The final company I chose for this week is New Japan Pro Wrestling. The biggest wrestling promotion in Japan that is expanding into the United States, both with a side promotion, and their current television deal. I decided to pick the main event of the first New Japan Pro Wrestling event I found, and it happened to be Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito, two men on my NJPW `to watch out for' list.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA (C)VS. TETSUYA NAITO(IWGP World Heavyweight Championship)
NJPW Invasion Attack (10th April 2016)
(C) New Japan Pro Wrestling
Handling English commentary for this show is Steve Corino and Kevin Kelly. Tetsuya Naito went on a learning expedition to Mexico and came back a changed man. Over there he joined the Rudo stable Los Igornobles. Whilst his time in Mexico was over, his time in the group was not, so he branched out bringing in EVIL and BUSHI to the mix. When Naito returned to Japan he won the New Japan Cup, winning the Finals 12th March. We get a video package before the match showing Okada as a dominant champion and Naito as a prick, but a prick that can back it up in the ring. The video goes into a lot of detail, and I can only get the subtitles, but Okada's 28 years old and already a three-time champion. These guys also faced 9 years ago, but things were very different back then. Naito is 33 years old and the championship has eluded him so far. This is Okada's Rainmaker vs. Naito's Destino. There's a definite big match feel for the main event.
Naito enters first with BUSHI and EVIL not far behind. Corino says Naito changed after Ring of Honor's Global Wars events last year. Naito wears a mask until he gets near the ring as Corino says this Naito is what people have wanted since Wrestle Kingdom 6 when he faced Keiji Mutoh. However it's just since recently when he stopped caring and made it about him, he's opened up opportunities for himself. Naito is a G1 Climax winner but his Wrestle Kingdom championship shot was taken from him in a fan vote. You have to love a justified heel. Okada enters and Corino calls him the measuring stick in New Japan Pro Wrestling. It's his era and it has been since he beat Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 10. This championship reign began back in July. 100,000 Yen notes fall from the ceiling as Okada enters, and I believe it's Gedo that accompanies him to ringside with some Young Lions. The match is contested under 1 fall with a 60-minute time limit.
These two have quite the history, the match in 2007 I mentioned was Okada's debut, where he lost to Naito, but since then he's 2-0 up. Both of those matches have been IWGP World Heavyweight Championship matches, making Naito 0-4. The crowd is behind Naito even though he's the heel. Corino says maybe they know it's Naito's time to win the big one. They soak in the crowd for a while before locking in a collar-elbow tie up. Neither man budges for a few seconds but Okada slowly backs Naito into the ropes. Okada gets a slow clean break, teasing an overhand chop, but tapping Naito on the chest. Naito's like "alright then" and they go into another collar-elbow tie up. Naito quickly gets a go-behind but Okada gets control of the left arm. Okada gets a wristlock, but Naito reverses it and transitions to a hammerlock. Naito swiftly moves into a full nelson, but Okada breaks it to a hammerlock of his own. Naito grabs the ropes and Okada breaks, turning Naito to face him against the ropes, Naito switches positions and slowly gets a clean break on Okada, tapping his chest. Early mind games by both men, an "anything you can do, I can do" piece is nice. Naito cheap shots Okada with a kick to the gut and clubbing blows to the back. Okada reverses an irish whip but Naito grabs the ropes. Okada charges and gets sent over to the apron. Forearm shot sends him down to the floor, Naito runs to the opposite side of the ring and Okada moves, but he had no need to as Naito rolls back off the ropes to pose for the crowd!
Kevin Kelly confirms it is, in fact, Gedo out with Okada as he talks to Okada on the outside. Okada charges back into the ring, so Naito takes some time outside. Naito looks ready to roll back in, but Okada's standing ready for him, so he changes his mind. Naito rolls in one side of the corner and out the other to break the count. The referee has to back Okada into the opposite corner before Naito will get back in. Okada charges but Naito catches him first and beats him down. Okada reverses an irish whip and hits a back elbow. Okada snapmares Naito down and hits a running dropkick to the side of Naito's head. Okada wrenches back on Naito's neck on the mat and uses Naito's own arms for assistance on the hold. Naito gets close enough to the ropes for his boot to touch and that's enough for the break. Okada sends Naito across the ring and hits another back elbow, following up with a senton. Okada has also had success in Mexico earlier in his career, and he covers Naito for a 1 count.
