Wrestle Kingdom XX
Date: January 4, 2026
Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Attendance: 46,913
Commentators: Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton

It’s that time of year again as we have the biggest non-American event of the year. This show has quite the draw, as it features Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final match, as he is facing longtime rival Kazuchika Okada one last time in the show’s main event. If that isn’t enough, Yota Tsuji is challenging Konosuke Takeshita for the IWGP World Title. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow New Japan very closely. While I do know most of the bigger names, I apologize in advance for any character or storyline points that I miss.

Kickoff Show: Katsuya Murashima/Masatora Yasuda vs. Shoma Kato/Tatsuya Matsumoto

Young Lions match. Murashima and Matsumoto go to the mat to start and neither can get very far. It’s off to Yasuda, who backs Kato into the ropes for a rather hard chop. They strike it out and go to the mat for another standoff as this is rather basic so far (in traditional Young Lion style). Yasuda grabs some suplexes to take over and it’s off to Murashima to take over. That doesn’t last long as it’s off to Kato to clean house before Matsumoto (the strong one) snaps off some slams. Murishima powerslams Matsumoto into a Boston crab and when a save fails, Matsumoto taps at 6:20.

Rating: C. It was a very basic match but that’s the point. This is the kind of match you put out there for the sake of having some action while the fans are coming in and it isn’t supposed to be anything more than a chance for the young stars to get their feet wet. No one really stood out but it didn’t last long and the action was fine.

Kickoff Show: TV Title: Chris Brookes vs. El Phantasmo

Phantasmo, with Jado and company, is defending. Brookes takes him to the mat rather quickly to start and trade some clotheslines. A running hurricanrana sends Brookes outside, where he decks Jado. One of Brookes’ lackeys ties a ribbon to Phantasmo’s neck for a rather long (as in about thirty feet) crank. With that out of the way, Phantasmo escapes a chinlock but gets backsplashed for two. Phantasmo knocks him back down and hits a middle rope elbow, setting up the air guitar.

The lackeys offer a distraction on the floor, allowing Phantasmo to hit a torture rack neckbreaker for two. Brookes superplexes him down though and a running dropkick in the corner gets two more. Phantasmo is up with a super hurricanrana but Phantasmo’s top rope splash hits knees. They trade kicks to the face to no avail so Brookes grabs a Jay Driller for two. Phantasmo is back with something like a Neutralizer for two of his own, followed by the Thunder Kiss 86 splash for the pin to retain at 11:50.

Rating: B-. This got a bit better and I was digging it by the end. I’ve seen both of these two before and they’re rather good so I’m not surprised they had a fine match here. It improved once they got away from the people at ringside too, as they were little more than pests who weren’t helping anything.

As usual, the opening video looks at the matches in order, which does give you a nice idea of where everyone stands.

Never Openweight Six Man Tag Team Titles: New Japan Ranbo

So this is kind of a weird one, as the titles are being defended in basically a team Royal Rumble. Each team (eight, for twenty four total entrants) sends in all three members at a time in one minute intervals. When one entrant is eliminated (pinfall, submission, over the top), the team is eliminated, last team standing wins the belts.

RoughStorm (Shota Umino/Yuya Uemura)/Kaisei Takechi are in at #1 and the House Of Torture (Ren Narita/Sanada/Yoshinobu Kanemaru) are in at #2, with the former being played to the ring by a pop band. The House jumps them to start and send RoughStorm outside but the two of them are back inside for some dropkicks. Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors/Oskar/Yuto-Ice) are in at #3 and start cleaning house with Connors grabbing a big wheel for some destruction.

TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr./Ryohei Oiwa/Hartley Jackson) are in at #4 and the War Dogs are waiting on them, with the other six on the floor but not out. Connors hits a spear and it’s Tiger Mask/Togi Makabe/Ryusuke Taguchi in at #5. They take their sweet time getting to the ring, allowing Ice to almost be eliminated. Oskar is tossed though, meaning the War Dogs are gone.

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto/Yoshi-Hashi)/Boltin Oleg are in at #6 and get inside for some brawling as Taguchi uses the jumping hip attacks. Most of the people are on the floor as Team 150 (Tomohiro Ishii/Taichi/Satoshi Kojima) are in at #7. During their entrances, Mask is pinned by Oleg to clear the ring out a bit. Ishii slugs it out with Oleg and plants him with a suplex as we somehow only have two people standing in the ring out of fifteen in the match.

Toru Yano and SpiritTech (Master Wato/Yoh), the defending champions, complete the field at #8 with Yoh dressed as Yano. Taichi and Takechi get into something of a sumo match and a hurricanrana sends both of them out for the double elimination. The House cheat (their thing) to send Yoh over the top but his partners make the catch and throw him back inside.

Yoh hits Sanada low to even the score but Yoh is low bridged and pulled to the floor for the elimination. Sanada falls out as well though and we’re down to TMDK vs. Bishamon/Oleg. Sabre gets caught in the wrong corner for some running splashes and Oleg is choked. That’s broken up and Oleg throws Oiwa, only for Sabre to get the European clutch for the pin and the titles at 20:46.

Rating: C-. This didn’t work, as it was WAY too chaotic with far too much going on and almost no way to keep track of who was doing what. It featured one of the biggest annoyances in wrestling, with a battle royal style match with people on the floor for a long stretch, making it hard to keep track of who was involved. Just do a gauntlet match or something like that, as it makes it so much easier to understand.

IWGP Women’s Title/Strong Women’s Title: Syuri vs. Saya Kamitani

Winner take all. They go with the grappling to start and Syuri works on the arm before they both miss kicks. Saya takes her down for two and cranks on the arm, followed by some kicks to the back for two more. The referee gets in the way though, allowing Saya to hit a dropkick. Syuri is sent outside for a big springboard dive and they come back in to trade forearms.

