KENNY OMEGA © VS. KUSHIDA (IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)
Matt Striker, Yoshi Tatsu and Kevin Kelly handle commentary for this match, and I have no idea what to think of that. What I do know is I am looking forward to this match. It was a big shunt in the rise of Kenny Omega, and KUSHIDA is a guy I've heard nothing but good things about. KUSHIDA enters first and he has a “Back to the Future” thing going on. Complete with Doc Brown played by Ryusuke Taguchi. KUSHIDA was trained by Yoshihiro Tajiri. He also forms the Time Splitters tag team with Alex Shelley, thus the Back to the Future references. Kenny Omega is another member of the Bullet Club. In fact at the time of writing he has been promoted to leader.
Matt Striker says Omega retained the championship in September with Bullet Club interference, but Yoshi can't believe him. The Young Bucks, who won the IWGP Junior heavyweight tag team championships in tonight's opening match come out with Omega. KUSHIDA wants The Young Bucks out of the ring before the match starts. Taguchi looks terrified. His fears are realised as he eats a triple superkick. Omega and The Young Bucks beat down KUSHIDA before the Bucks finally exit the ring so the match can start.
The bell finally rings as Omega takes KUSHIDA's bodywarmer off him and whips him with it. KUSHIDA tries to roll out of the way and take his jacket off and eventually does. KUSHIDA gets to his feet and fires at Omega with forearms. We see Taguchi on the floor. KUSHIDA sends Omerga across the ring but Omega hits a basement dropkick. Omega cartwheels and just spits at KUSHIDA. That's a major sign of disrespect. KUSHIDA makes his way to the corner but Omega follows him and continues beating him down. Omega sends KUSHIDA's head into the corner then hits him with a hard chop. KUSHIDA gets sent across the ring but Omega meets the corner on a charge. KUSHIDA ducks a hammer strike and hits a basement dropkick of his own on Omega. Another dropkick to Omega sends him out of the ring, and KUSHIDA clears the apron of the Bucks.
Omega grabs something from under the ring, he sprays KUSHIDA in the face! Omega sprays himself for the crowd but takes too long. He gets caught with a baseball slide from KUSHIDA sending him into the guard rail. KUSHIDA flies at Omega from the apron, but Omega ducks, Nick Jackson throws the trashcan at KUSHIDA's head! Matt has the referee distracted across the ring. Omega positions KUSHIDA and climbs on the guard rail. Nick Jackson hands him another trash can, and Omega hits a moonsault on KUSHIDA!
Omega rolls in the ring, leaving KUSHIDA out on the floor. KUSHIDA back in the ring now, Omega hits him with a rib breaker. KUSHIDA rolls back outside the ring, and he has no safe place to go. Omega pauses in the ring and The Young Bucks use the trashcan bases as bongo drums, all setting up for a no-hands suicide swanton to the floor!
Yoshi Tatsu showing his comedic chops saying Omega should have picked Star Wars for his theme tonight instead of The Terminator. Matt Striker mentions that Kenny Omega made his full time NJPW debut last year at Wrestle Kingdom 9 facing Taguchi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship that he holds tonight. Kenny Omega rolls KUSHIDA in the ring and follows him. Omega hits a leapfrog bulldog and covers but only gets a nearfall.
Matt Striker mentions KUSHIDA has a bandage on his left leg under his tights as Omega chokes him out with his wrist tape. He throws his wrist tape at KUSHIDA and hits him with a clubbing blow, but KUSHIDA is back on his feet. KUSHIDA starts fighting back with chops, but Omega slaps him in the face. KUSHIDA drops low on a suplex attempt and hits at Omega's knee. Omega does get KUSHIDA up, but KUSHIDA uses his bad knee to escape. That's set a target on KUSHIDA now, but he manages to duck a clothesline and hit a pele kick with his good leg. KUSHIDA rolls out to the apron. Omega charges but KUSHIDA blocks his shot. Swinging kick by KUSHIDA connects and Kenny's reeling.