Okada brings Naito to his feet and slams him back down, Okada goes out to the apron, Tope Con Hilo attempt avoided but Okada notices and rolls out. Okada charges and Naito helps him along, BUSHI trips him. (BUSHI is the one in the mask for those who don't know.) Okada rolls out of the ring and I question the logic. Red Shoes, which is the referee's given name didn't notice it. Naito follows Okada out and sends him into the barricade. Gedo sent into the barricade and Naito sends him into the ring. Naito beats down Gedo in the ring whilst BUSHI becomes a thorn in Red Shoes' side from the apron, EVIL has control of Okada at ringside, Okada has a chair over his neck and EVIL has another in his hand! EVIL swings the chair off Okada's neck! LIJ in total control right now as we see Gedo somehow escaped the attack and is being assisted out of the ring. Red Shoes begins to count Okada out as Naito waits patiently in the corner. Okada back in the ring at 16 but Naito doesn't waste a second before laying the boots in. Okada gets hung in the tree of woe and BUSHI chokes him in the corner before Naito hits a running dropkick from the other side of the ring!
Naito locks in a headscissors on the mat, really targeting the neck now. Gedo is back to his feet at ringside and he cheers Okada on, who's making a lot of effort to kick out. Okada reaches the bottom rope with his boot to break the hold. Okada finds escape in the corner, but Naito lays in some kicks. Okada is brought to his feet for Naito to nail him with rough forearm shots. Okada able to get back on his feet as Naito charges and he seats Naito on the top corner, Naito boots him away before he can hit the dropkick though. Naito charges from the corner and gets scooped up, but he slips out the back. Neckbreaker across his knee, and Okada's on his arse, running dropkick and Naito covers, 1, 2, no! Naito locks in a necklock on a seated Okada but Okada gets to his feet and elbows out. Naito not letting Okada get in too much as he hits more blows to the back. The champion breaks the clench and hits a trio of forearms, Naito reverses the irish whip but Okada ducks under the clothesline and Okada gets a top wristlock dropping Okada to the mat for a modified neckbreaker. Okada slow to capitalise but does with a running elbow knocking Naito down, another pair of elbows do the same. Naito ducks the clothesline but runs into a big boot flipping him over! Kazuchika Okada does not look like a happy man, Naito attempts a tornado DDT off the ropes but Okada seats him in the corner. DROPKICK SENDS NAITO TO THE FLOOR! If you haven't seen Okada's corner dropkick find it on YouTube. You're doing yourself a favour.
Kevin Kelly tells us BUSHI is on the apron, but Okada's followed Naito out of the ring, Naito gets sent into the barricade, and a running big boot sends him over into the crowd. EVIL tries to attack from behind but is sent into a row of empty seats after the ring announcer's told the crowd to move for their own safety. BUSHI joins his teammates and Okada makes a path from one side to the other. Running crossbody sends all three LIJ members into the second row! Okada applauds his effort as we see NJPW legend Masahiro Chono is on commentary for this match in Japanese. Okada sends Naito into the ring and slams him onto the mat. Okada climbs to the top turnbuckle. Okada notices and gets to his feet, charging at Okada, Okada jumps over Naito, and charges him in the corner but is met with a boot. Naito hits an inverted atomic drop and a neckbreaker, and you can hear the crowd's cheering for him. He brings Okada to his feet but Okada fires back with a pair of forearms. Naito spits in Okada's face! Okada charges for a lariat but it's ducked, Naito hits a crazy tornado DDT!