Syuri’s jumping knee drops Saya but she’s able to catch Syuri on top. Saya goes up but gets pulled down by the arm, setting up a double armbar. The ropes get Saya out of trouble so Syuri drops her on her head for two more. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Saya two of her own, followed by the Star Crusher for another near fall. Back up and Syuri’s running knee gets two and something like a powerslam gets the same. A poisonrana gives Saya two and a running hurricanrana gets the same. Syuri’s Buzzsaw kick gets two and something like an AA gives her the pin and both titles at 12:06.

Rating: B. This is a good example of what happens when you tell a good story with the action to back it up. They were playing up the good vs. evil story here (including the white vs. black attire) and I got it despite knowing almost nothing about either of these two. The action made it even better as they were both working hard. Good stuff here, as they told a story.

Unaffiliated/Bullet Club War Dogs vs. United Empire

Unaffiliated: Shingo Takagai/Hiromu Takahashi, Bullet Club War Dogs: David Finlay/Gabe Kidd/Drilla Maloney
United Empire: Andrade El Idolo, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Henare, Jake Lee

Lee appears to be a surprise partner and has seemingly betrayed the War Dogs to join the Empire. It’s a brawl to start (of course) with Idolo doing his tranquilo pose in the ropes to sucker Kidd in. Idolo’s high crossbody gets two on Kidd, who clotheslines him out to the floor. Back in and Idolo drops Kidd with the spinning back elbow and it’s off to Henare vs. Takagi.

A strike off goes to Takagi and he grabs a neckbreaker for two. Khan comes in to toss Takagi into a sitout powerbomb but Takagi is back with a slam to Henare. A top rope back elbow gets two and Maloney’s spear drops Henare for the same. Henare headbutts his way out of trouble and it’s off to Newman vs. Finlay. A big running boot drops Finlay, who is right back with a backbreaker to cut Newman off.

Newman gives him a running dropkick and it’s off to Lee to slam Finlay for one. Finlay stuns his way out of a chokeslam and it’s off to Tanahashi to make the comeback. Kidd is back in and gets kicked in the face before Maloney gives Newman a spinning piledriver. Takagi Cactus Clotheslines Henare out to the floor and Finlay powerbombs Takahashi over the top and onto the ringside pile. A superplex hits the pile as well, leaving Lee to Helluva Kick Takahashi for the pin at 14:26.

Rating: B-. It was another match with too much going on and that hurt things a lot, but what matters the most is that they were able to explain the bigger stories. The main idea here was Lee returning to screw over the War Dogs, which worked fine. It was another match with a lot going on, but they did a nice enough job of letting you know what was going on, which helps so much.

Post match Francesco Akira returns and joins the Empire, even getting in on a beatdown.

El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. Sho

For a future shot at IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Douki, who is at ringside. Fujita dives onto the floor to start fast and it’s Sho getting caught by the other three. The ring is cleared until Sho is back in to strike it out with Fujita. A triple submission has Sho in more trouble and it’s down to a three way for the time being. Ishimori and Desperado strike it out with Ishimori hitting a quick faceplant.

Sho slams Fujita onto the referee for the save and Douki is in with a pipe for the beatdown. Robbie Eagles and Robbie X run in for the save, because this show needed another match with a bunch of people flying around. Sho drops Fujita with a shot to the head and a package piledriver gives Sho two on Fujita, with Desperado making the save. Desperado gives Sho a quick Angel’s Wings for the pin at 7:38.

Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted and they told the story of Sho being a pest that everyone wanted to stop, but there is only so much you can do with four people (plus interference) in less than eight minutes. That’s been a theme of this show, as there have been too many people involved in almost every match. If this has to be a four way, just let it be a four way without all of the other people getting involved.

We hear about various upcoming shows.

We recap Aaron Wolf challenging Evil for the Never Openweight Title. Wolf is a former Olympic gold medalist in judo and making his professional debut.

Never Openweight Title: Aaron Wolf vs. Evil

Evil, with the House Of Torture, is defending and jumps him to start fast. They slug it out with Wolf hitting a running shoulder. A suplex and running elbow give Wolf two and Evil is already getting a breather on the floor. Back in and Wolf is knocked outside so the House can jump him to little avail. A chair is wrapped around Wolf neck for another chair shot and they head back inside. Wolf gets sent hard into the corner for two but he fights back, only for the House to get involved.

Some powder to the face cuts Wolf off and Evil grabs a Sharpshooter. Wolf makes the rope for the save and grabs a powerslam for two. An Angle Slam gives Wolf two and a top rope splash gets the same with the House pulling the referee. The House comes in for the beatdown, with some other wrestlers, including Toru Yano, not being able to make a save. A table is set up and Bad Luck Fale splashes Wolfe through for the big crash. Evil’s big clothesline gets two but Everything Is Evil is countered into a triangle choke to give Wolf the title at 12:54.

Rating: B. This is a case where “all things considered” needs to be brought up. For Wolf’s debut, he did remarkably well, as he was keeping things basic, but those basics looked polished. I’ll absolutely take someone doing simple things well over trying to do too much and looking sloppy. At the same time, JUST LET US HAVE A ONE ON ONE MATCH ALREADY! My goodness this was the seventh match of the night and ONE has gone without some kind of interference. It really shouldn’t be asking that much to avoid it a bit more often.

We recap Yota Tsuji challenging Konosuke Takeshita for the IWGP World Title (while also defending his own Global Title). The idea seems to be that Takeshita is all about wrestling everywhere and Tsuji is fighting for the company’s honor.

IWGP World Title/Global Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yota Tsuji

Winner take all and commentary explains the idea of their issues: Takeshita wrestles the big matches but not the smaller ones and Tsuji wants him to do more. When they throw in that Takeshita has wrestled the second most time in singles matches all year, it kind of makes Tsuji sound whiny. Tsuji takes him down by the arm and then gets in a slap against the ropes. A running hurricanrana sends Takeshita outside but he comes back in to win a battle of shoulders.

The chinlock holds Tsuji down and he actually has to use a foot on the ropes for the escape (that’s quite a chinlock). Tsuji knocks him down for two but Takeshita gives him a suplex to cut off the comeback attempt. We pause for Tsuji to have a neck issue so Takeshita kicks him out to the floor. A running boot to the face sends Tsuji over the barricade but Takeshita sends him back inside for a middle rope backsplash.

The chinlock goes on again but the referee breaks it up, only for Takeshita’s running knee in the corner to miss. Takeshita is right back in with a running hurricanrana to send Tsuji outside for the big dive. Back in and Tsuji hits a kind of faceplant before armdragging him out to the floor. The big Fosbury Flop takes Takeshita down again, followed by a top rope double stomp to give Tsuji two.

They trade hard knees to the face with Tsuji getting two and a kneeling Tombstone connects. Takeshita shrugs it off and hits a spear to leave both of them down. Back up and they trade the big forearms with Tsuji winning the slugout but his neck gives out. Tsuji is able to hit a Canadian Destroyer and a spear sends Takeshita into the corner to leave both of them down.

The spear is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb though and Raging Fire gives Takeshita two. Takeshita drops him with another forearm but the big knee is blocked. An Alley Oop drops Takeshita and they go up top, where Tsuji hits a reverse superplex for two. The spear misses for Tsuji though and Takeshita grabs a poisonrana. A super Blue Thunder Bomb (that was awesome) gets two more, as does the running knee. Another running knee is cut off with the spear though and a Boston crab makes Takeshita tap at 29:20.

Rating: B+. This was rather good and it felt like a big time title match. Takeshita can do just about anything in the ring and it’s awesome to see him getting his chance on the big stage. At the same time, I haven’t gotten much out of Tsuji in the few times I’ve seen him and that was the case again here. He’s fine in the ring, but I don’t get the appeal and while this felt like a big deal, it didn’t feel special, which isn’t a great sign.

Post match Tsuji talks about meeting a rival that he knew he couldn’t lose to and he thanks the fans for believing in him. Jake Lee runs in from behind and beats him down as Tsuji seems to have his first challenger.

We recap Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada, which is Tanahashi’s retirement match. Tanahashi has been the ace, and face, of the company for a LONG time now but it’s time for him to step away. It’s treated as a huge and important moment, which it certainly is, as the fans and company have to say goodbye. Okada, one of Tanahashi’s greatest rivals, is back to face him one more time.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

We get the Big Match Intros and Tanahashi’s does indeed feel special. Tanahashi takes him to the mat by the arm to start and you can see a thank you message (in English) on Tanahashi’s knee pad. Back up and Okada takes him into the rope for a kick to the ribs but Tanahashi gets in a middle rope spinning crossbody. Tanahashi takes too long going up top though and a dropkick knocks him back down.

A running boot knocks him over the barricade and they get back inside, with Okada grabbing a neckbreaker for two. The chinlock has Tanahashi in more trouble but he fights up to drop Okada for a change. A middle rope flipping splash gives Tanahashi two and there’s the dragon screw legwhip. Tanahashi dropkicks the knee out and there’s the high crossbody to the floor. Back in and the Sling Blade is cut off with a flapjack from Okada, followed by the Air Raid Crash on the knee.

The top rope elbow lets Okada flip off the crowd but Tanahashi is back with the Twist And Shout. Okada Tombstones him down and they head outside, with Okada hitting another Tombstone on the ramp. Tanahashi barely beats the count so Okada Tombstones him again, only to pull it up at two. The Rainmaker connects and Okada pulls him up again, which is quite the evil move. Another Rainmaker connects but Tanahashi reverses a third into one of his own for a needed breather.

Okada hits another Rainmaker for another two and it’s off to a Boston crab. Tanahashi makes the ropes so Okada hits the great dropkick but Tanahashi is back with a Sling Bade. The sleeper sets up a PK (ala Katsuyori Shibata), followed by the running knee (ala Shinsuke Nakamura) into the High Fly Flow (ala Hiroshi Tanahashi). Okada fights out of a full nelson but gets Sling Bladed back down.

A High Fly Flow hits Okada’s back but another hits his raised knees, leaving them both down for a breather. They forearm it out from their knees and pull each other up until Okada hits the great dropkick. A fight over a Tombstone results in Okada hitting something like a Destino, followed by a Rainmaker for two. Okada drops the top rope elbow, does the full Rainmaker pose, and finishes Tanahashi’s career with the Rainmaker at 33:05.

Rating: A-. This was old school Tanahashi vs. Okada, as Tanahashi had one more great one in him. There were some outstanding moments in there with Tanahashi surviving and trying to turn the clock all the way back but just not being able to get there in the end. It’s certainly a fitting final match for an all time legend and I was getting emotional watching a legend go away. Great stuff here and worthy of the spot.

Post match Tanahashi is still down but Okada thanks him and leaves. Tanahashi gets up and is presented with some flowers and poses with (I’m assuming) some executives for photos. Cue Jay White (he’s been gone for a bit and does not have the best history with Tanahashi) to present Tanahashi with flowers and bow to him in a show of respect.

Then Will Ospreay joins us (he looks weird in a suit) for the same, followed by Kenny Omega and (a limping) Kota Ibushi. Katsuyori Shibata comes out too (this is too much for Tanahashi, who seems to need a minute to compose himself) and they even lock up and trade some chops. After a big hug, Keiji Mutoh gets in, followed by Tatsumi Fujinami (Tanahashi is just DONE).

Everyone gets together for a big group photo….and Tetsuya Naito is here too. Well in theory at least, as he takes his sweet time coming out, with Tanahashi pointing at his watch and motioning to get on with it already for a funny bit. Naito talks about what Tanahashi means to his career and even though he has left New Japan, Tanahashi is the reason he came back one more time.

They pose together and Naito leaves, finally allowing Tanahashi the chance to talk. He thanks the fans for coming out and he thanks the wrestlers for fighting so hard. Tanahashi goes to leave but is told to go back inside….for one last air guitar. Ok a few last air guitars. He asks the fans to do the Wave around the arena because it’s bad for the circulation to stay seated so long. Of course the fans are right there with him and we get a ten bell salute. Tanahashi waves to the fans and then goes out to high five a bunch of them.

He goes to leave…but walks (ok limps) over to the other side of the stage and gets in a cart used for video shots for a ride around the arena. This goes on for well over ten minutes, with commentary signing off as he’s still going around. Tanahashi finally gets back on the stage and he says he is so happy he fell in love with wrestling. He thanks the fans and pyro goes off, leaving him to walk into the smoke to end the show. The post match stuff goes around an hour and while it’s long, you can’t argue about it being deserved.

A Tanahashi highlight reel plays n the big screen to wrap us up, though even that goes on for a long time as well. Eh it’s a one time thing.

Overall Rating: B. The last two matches more than carried the show but there were some weak parts before then. There were so many matches that were either multi-person matches or had interference and they both made things feel too messy. That being said, this was ALL about Tanahashi and that stuff was a mixture of great wrestling and some pulling of the heartstrings. It was one of the best goodbyes you’ll ever seen and it felt like he deserved every second of the time.

The World Title match was great and Wolf’s debut was rather good to make the show much more good than bad, but dang it could have used some adjustments on the undercard. I would normally say one match can’t carry everything, but when you have that match and the post match stuff taking up about an hour and a half, yeah it kind of can. Rather good show, but an all time farewell.

Results
Katsuya Murashima/Masatora Yasuda b. Shoma Kato/Tatsuya Matsumoto – Boston crab to Matsumoto
El Phantasmo b. Chris Brookes – Thunder Kiss 86
TMDK won the New Japan Ranbo last eliminating Bishamon/Boltin Oleg
Syuri b. Saya Kamitani – Spinning fireman’s carry slam
United Empire b. Unaffiliated/Bullet Club War Dogs – Running boot in the corner to Takahashi
El Desperado b. Kosei Fujita, Taiji Ishimori and Sho – Double underhook lifting faceplant to Sho
Aaron Wolf b. Evil – Triangle choke
Yota Tsuji b. Konosuke Takeshita – Boston crab
Konosuke Takeshita b. Hiroshi Tanahashi – Rainmaker

 

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Wrestle Kingdom XVII
Date: January 4, 2023
Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Chris Charlton, Gino Gambino

It’s time to go back to New Japan for a promotion that I have not looked at since last year’s Wrestle Kingdom. As tends to be the case with this show, I’m coming in mostly blind, save for knowing the wrestlers involved. The main event is Jay White defending the IWGP World Title against Kazuchika Okada, who he took the title from back in June. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Boltin Oleg vs. Ryohei Oiwa

This is a three minute exhibition and Oleg, an amateur champion, is making his debut. They go with the grappling to start and Oleg powers him down, followed by some over the shoulder armdrags. Oiwa cranks on the arm and an armbreaker sends Oleg to the rope. Back up and Oleg grabs a slam as we go to the draw at 3:02.

Rating: C. Even commentary was saying “this is meant to go to a draw” so it is kind of the definition of getting your feet wet. I’m fine with something like this as nothing more than a warmup as Oleg seems to have some name recognition based on his amateur credentials. It’s three minutes, it came and went, no one pretended it mattered. That’s an easy way to start the night.

Pre-Show: New Japan Ranbo

This is the Royal Rumble (minute long intervals, pin/submission/over the top eliminations), with the final four moving on to a match at New Year’s Dash to crown this year’s Provisional King Of Pro Wrestling Champion. Sho is in at #1 and Hikuleo is in at #2, leaving Sho looking nervous. The forearms have little effect on Hikuleo so Show bails to the floor for some regrouping.

Evil (with Dick Togo) is in at #3, meaning Hikuleo gets to beat up two people instead of one. Tomohiro Ishii is in at #4 and stares down Hikuleo before helping Evil beat him down. Great-O-Khan is in at #5 and takes his sweet time getting to the ring as Ishii and Hikuleo fight. With Khan taking forever to get in, Douki is in at #6 and helps clear the ring without eliminating anyone.

Evil and Togo try to get rid of Ishii but Rocky Romero is in at #7 for the save. Romero gets rid of Evil and the Forever Lariats have Sho in trouble. Kenta is in at #8 and gets in a brawl with Ishii until Yoshinobu Kanemaru is in at #9. With more brawling ensuing, Aaron Henare (he’s big) is in at #10 and slugs it out with Ishii to limited avail. Ryusuke Taguchi is in at #11 and helps Henare get rid of Ishii.

Taguchi and Romero (former team) go after Henare but Jeff Cobb is in at #12 as Hikuleo gets rid of Douki and Kanemaru. Shane Haste is in at #13, with Romero countering his powerbomb attempt. Mikey Nicholls (Haste’s partner) is in at #14 and Romero is out fast. Haste and Nicholls (The Mighty Don’t Kneel) double team Taguchi for the pin as Yujiro Takahashi is in at #15.

Cobb whips Khan into Hikuleo, who gets clotheslined out as a result. Toru Yano (who has dominated a lot of this title’s history) is in at #16 as Cobb is tossed as well. There goes Haste, followed by Nicholls, leaving Khan and Henare to stand tall. El Phantasmo is in at #17 and starts raking backs (as the Dermis Destroyer). A nipple twist (yep) gets rid of Henare and it’s Taichi in at #18.

Everyone but Taichi (including some eliminated names) fight on the floor and it’s Shingo Takagi (last year’s champion who reportedly doesn’t want to be here) in to go after Taichi. I believe (as there are a lot of people outside) that leaves us with Sho, Khan, Taguchi, Takahashi, Yano, Phantasmo, Taichi and Takagi as the final group (remember the final four advance).

