his face, tornado DDT by Naito stands the champion on his head. Naito picks him up for a belly-to-back suplex, but Okada drops, goes for a kick, Naito catches him, and then Okada picks him up for a front face slam, aka “a page out of the Midnight Express playbook,” says Carino. Goto pounds on the mat imploring his champion.
Okada and Naito exchange 10 forearms, then 11, 12, 13 all landed by Okada, hits the ropes, DDT, back shoulder block, flips onto his feet, the fans applaud. Naito gets up, Okada with the running elbow misses, Naito comes in, Okada flips on his shoulders, rolls through into a sunset flip by Naito, but Okada turns it around and hits Red Ink kneeling cross-legged STF submission. Natio is about 3 feet from the ropes, but Evil gets on the apron, Gedo takes out Bushi, Naito turns Okada around and hits a low blow, drop toehold, slam, and a modified Koji clutch. Okada starting to fade, the referee checks his arm, drops once, but Okada holds it up the second time, Gedo pounds on the map to try to wake him up, Okada eyes closed, he’s out cold, the referee raises hand, but out of nowhere, Okada comes back to life, and gets a foot on the rope.
Kelly tells us, “Hiroshi Tanahashi, AJ Styles, and Kazuchika Okada are the only 3 men to hold the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship the last 3 years.” Naito runs in, Okada over the ropes, swinging double boot to the chest. Okada gets caught on the top rope, Naito climbs up, and nails a top rope hurricanrana, hooks the leg, but Okada kicks out at 2. Naito syncs in a hammerlock, drives him to the mat, cover, kick out. Naito picks Okada up again, twists the arm, Okada hits 3 back elbows, uppercut, runs the ropes, but Naito hits a jumping spinebuster. Naito goes for the hook, but Okada catches him into a modified neckbreaker, and both men are down.
The fans chants, “Naito!” Okada struggles to his knees, grits his teeth, Naito gets back to a vertical base, Okada hits a standing dropkick to the chest, and Naito’s head hits the bottom rope. Okada pick him up, hits the ropes for 2 sliding dropkicks, cover, but Naito kicks out at 2. Okada goes to the apron, climbs to the top rope, and hit a coast-to-coast missile dropkick, hooks the leg, but Naito kicks out at 2. “That was 18 feet across the ring,” says Corino. Both men are wearing down. Okada picks him up, slams into the mat, climbs to the top rope again, and nails a flying elbow to the chest, he poses, the camera pans out signaling time for The Rainmaker. Naito to his feet, turned around, ducks The Rainmaker, and throws the referee into Okada.
Now Evil and Bushi come in and tag team Okada. Evil picks him up, anaconda vice, reverses the STO, sends him into Bushi, and then slams Evil, turns around, Bushi with the mist to the eyes of Okada, Naito comes in, throws him off the ropes, but Okada hits a standing dropkick. The mist of Bushi was ineffective.
Suddenly, a mystery man, wearing a black mask and black leather jacket, enters the ring. Okada hits a Tombstone Piledriver, but the mystery man nails Okada from behind, picks him up into the fireman’s carry, and drops him face-first on the mat. The mystery man takes off his jacket and reveals himself to be aligned with Los Ingobernables, now takes off the mask and reveals himself to be Seiya Sanada. Sanada hits a top rope moonsault on Okada, Corino yells, “What is he doing here? He doesn’t wrestle for New Japan!” Gedo looks shocked.
Naito is left in the ring smiling, picks up Okada, forearm, enziguri, goes for the Destino finisher but Okada catches him, Naito tries and fights out, slides over the back, Okada with a German suplex, picks him up, throws a Rainmaker, but misses, and Naito hits Destino.
Winner and NEW 64th IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Tetsuya Naito (28:50)
Los Ingobernables continue to beat down Okada, until Ishii and Goto come down to make the save. Naito puts on his ball cap, sits in a chair outside the ring and waves. Naito climbs up on the apron, stares at Ishii, Ishii lets Naito back in the ring, then Naito holds the middle rope telling Ishii to get out. Ishii and Naito jaw at each other, Ishii backs him into the corner yelling at him, Okada is helped to the back, Ishii finally gets out of the ring.
Now the presentation to the 64th IWGP Heavyweight Champion Naito, the announcement is made, the trophy is presented by a midget, who gives a fist bump. Naito poses with his finger holding open his eye and his tongue sticking out. Kelly says, “Tonight, Naito reigns supreme, but this is the hardware that he wants,” and now they present him with the belt, Red Shoes hands it to him unwittingly. Naito throws it to the ground, drops the ref to the mat, and then a sliding dropkick to Red Shoes. Kelly says, “Is that with this Championship reign is going to be all about?” Corino says, “They are making their own rules.”
Naito ask for the mic, Corino translates, “There’s a new era of NJPW and I can hear it. I actually thank you, the fans, the supporters in my own very disturbing way. My faction has now taken over NJPW in one night and it’s only the beginning.” Streamers pop and Naito introduces Sanada and the announcers discuss his shocking debut. Kelly tells us “Los Ingobernables may translate to ‘The Ungovernables’, but the ruling class is what they have become. The new era has begun and at the top is Tetsuya Naito.” All four men raise fists in the middle of the ring, then Naito throws the belt up in the air, and leaves it in the middle of the ring. Naito walks over to commentary, looks at Masahiro Chono, and exits. Kelly says, “He can pick fights with anyone he wants. He’s the champion, he’s the man, one of four new champions crowned tonight,” and wishes us goodnight from the Ryogoku Sumo Arena.