KUSHIDA springboards in and hits Omega on the top of his head before attacking with kicks. Striker mentions that KUSHIDA's kicks are aimed at Kenny's arm, trying to take some of the bite out of Omega's offense like the One Winged Angel. Omega gets kicked to the mat, and KUSHIDA picks up the pace, Omega catches him but KUSHIDA gets a kimura! Omega stretches his leg out and gets the rope break. KUSHIDA aggressively attacks Omega's arm now. Omega fights back with a high chop using his good arm! Overhand back chop. Omega tries to send KUSHIDA across the ring, but can't. Omega tries to grab KUSHIDA in a waistlock to slow him down, but can't. Both men still running handspring back kick by KUSHIDA! I'm not sure if that was exactly timed as it should have been, but it looked awesome! Omega slides out of the ring, but KUSHIDA flies at him from the top rope! KUSHIDA gets back in the ring, and Omega's on the apron at 11, enough to break the count. KUSHIDA hits a running dropkick to Omega, and he falls back into the ring. KUSHIDA hits a moonsault and covers! 1,2, NO! KIMURA! KUSHIDA tries to transition to an armbar but Omega's blocking it! Omega rolls through and gets to his feet! KUSHIDA's fighting the trap german suplex, but Omega gets it! Omega's arm felt that move as much as KUSHIDA did.
Omega perches KUSHIDA on the top turnbuckle as both men get to their feet. Omega climbs up, setting up for a superplex, but KUSHIDA grabs the left arm again! KUSHIDA isolates the arm and jumps off the top rope, crashing it to the mat! Yoshitatsu says it's good KUSHIDA has a game plan and he's sticking to it as KUSHIDA kicks away at Omega's arm. KUSHIDA wants a running start, but Omega grabs at his ring gear, Omega tries a half dragon suplex but KUSHIDA blocks it. SUPERKICK! KUSHIDA blocks the flying knee and hits a straight right hand called the Hideo Nomo! Corkscrew moonsault eats canvas! Omega tries to get some bloodflow back in his arm, and brings KUSHIDA to his feet. Omega strikes KUSHIDA, KUSHIDA strikes back and gets slapped in the face. More kicks to the arm! Omega gets sent into the ropes, but reverses an irish whip. KUSHIDA sent across the ring and he handsprings into a One-Winged Angel, no, german suplex instead! 1! 2! NO! Kimura lock again by KUSHIDA! He tries to shift his positioning so he can attack the bisceps more. The Young Bucks are trying to drag Omega towards the ropes, but he's not moving. TAGUCHI'S BACK!!! Taguchi attacks the Young Bucks with a trashcan!
Inside the ring Omega has KUSHIDA up for the One Winged Angel, but KUSHIDA fights out. KUSHIDA hits a discus forearm! Omega strikes quicker with a knee the second time around! Omega picks KUSHIDA up with his good arm and hits a sitout powerbomb! 1! 2! KUSHIDA kicks out. Omega hits another knee strike and puts KUSHIDA in the ropes. Running boot connects, and KUSHIDA turns into a One Winged Angel! He rolls through! 1! 2! 3! KUSHIDA steals it!
WINNER: KUSHIDA (NEW CHAMPION)
The two men in this match had a simple story to tell. Make Omega look strong as he moved up to heavyweight and give KUSHIDA a big win for this Wrestle Kingdom. Taguchi being involved added continuity from last years Wrestle Kingdom where Taguchi lost to Omega for the IWGP Junior heavyweight championship. Something NJPW does well. I must have started this part of the review three times in this match, thinking it was the finish. The One Winged Angel was really well protected for this match, with KUSHIDA fighting out at different points, and Omega looked like a badass just beating down KUSHIDA with one arm injured. KUSHIDA really had to earn his win here, and he did. Waith Taguchi out for most of the match (a gripe of mine) it was essentially 3 on 1 for the most part. Really exciting match and a good proper introduction to both men for me. – Rating: 7.8/10
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