Okada blocks a german suplex attempt and a kick to the gut, Naito blocks a big boot and runs the ropes but runs into a flapjack. Both men are down for some time before trading forearms in the centre of the ring. Naito's seem to have more behind them, but the champion gets the advantage. Naito rebounds off the ropes into a DDT! Running back elbow follows and Okada kips up! Okada goes to the opposite corner, Okada charges as Naito gets to his feet but eats turnbuckle, Naito uses the ropes to get a headscissors, Naito gets a sunset flip but Okada rolls through and locks in Red Ink! (His cross-legged chinlock submission finisher) Naito refuses to give up and eventually turns himself towards the ropes. Okada pulls back on Naito's neck harder. EVIL's on the apron, Okada breaks the hold and drops him. BUSHI also on the apron but Gedo brings him down to the floor. Okada's turned his back on Naito and it costs him, walking into a Hot Shot and Naito locks in his modified Koji clutch! Okada slowly fades but finds the energy to move out of Red Shoes' grasp as he tries to check Okada's arm. Okada starts fading more, and the referee asks Gedo if he wants to throw in the towel, he goes to check the arm again but Okada finds what's now a third wind from this hold alone and gets the rope break.
In the last 5 years, only three men have held the IWGP World Heavyweight championship, Okada, AJ Styles and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Naito wants to become number four. Okada back to his feet in the corner, but Naito hits a running dropkick. Naito sends himself over to the apron and springs off the bottom rope to hit another dropkick to a seated Okada in the corner. Naito seats Okada on the top turnbuckle and climbs up with him. Super hurricanrana! Naito covers but only gets a nearfall. Naito gets a hammerlock and drops Okada on his head, second quick cover but again Okada kicks out! Okada hits some elbows on Naito and a European uppercut, but runs into a spinebuster, Naito attempts something but Okada reverses it into a neckbreaker across his knee! Both champion and challenger down, and Okada looks like a man possessed as he makes his way to the corner, Okada uses the ropes to get to his feet. Naito also on his feet, Okada hits a running dropkick sending Naito's head into the corner! A pair of running dropkicks hit Naito right in the chest and Okada covers, but it's still not enough. Okada makes his way to the top rope and hits a Coast to Coast missile dropkick! Okada covers and he hooks Naito's leg tight! 1, 2, no! We get a replay of the missile dropkick as Okada looks more and more like a man possessed. He slams Naito in the ring and ascends the turnbuckles again, hitting an elbow drop!
Okada setting up for the rainmaker and it gets a special camera effect and everything! Naito doesn't give a fuck about camera effects though and ducks it, Okada tries to follow up with a forearm but knocks Red Shoes down! LIJ enter the ring and attack Okada. Okada reverses an STO and sets up for a Rainmaker on EVIL, but sends him into BUSHI instead. Naito's getting a nice rest in the corner as Okada hits a Death Valley Driver on EVIL, sending him out of the ring. Okada ducks BUSHI's green mist but Naito cuts him off with a kick to the gut. Okada reverses an irish whip and dropkicks Naito inside out! We see a masked man on the apron as Okada hits the tombstone, unaware of his presence. The masked man stalks Okada and lifts the champion on his shoulders. He hits a TKO before revealing himself as SANADA! SENADA hits a quick moonsault on Okada before leaving the ring. We see Gedo's jaw drop in disbelief at ringside. Naito has a smile as he gets to his feet. Okada tries to fight back to no avail and Naito drops him with an enziguri. Naito looks for the Destino, but Okada fights it, Naito gets a full nelson but Okada reverses to a german suplex! Okada holds on, but Naito counters the Rainmaker! DESTINO! 1! 2! 3!
WINNER: TETSUYA NAITO (NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
This match was long. There's no doubt about it, it didn't feel too long until right before they took it home though so that's a minor complaint. Both men worked well, we got a new member of Los Ingernobles Japon and some nice overbooking throughout the match. Naito was still able to look like he deserved to win the championship, and Okada's facial expressions showed me he wanted to retain his championship more than anything, and it really made for a fantastic match. Definitely want to see more of both of these guys, going to try to hunt down the matches I mentioned. You definitely have to watch this match when you can. – Rating: 8.9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment