Hello friends, and welcome to the big one, Wrestle Kingdom 13. Before we begin, I do have to say something. You may or may not have noticed I haven’t been recapping as much and believe me that’s not by choice. So I guess what I’m saying is I’m stepping down, for now, as a writer for PW Ponderings. I don’t know if or when I’ll be back. I’d like to but right now my schedule just doesn’t allow it. I’ve enjoyed my 2.5 years here and got to talk with a lot of cool people. But it’s just not possible to keep up my responsibilities. I’d love to continue writing but it’s just not a good time right now. So with that said, if this is my last review, well I hope you all enjoy it.
Wrestle Kingdom 13 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo.
#1 Contender For the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles Gauntlet Match
The Elite (Yujiro Takahashi, Hangman Page and Marty Scurll) with Pieter and Chase Owens vs. Yuji Nagata, Jeff Cobb, and David Finlay vs. Chaos (Hirooki Goto, Beretta, and Chuckie T) vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr) vs. Most Violent Players (Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, and Rysuke Taguchi)
Order of Eliminations
1. The Elite
2. Chaos
3. Nagata, Cobb, and Finlay
4. Suzuki-gun
Winners: Most Violent Players at 27:47. Yano rolls up Smith after a low blow. A fun pre show match.
We opened with a recap video that went over every nearly every single show New Japan put on this year. Then they run down a list of future events including some non Japan dates dates: April 6 in New York City, July 6 in Dallas, and August 31 in London. The Dallas show will be held at the American Airlines Center so a big venue. Later in the show Kevin Kelly brings up some smaller shows that will be held in Los Angeles, Charlotte, and Nashville within a month. Also worth noting, that the January 5th show will also be held in the Tokyo Dome.
NEVER Openweight Championship Match
Will Ospreay vs. Kota Ibushi (c)
Ibushi had an entrance similar to Rey Mysterio in his first WWE run popping out of the stage. This should be a hell of an opener.
The match starts off as fas as you would imagine with a lot of back and forth action. Ospreay gets the early advantage when Ibushi goes for the Golden Triangle but misses and Ospreay, from the apron, delivers a roundhouse kick to Ibushi’s chest on the way down. Ibushi takes back control with some strikes then hits a top rope corkscrew moonsault to Ospreay on the outside.
Ibushi gets a near fall with a high bridge German suplex. Ospreay takes over with a back handspring leaping rolling kick. Ibushi and Ospreay exchange shots with Ibushi getting the better of the challenger. After a series of reversals of each others moves, Ospreay hits a C4 to end the exchange. Ibushi comes back with a running knee right to the back of the head of Ospreay.
Ospreay kicks out of a Last Ride powerbomb. Ospreay thwarts a top rope move from Ibushi which traps Ibushi in a tree of woe position. The two exchange slaps with Ibushi upside down. Ospreay tries something off the top but Ibushi stops it, has Ospreay slumpped on the top and hits a double stomp to his back. Ibushi is bleeding from the mouth. Ibushi tries a dead lift German from the 2nd rope back into the ring but Ospreay lands on his feet. Ospreay tries and OsCutter but Ibushi counters. Ibushi hits a package piledriver and Ospreays kicks out of that. Ospreay hits a back fist to the back of Ibushi’s head then a Storm Chaser for the 3.
Winner and new NEVER Openweight Champion: Will Ospreay at 18:13. After the match Ibushi is taken off on a back board. Seems Ibushi may have suffered a legit concussion.
Three Way IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match
Roppongi 3K with Rocky Romero vs. Shingo Takagi and Bushi vs. El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c)
The match starts out fast with 3K clearing the ring and nailing the LIJ team with double top con hilo’s to the outside. The Suzuki-gun team comes in and takes over early on. There’s a lot of back and forth as the LIJ team doesn’t get tagged in early on.
Finally Takagi tags Kanemaru off an Irish whip and goes to work on Sho. Eventually all 6 men enter the ring and each person takes turn hitting big moves to an opponent. Takagi kicks out of a double knee strike from Roppongi 3K. They set up for a 3K on Takagi but the other members in the match stop them. Takagi then gets Sho alone in the ring, hits a Pumping Bomber but only gets a 2. Then follows up with the Last of the Dragon for the 3.
Winners and new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Takagi and Bushi at 6:51.
Revolution Pro British Heavyweight Championship Match
Zack Sabre Jr. with Taka Michinoku vs. Tomohiro Ishii (c)
Early on Sabre goes for an arm bar but Ishii fights and gets to the ropes. From there Sabre begins to target the right arm of Ishii. Ishii gets the momentum back with a charging shoulder block that sends Sabre flying. From there Ishii works over Sabre with a series of chops in the corner.
Ishii hits a top rope superplex but Sabre maintains control of Ishii’s arm and stomps on Ishii’s arm which was stuck in an awkward angle. Sabre then unloads some kicks on Ishii but Ishii just absorbs the shots and hits a big lariat just dropping the challenger. Sabre then kicks out of a power bomb at 2. Ishii comes back with another lariat for 2. Sabre counters another lariat with a double arm octopus stretch and Ishii verbally submits.
Winner and new Rev Pro British Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. at 11:37.
Three Way IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match
The Young Bucks vs. Sanada and Evil vs. the Guerrillas of Destiny (c) with Bad Luck Fale and Jado
Tama Tonga and Nick Jackson start things off and keeps offering a handshake to Nick. Apparently Tonga’s new gimmick is he’s a good guy. The match quickly breaks down to a brawl. Evil slams Matt on on entrance ramp then hits him with a big running clothesline.
Later on the now good guy Tongans think about illegally entering the ring to break up a Matt Jackson sharpshooter to Evil but decide against it, and instead push the bottom rope closer to Evil. Sanada is tagged in by his partner is runs wild taking out his four opponents to a really big ovation. Sanda tries a Skull End to Matt but Nick springboards in and hits Sanada with a block buster.
All six men are in now hitting big moves on one another. We then get a tower of doom spot which saw Matt get the worst of it but Nick, who was not in the tower, follows up with a 450 to Sanada. Jado and Fale end up getting involved. Jado gets double super kicked and Evil tosses Fale over the top.
The Bucks attempts a Meltzer Driver but Tama Tonga catches Nick as he flies in. The LIJ team disposes of the Tongans and hit a Magic Killer to Matt Jackson then Sanada follows up with a moonsault for the win.
Winners and new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Evil and Sanada at 10:16.
IWGP United States Championship Match
Juie Robinson vs. Cody (c) with Brandi
Before the match Cody swings the belt at Juice but Juice avoids the shot and gets the early momentum with a spine buster. Juice goes up top for a splash but Brandi slides in and covers her husband. Cody uses the time to roll to the apron. Both men are now on the apron and Cody shoves Juice shoulder first into the ring post.
Kevin Kelly points out Cody’s ring attire is teal with jaguar print, obvious shout out to the backer of AEW. Meanwhile, Cody has the ref distracted as Brandi spears Juice, mounts him, then begins to slap him. The ref sees this and tosses her to the back. Cody then hits a Cross Roads to Juice but only a 2.
Cody hits a Disaster Kick and follows up with a Pulp Friction but still only gets a 2. Cody then removes the weight belt and whips Juice with it. Cody goes for another Disaster Kick but Juice decks Cody with a left as he comes off the ropes. Juice hits a Pulp Friction but doesn’t pin him. Juice hits another one then pins the champion and wins the title back.
Winner and new IWGP United States Champion: Juice Robinson at 9:03.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
Bone Soldier Taiji Ishimori vs. Kushida (c)
Before Kushida comes out, a child wearing an fairly creepy looking Kushida mask comes out. But Taguchi as Doc Brown comes out, hits a button on his remote, and the real Kushida appears behind a wall of smoke. Was Kushida just shrunken or was that him as a kid? If so why did he have an adult face? Perhaps, I’m over thinking it. I’m just happy we got Taguchi as Doc Brown again.
Early on Ishimori gets a cross face in on Kushida but the champion gets to the ropes. Ishiori puts Kushida seated over the middle rope and hits a sliding German. Ishimori attempts to get back into the ring with a 450 splash but Kushida catches his arm and locks in an arm lock. Ishimori escapes. Ishimori attempts a tombstone but Kushida counters, Ishimori tries a head scissors but Kushida shoves his legs off and onto the ref and then drills Ishimori’s arm with a kick.
Kushida follows up with the attack on the arm as he goes for the Hoverboard Lock but Ishimori rolls out of it and counters with a Death Valley Driver. Ishimori hits the running knees into the corner then goes for a suplex but Kushida gets out of it. Kushida hits off the ropes but runs into a knee strike from Ishimori who follows up with a Bloody Cross for the win.
Winner and new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion: Taiji Ishimori at 11:17.
Switch Blade Jay White with Gedo vs. The Rain Maker Kazuchika Okada
Okada took off his robe and he’s back to trunks, no more pants. The trunks reveal actually got a decent pop.
Early on Gedo trips Okada as he hits off the ropes. White siezes the opportunity and dumps Okada to the outside. White slides out and sends Okada into the guardrail. White gets some early offense on Okada but Okada manages to take over by drop kicking White off of the top rope. Okada sends White over the guardrail. Gedo attacks Okada but Okada sends him over the guardrail too. Okada then does the running cross body block over the guardrail taking both men out.
Back in the ring Okada hits a big elbow drop and follows up with a Rain Maker pose. White quickly regains control with a flatliner. Meanwhile Gedo puts a chair on the apron and on the other side of the ring tries to distract the ref. White tries to use the chair but ends up running into Gedo. White comes back with a full nelson suplex then a Kiwi Crusher for 2.
White goes for a Rain Maker but Okada counters it with a tombstone. Okada then hits White with a big drop kick to the face, goes for a Rain Maker but White counters and nearly hits a Blade Runner, Okada counters that and hits a Rain Maker. Okada goes for it again but instead White pulls Okada in and hits a Blade Runner for 3.
Winner: Jay White at 14:20.
IWGP Intercontinental Championship No Disqualification Match
Tetsuya Naito vs. Chris Jericho (c)
Naito has his suit off before Jericho gets to the ring, as you may recall he didn’t do that last time and Jericho got the early jump on him. Not only that, but Naito jumps Jericho before the bell and the two brawl on the outside finally as the bell sounds. Shortly after that Naito hits the first big move of the match with a pildriver on the entrance ramp.
Back in the ring, Naito removes the corner pad and starts beating Jericho with it. Naito clotheslines Jericho to the outside and teases that tranquilo pose but instead goes for what looks like a suicide dive but Jericho cracks him over the head with a kendo stick. Jericho then goes to work on Naito with the kendo stick. Naito is on the apron and Jericho hits the springboard drop kick knocking him off.
Jericho grabs a camera and starts filming Naito on the ground. Jericho then takes Naito to the announcers table and gives Naito a spike DDT and the table doesn’t break. Jericho then rings the bell and starts declaring himself the winner to a chorus of boos. Back in the ring Jericho hits a top rope cross body to Naito for a 2 count. Jericho then playing toward the crowd easily getting the most heat out of anyone tonight.
Jericho continues the onslaught with a Lionsault for a 2. Naito fires up and starts up a come back to the Fozzy front man. Naito goes for his leg sweep slingshot drop kick but Jericho grabs the leg and applies the Walls of Jericho. Naito fights his way free then follows up with the satellite DDT. Naito hits the Gloria but only a 2. Naito tries for a Destino but Jericho counters with the Walls of Jericho again. Naito reaches not for the ropes but for the kendo stick and breaks free with some shots to the back.
Naito then drills Jericho with the stick like he was batting clean up for the Giants. Naito goes for another big swing but Jericho ducks it and hits a Code Breaker for the near fall. Jericho goes under the ring and tosses 8 chairs into the ring. Jericho nails Naito with a chair, then creates a big pile of chairs. Jericho attempts a power bomb into the pile but Naito counters with a DDT into the pile of chairs.
Naito comes back with a Code Breaker to the Champ for a close 2. Naito heads up top but Jericho launches a chair at him. Jericho pulls Naito off the top but Naito tries a Destino, Jericho stops it, shoves the ref, then hits a low blow. Jericho comes back with a Code Breaker but only another 2. Jericho goes to the outside and grabs the title. Jericho charges but Naito catches Jericho with a flapjack into the exposed corner. Naito hits a Destino and new ch… no Jericho kicks out. Naito does the eye pose over the belt, picks it up, nails Jericho with it. Naito then hits a Destino for the 3.
Winner and new IWGP Intercontinental Champion: Tetsuya Naito at 22:35.
IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega (c) with the Young Bucks
Kenny comes out with a new song, very Game Boy esque which matched his new entrance video which was also done in the Game Boy graphics style. His entrance attire was armor with one wing attached to the back.
The two feel each other out and as Kenny has Tanahashi up against the ropes he lets him up but Tanahashi slaps the Champ right across the face and the fight is on. Omega gets the early advantage wearing down Tanahashi with a back breaker and forearm shots and kicks to the back. Tanahashi rolls out of the ring after a high angle back suplex.
Omega then hits a back suplex to Tanahashi on the apron. Omega then hits a scoop slam on Tanahashi over the guardrail and onto an announce table. Omega follows up with a moonsault off the guardrail and over the table nailing Tanahashi. Omega then pulls a table from under the ring out. As he’s setting it up, Tanahashi gets up and thinks about sending Omega through the table but instead sends him into the ring. The story here, if you didn’t know, is Tanahashi doesn’t believe Omega has any grace or respect and needs to take short cuts to win. Hence, why he passed up on the table.
Back in the ring Tanahashi hits a Dragon Screw to Omega. Tanahashi hits a somersault senton for a 2. Omega regains momentum with the Kotaru Krusher. Tanahashi rolls to the outside as Omega goes for the Rise of the Terminator but Tanahashi breaks that up with a drop kick. But Tanahashi is again sent to the outside and this time Omega does nail the Rise of the Terminator but Omega’s back caught a lot of the entrance ramp too, made for a loud thud.
Omega gets the Ace back in the ring and hits a few snap dragon suplexes then a V Trigger. Omega goes for the You Can’t Escape but landed funny, selling the injury from the outside dive, and Tanahashi catches Omega with a Dragon Screw into the ropes. Tanahashi follows up by locking in a Cloverleaf. Omega tries to break free but Tanahashi counters with a Styles Clash. Tanahashi goes up top, High Fly Flow but Omega gets the knees up.
Omega goes for a V Trigger but Tanahashi moves and Omega’s knee collides with the corner. Tanahashi comes back and hits a Slingblade on Omega on the apron. Tanahashi then sets up Omega on the table and decides he’s going to use it. Tanahashi goes up top and goes for the High Fly Flow, Omega moves and Tanahashi crashes through the table. Omega pulls Tanahashi back in not wanting to win via count out.
Omega hits three power bombs but gets a 2 after each one. Omega goes for a V Trigger but Tanahashi charges and hits a Slingblade. Omega is back on offense with a series of strikes and a Slingblade of his own. Omega goes up top and hits a High Fly Flow for a 1 count. Tanahashi is fired up and the crowds going crazy but Omega fires back with a V Trigger.
Omega drills the Challenger with another V Trigger, goes for the One Winged Angel but Tanahashi counters with a reverse rana. Dragon suplex by Tanahashi, only a 2 count. Tanahashi up top, High Fly Flow cross body block. Up top again, High Fly Flow for nearly a 3.
Tanahashi back up but on his way up, Omega sandwiches his head with a V Trigger. Both men are on the top and Omega hits a Dragon Suplex off the top. Tanahashi managed to flip over, unlike Okada 2 years ago. Omega hits another V Trigger, goes for the One Winged Angel but Tanahashi escapes. Tanahashi comes back with a Slingblade. The Ace goes up top, High Fly Flow and for the 8th time captures the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Winner and new IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Hiroshi Tanahashi at 39:14.
After the match Tanahashi cuts a promo. He says he was doubting himself but it was Shibata who inspired him and gave him the strength to do what he did. Tanahashi then thanks the fans and says he will begin a new journey now. Tanahashi then says he doesn’t have enough power to perform. The fans start cheering so Tanahashi gets the energy and plays the air guitar. Tanahashi gets back on the mic and says he’ll protect the belt forever. Thanks the fans again and leaves to his music.
Well my overall thoughts on the show was that it was very good. I will say, the under card was a little underwhelming. Don’t get be wrong, Ibushi vs. Ospreay was amazing but I didn’t think matches 2 through 7 got enough time to really get going. They were good for what they were but nothing you need to go out of your way to see. Everyone tried very hard but again, without enough time it’s hard to really get going. I do appreciate a shorter show but when it’s your big show, I wouldn’t object to it running a tad longer. If you skip the pre show and opening videos, it was around 4 hours.
That being said, White/Okada, Jericho/Naito, and especially Omega/Tanahashi were all very good. New Year’s Dash should be very interesting given the rumors of who is leaving. Speaking of, what’s going on with Omega? I think h was going to lose regardless so I don’t think these results mean anything. The story was about Tanahashi’s redemption and that story needed to end with him winning. But if Omega sticks around he could win back the title at MSG, or even before and we could see Omega/Ibushi in NY. Or perhaps Omega leaves and Jay White moves up and gets a title shot. We’ll see. It’s reported WWE made Omega a very good offer so will he take it or remain with his friends with AEW and maybe just do New Japan part time. It’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure.
That does it for me, again it was a lot of fun doing these results and getting to know fellow writers and fans. I won’t say it’s good bye but how about see you later? In the mean time, follow me on Twitter at Eddyc85 and as always thanks for reading.