A bunch of people get together to dump Taichi and there goes Takahashi. Phantasmo is knocked off the apron but lands on the barricade, where Kenta (who was apparently eliminated somewhere in there) and Takahashi help him back to the apron. Takagi joins him out there and Sho accidentally knocks Phantasmo out, meaning Khan, Takagi, Sho and Yano win to advance at 30:35.

Rating: C+. This is the Wrestle Kingdom “get everyone on the show” match and it still works. What amazes me every year is that this match always flies by and it did so again here, with thirty minutes feeling like it was less than half that. It’s a fun match that gives the fans something to cheer about while also setting up something for the future. That’s more than you get on most Kickoff Show style matches so well done.

A woman tells the fans to vote for something.

Pre-Show: Yuji Nagata/Satoshi Kojima/Togi Makabe vs. Tatsumi Fujinami/Minoru Suzuki/Tiger Mask

This is the Antonio Inoki Memorial Six Man Tag and Tiger Hattori is special referee for a real bonus. Nagata and Fujinami start things off with an exchange of wristlocks. That goes nowhere so Nagata shoulders him down, only to get dropped as well. Suzuki comes in to slug it out with Nagata.

Tiger Mask gets in a few kicks and it’s Nagata getting beaten down in the corner by a rotating cast. Nagata manages a suplex so Kojima can come in to chop Suzuki in the corner. This proves to be rather stupid as Suzuki glares at him and laughs at the idea of a forearm off. Tiger Mask comes in for the tiger driver and a near fall, only to get caught in the Kojicutter.

It’s off to Makabe as everything breaks down, with Nagata and company getting caught in stereo holds. All of those are broken up until Tiger Mask crucifixed Makabe for two. Suzuki catches Makabe on top so Tiger Mask tries a…something that doesn’t work, allowing Makabe to cradle him for the pin at 9:07.

Rating: C. Much like the other two matches, I don’t think this one was entirely meant to be taken seriously. This was much more about getting some legends in there for the sake of honoring the most important person the company has ever seen. That is completely understandable so soon after Inoki’s passing and the match was certainly watchable, if a bit formulaic.

Post match, Fujinami welcomes the fans to the show and honors Inoki.

We start with a tribute to Antonio Inoki, as you had to know was coming.

The opening video, if you can call it that, runs down the card, in order. As per tradition, I’m still not sure if I like that or not.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles: Catch 2/2 vs. LiYoh

Catch 2/2 (TJP/Francesco Akira), of the United Empire, is defending against Lio Rush/Yoh (who are an unlikely team that managed to win the Super Junior Tag League to get this shot). It’s a wild fight to start with Rush dropping TJP and taking Akira up the ramp, where Akira plants him face first on the steel ramp. Back in and Yoh fights them off for a bit, only to get caught in the wrong corner.

Akira hits a rope walk Tree of Woe dropkick to send Yoh outside, setting up Take A Picture (kind of a toss from the apron hip attack). The busted open Rush is picked up as TJP hits a Shinjiro Otani to Yoh but Rush cuts him off with a spear. Rush comes in off the tag and picks the pace way up, including the Tajiri handspring elbow to both champs. Suicide dives take out both of them again and it’s back to Yoh, whose superkick is cut off. Everything breaks down and everyone but TJP is knocked down.

Back up and a powerbomb/suplex combination drops Yoh but Rush makes the save with the Final Hour. The 3K (3D into a Downward Spiral) connects on Akira, only to have TJP come in with the Mamba Splash for the save. The Detonation Kick gets two on Yoh but the Leaning Tower is countered with a poisonrana. Another 3K gets another two but TJP is right back with a small package to pin Yoh and retain at 10:31.

Rating: B-. That’s a smart way to open the show as it was all energy and they didn’t bother wasting time with anything fancy. 2/2 is a good team and they did their thing here. Rush’s eye being busted open is what is going to be remembered here as it was a gusher, but other than that you had a ten minute match which I feel like I’ve seen several times before.

IWGP Women’s Title: Kairi vs. Tam Nakano

Kairi (formerly Sane) is defending and this is Stardom’s portion of the show. Kairi is in her pirate gear, complete with…Grim Reapers? They fight over a lockup to start until Nakano grabs a headlock. A basement dropkick puts Kairi down and Nakano gets to give her what might be described as a cute stare.

Back up and Kairi sends her into the corner for the sliding forearm but charges into a spinning kick to the face. With Kairi outside, Nakano hits a dive (left a bit low), followed by a Steiner Screwdriver for two back inside. That’s quite the kickout move less than five minutes in but Kairi is back up with a spinning backfist for two of her own. The Insane Elbow retains the title at 5:57.

Rating: C+. They went through this as fast as they could as they didn’t have much time here. Kairi is still rather good in the ring and I’ve heard good things about Nakano. The Screwdriver was weird and felt like something they were trying to squeeze in whether it fit there or not. For a fast match though and what I believe is the first women’s match ever at Wrestle Kingdom, it went well.

Post match the lights go out and Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) debuts, shocking….I’m sure there is someone there who didn’t know this was coming. Thankfully commentary acknowledges that it wasn’t a surprise as they have the staredown with Kairi holding the title in the air.

Mone pulls her into what looked like a Gory Stretch spun into a faceplant (or it might have been some kind of an armbar that didn’t go right). That leaves Mone to introduce herself as the CEO of the women’s division. She’s coming for the title in San Jose next month and you can bank on it. That was certainly a debut but it didn’t quite blow the roof off.

IWGP Tag Team Titles: Bishamon vs. FTR

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto/Yoshi-Hashi of Chaos) are challenging and commentary tells us about FTR’s travel issues getting here. Hashi shoulders Wheeler down to start so we’ll try Harwood vs. Goto instead. That doesn’t last long as Hashi comes back in for the double team, only to have it broken up just as fast.

The champs send them outside for a dive, setting up the PowerPlex for two on Goto. A powerbomb into a bridging dragon suplex gets two with Hashi making the save. The Big Rig is broken up though and Goto hits the fireman’s carry backbreaker for a breather. Harwood comes in off the blind tag and gets taken down with a running neckbreaker.

Bishamon’s Sho Tow (I think?) finisher is broken up and it’s a Big Rig for two on Goto. Wheeler and Hashi suplex each other to the floor, leaving Goto to fight out of a piledriver attempt. Another piledriver attempt works just fine, followed by the spike piledriver for two with Hashi making the save. Another Big Rig is broken up and it’s Sho Tow to Harwood for the pin and the titles at 10:05.

Rating: B-. And thus FTR’s downfall continues as they are now out of titles after holding a bunch of them for several months. The good thing is that they lost them in another solid match, which shouldn’t be a surprise in the slightest. Bishamon winning the titles is fine as commentary hyped them up as the best team in Japan. Give them the titles so FTR, who seem to be more guest stars than anything else, can head back to AEW and sit around some more.

TV Title: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita

Tournament final for the inaugural title with a fifteen minute time limit, meaning a draw will require a rematch at a later date. They both fight for a cross armbreaker attempt to start before Sabre’s penalty kick misses, giving us a standoff. Narita kicks him down but Sabre is right back up with a twist of the arm.

A belly to belly gets Narita out of trouble for a few seconds but he can’t hook an abdominal stretch. They trade kicks to the back, with Narita sitting down so Sabre can hit his own. An exchange of kicks to the chest goes to Sabre but Narita goes after Sabre’s arm for a change and a double knockdown.

Back up and a bridging t-bone suplex gives Narita two but Sabre pulls him down by the leg. Sabre can’t get a triangle choke so Narita hits him in the face. They trade snap German suplexes but Narita misses a running spinwheel kick. Back to back German suplexes are no sold so they fight over another abdominal stretch, only to have Sabre switch to an armbar for the tap at 10:30.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling this one very much as it was a lot of both guys doing the same thing and often popping up right after. Sabre is good at tormenting people with his holds but that wasn’t really on display here. Narita is someone who has come a long way in a short amount of time, but it wasn’t exactly an awesome showcase.

Post match the Mighty Don’t Kneel come out to offer Sabre a spot on the team and the shirt goes on.

Never Openweight Title: Karl Anderson vs. Tama Tonga

Tonga, with Jado, is challenging and gets decked before the bell. Anderson drops him on the barricade and throws him over before going back inside to pose a bit. The Burner (Rikishi) Driver on the ramp knocks Tonga silly again, leaving Anderson to chant his own name. Tonga blocks a Gun Stun on the ramp though and they fight to the apron for a slugout.

They slug it out on the apron with Tonga getting the better of things before hammering away in the corner. A charge misses though and Anderson hits the HI YAH kick. They head up top with Tonga knocking him down, setting up a top rope clothesline. Supreme Flow gives Tonga two and they run the ropes, only to have Anderson’s Gun Stun blocked. A middle rope Gun Stun to Anderson sets up a regular one (with Tonga slipping off, making it look like Anderson shoved him off) to give Tonga the pin and the title at 9:33.

Rating: C. This felt like a match that had a lot more history behind it and if that is the case, fair enough. Tonga winning makes sense as Anderson is in WWE full time so put the title on someone who is going to be around. Good enough match here, but that ending didn’t exactly do it any favors.

Keiji Muto/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon

This is Muto’s (Great Muta, but in normal form) final New Japan match. Muto and Sanada start things off with a teased Too Sweet but Sanada takes out the bad knee. A springboard dropkick takes Muto down again, only to have Muto grab a backsplash. The moonsault is loaded up but Tanahashi calls Muto off for the sake of his knees.

Instead Muto snapmares him down and hits the Power Drive elbow. Tanahashi comes in for the springboard spinning crossbody but Naito takes him down. A basement dropkick rocks Tanahashi again and we slow things down. Bushi’s neckbreaker gets two but Tanahashi gets in a dragon screw legwhip on Naito. That’s enough for the tag off to Umino to pick the pace way up and clean house.

Everything breaks down and Los Ingobernables get caught in triple submissions but a rope break leads to the triple escape. Bushi missile dropkicks Umino and Bushiroonis (just go with it) up. Tanahashi comes back in with some Twists and Shouts, setting up Muto’s Shining Wizard on Bushi. Umino adds the Death Rider for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: C+. This was rather formula until the end when everything broke down and the good guys dominated, as they should. There was a grand total of no way that Muto’s team was going to lose in his last match in the promotion so the result was little more than waiting for the obvious ending than anything else. Giving Umino the pin was a nice moment and it isn’t like there is any shame in losing to Muto in his last match around here.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Master Wato vs. El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori

Ishimori is defending and this is one fall to a finish. They start fast (I sense a theme beginning here) with Takahashi and Desperado running Wato over. An exchange of rollups give us a big standoff as we hear about a fight backstage, possibly involving Tetsuya Naito. Ishimori bails to the ramp for a breather and that’s not cool with everyone else, meaning the chase is on. That’s fine with Ishimori, as the fight breaks out on the ramp and Ishimori is the only one to get back inside unscathed.

Back in and Desperado goes after Ishimori’s knee but the other two make a save. Wato strikes away at Takahashi and sends him outside, meaning it’s time for the string of dives. Takahashi caps it off with a huge dive off the top to put everyone down before they all head back inside. A series of strikes leads to Desperado hitting something like a Blue Thunder Bomb on Ishimori.

Desperado punches Wato down and everyone is on the mat as we hear about Los Ingobernables getting in a backstage fight with the Kongoh stable of Pro Wrestling Noah (right before the New Japan vs. Noah show as luck would have it). The four way chop off is on until Takahashi and Desperado are sent outside. Wato kicks Ishimori down and goes up top, only to get pulled down in a Tower of Doom as Takahashi comes back in.

Desperado joins everyone else and goes after Takahashi, setting up an Angel’s Wings for two. Takahashi grabs the Time Bomb for two of his own but Wato is back in with a tiger suplex into a crucifix for two more as Ishimori pulls the ref. Back up and a SCARY German suplex gives Wato two on Takahashi, who is right back up with the Time Bomb II for the pin at 16:39.

Rating: B. They were flying through most of this and it didn’t feel nearly as long as it was, but there were quite a few times where they stopped, which stood out a bit. That being said, I’d call it more than acceptable when they were going that fast. All that being said, this is the fourth time Takahashi has won the belt at Wrestle Kingdom, to the point where I was actually thinking “Really? Again?” when he won here. Very good match, but maybe let someone else get this spot next time.

IWGP United States Title: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay

Ospreay, with the United Empire, is defending and this is a pretty long time in the making. Don Callis joins commentary (great) as Ospreay headlocks him to the mat. Ospreay tries to pick up the pace but gets knocked off the apron, sending him hard into the barricade. Back in and Omega kicks him down and rips off a turnbuckle pad. Omega hits a hard backbreaker to cut Ospreay off again, only to have him come back with a hot shot.

A big boot and cutter drop Omega and a Phenomenal Forearm does it again. Ospreay kicks him to the apron for a strike off, only to miss the middle rope Oscutter. Omega puts a table on top of Ospreay on the floor and strikes away even more. That’s fine with Ospreay, who knocks him away and goes up top for a Sky Twister to drop Omega again. Back in and the Hidden Blade gives Ospreay two but he still can’t hit the Oscutter.

Omega is fine enough to grab the Snapdragon for two and they’re both a bit winded. Back up and Omega takes him up top but Ospreay flips out of the top rope dragon superplex. The Oscutter finally connects for two and there are some HARD Cheeky Nandos kicks to keep Omega in trouble. Ospreay goes up again but this time Omega DDTs him onto the exposed buckle, drawing a good deal of blood. There is blood all over the floor as Omega hits the Rise of the Terminator.

Ospreay is sent head first through the table (leaving a big hole in the middle) before the beating continues back inside. There’s the Snapdragon into a V Trigger, with Callis complaining about a slow near fall. Omega goes up top but Ospreay stumbles into the ropes to crotch him down. Ospreay goes up as well but gets dropped face first into the buckle again (ouch).

Another V Trigger looks to set up a super One Winged Angel. Since that would, you know, kill Ospreay, it’s a super German suplex instead. Another V Trigger seems to wake Ospreay up as he strikes away, including a big shot to drop Omega. The Hidden Blade gets two on Omega, followed by a Styles Clash for the same. Another Hidden Blade misses and they strike each other down while holding wrists. More strikes set up a V Trigger and the One Winged Angel to give Omega the pin and the title at 34:38.

Rating: A-. This was a different match than I was expecting as they didn’t go as nuts with the flying and instead focused on the hard hitting fight. Omega is a lot easier to watch around here, as he goes a lot more serious and actually feels like he is having a match instead of a performance, making it that much better. Ospreay got in some of his high flying to go with the strikes, but that blood is what is going to be remembered. Heck of a match here and it felt worthy of Wrestle Kingdom.

We recap Kazuchika Okada challenging Jay White for the IWGP World Title. White took the title from him last year and now Okada wants it back. Game on.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada

White, with Gedo, is defending and Rocky Romero is on commentary. They glare at each other to start until Okada shrugs off a chop. Okada takes him down but Gedo pulls White away from a running something. White gets in a shot of his own though and we hit the chinlock. A DDT gives White two and he drives Okada into the barricade for two, which he shouts over and over again.

After some chops, he adds a SWEET, only to have Okada come back with a DDT of his own. Okada grabs a flapjack and dropkicks White off the top to send him outside. Back in and a missile dropkick sets up the Money Clip, which is broken up just as fast. White is back with a swinging suplex, leaving commentary thinking White wants the fans to cheer him. The chinlock goes on before White goes after the knee for a change.

The knee is fine enough for Okada to hit his dropkick though, followed by the spinning Tombstone. White is sent outside for a top rope flip dive but he’s smart/beaten up enough to drop to the ground before the Rainmaker. Okada tries it again but this time White spits in his face, setting up a swinging Rock Bottom to put Okada down for a change. Back up and Okada grabs the arm for back to back clotheslines, only to have the Rainmaker countered into the Blade Runner.

Another Blade Runner is blocked so White hits his own standing clotheslines. Now it’s White doing the Rainmaker pose, allowing Okada to hit the real thing for a close two. White wins a strike out and says Okada isn’t taking this from him. They slug it out until Okada hits his own Blade Runner, followed by a Cobra Flosion. The Rainmaker gives Okada the title back at 33:04.

Rating: A-. Another very good match as White continues to feel like a star. Then you have Okada who is….well he’s Okada, and that is about all you need to say about him. This didn’t quite hit the top level that some Wrestle Kingdom main events have reached in the past, but I’ll take a near classic to close out the show any day. Much like Takahashi winning again though, seeing Okada win the World Title again isn’t the most exciting result. Great match though and that’s all that matters.

Post match White pulls himself up and actually seems to show some respect. With White gone, Shingo Takagi comes out to issue the challenge for February 1 (commentary seems a bit confused by Takagi picking that date). With Takagi gone, Okada asks if Antonio Inoki saw the matches and thanks the fans to wrap things up. Actually hang on, as we’ll get in one more Inoki chant to really finish it off.

Commentary talks a lot, as tends to be the case.

Overall Rating: A. It’s not quite at the same level as previous Wrestle Kingdoms but how can you complain about something this good? The last two matches were both great and there was more than enough that was either solid to near awesome throughout. Nothing was bad, but perhaps more importantly, this FELT like a Wrestle Kingdom. Maybe it’s the fans cheering or maybe it’s having the show on one night again, but this was another blast, as tends to be the case with Wrestle Kingdom.

Results
Boltin Oleg vs. Ryohei Oiwa went to a time limit draw
Great-O-Khan, Shingo Takagi, Sho and Toru Yano won the New Japan Ranbo
Togi Makabe/Yuji Nagata/Satoshi Kojima b. Tatsumi Fujinami/Minoru Suzuki/Tiger Mask – rollup to Tiger Mask
2/2 b. LiYoh – Small package to Yoh
Kairi b. Tam Nakano – Insane Elbow
Bishamon b. FTR – Sho Tow to Harwood
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Ren Narita – Armbar
Tama Tonga b. Karl Anderson – Gun Stun
Keiji Muto/Shota Umino/Hiroshi Tanahashi b. Los Ingobernables de Japon – Death Rider to Bushi
Hiroshi Takahashi b. Master Wato, El Desperado and Taiji Ishimori – Time Bomb II to Wato
Kenny Omega b. Will Ospreay – One Winged Angel
Kazuchika Okada b. Jay White – Rainmaker

 

 

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NXT UK
Date: April 16, 2020
Host: Andy Shepard

The hiatus continues and this time around we have a new theme with Superstar Picks. It’s exactly what it sounds like with wrestlers picking their favorite matches to air. In theory that is going to be a lot of stuff from NXT UK but I don’t know if that is guaranteed. Let’s get to it.

There is a crawler acknowledging the death of Howard Finkel. That’s certainly better than nothing and about all they could do given the time situation.

Opening sequence.

Andy welcomes us to the show and explains the idea.

Dave Mastiff’s pick is from Madison Square Garden, August 30, 1982.

Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid

It’s Vince alone on commentary as Tiger sweeps the leg to start, earning himself an elbow to the face. An elbow drop misses so Tiger kicks him hard into the corner. A very spinning takedown takes Kid down and we hit the leg crank as you can tell the fans are impressed with this stuff. Back up and Dynamite grabs a slam to set up a middle rope knee for two, followed by the chinlock.

Tiger bounces out of a headscissors so Kid grabs a suplex to put him right back down. They’re right back to their feet and Mask sends him to the floor, setting up a Tiger Feint Kick (actually at 6:19 on the video’s timer) to really pop the crowd. Back in and Dynamite takes him down for a leg crank, followed by an enziguri for Tiger daring to get back up. The Swan Dive misses though and Mask hits a moonsault for the pin at 6:36.

Rating: B. The important thing to remember here is the date as this was nearly forty years ago and they were flying around like you would see in a cruiserweight match today. This stuff was just not happening in America (or almost anywhere) at this point and they would do even better stuff in Japan. I can see why this was selected though and it’s very easy to see why this would influence a generation or several.

Kenny Williams is from NXT UK TV, May 8, 2019.

Tag Team Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Amir Jordan/Kenny Williams

Jordan and Williams are challenging. Before the match, Gibson says the title match isn’t happening because Jordan is injured. The fans need to put their shoes back on and head home because the fairy tale ending isn’t happening tonight. Williams comes out to accuse the champs of attacking Jordan so he has a replacement partner.

Tag Team Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Kenny Williams/Noam Dar

Williams and Dar are challenging. The fight is on in a hurry with all four heading outside. Back in and Dar knocks Gibson into the corner with a northern lights suplex getting two. Drake comes back in for a running dropkick to Dar’s head and it’s a forearm to put him on the floor again. We settle down to Dar getting beaten down with Drake driving a knee into the ribs to keep him in trouble.

A diving save cuts off a hot tag attempt and for once it doesn’t go through a few seconds later. Dar gets in a clothesline and dives over but Gibson pulls Williams to the floor at the last second. The third attempt works a bit better and now it’s Williams coming in to clean house in a hurry. A bulldog sends Drake head first into the corner and a tornado DDT makes it even worse.

The champs head to the floor for a springboard trust fall from Williams, followed by a top rope back elbow for two on Drake. It’s back to Dar for a kick to Gibson’s knee into the ankle lock but Gibson is too close to Drake for the tag. That’s fine with Dar, who ankle locks Drake with a grapevine. Williams does the same to Gibson at the same time but Gibson kicks and punches his way to freedom.

Everyone is down until Drake gets a half crab on Dar’s recently repaired knee. Williams grabs the hand to block the tap and then kicks Drake in the face for the save. A running clothesline has Gibson in trouble but he’s right back with a middle rope Codebreaker to Dar. Williams’ wheelbarrow faceplant gets two on Gibson but Drake breaks up the Nova Roller. That leaves Williams alone against the champs, with Drake hitting a running dropkick in the corner. Helter Skelter into the 450 retains the titles at 13:30.

Rating: B. I wasn’t expecting much from the match in the first place but they made a very smart change by swapping Dar in for Jordan. This was a serious match and there was no room for Jordan’s dancing in the middle. Dar isn’t my favorite guy in the world but he was working well here and the match was rather good as a result.

Ligero has an interesting pick from NXT UK TV, October 3, 2019.

Kay Lee Ray vs. Tegan Nox

Non-title. Ray takes her into the corner to start and of course we don’t get a clean break. Nox gets in a slap of her own and Ray bails to the floor for a breather. Back in and Nox runs her over again, setting up a high crossbody for two. A departing Ray has to be thrown back in but she gets in a shot to the knee in a rather dastardly move. The seated abdominal stretch doesn’t exactly follow up on the knee but makes Nox scream anyway. Ray rolls her into a kick to the chest for two more as Nox keeps checking her knee.

Now it’s off to the other knee as Nox tries to adjust her brace. A gordbuster of all things gives Ray two but she misses a charge into the post to give Nox a breather. The knee is too banged up at the moment though so it’s a lot of clapping while Nox tries to get up. The slugout goes to Nox and she kicks Ray’s leg out for a change. An enziguri from the apron sets up a Molly Go Round (Nox was mentioned as being a Molly Holly fan) for two but Ray is back up with a superkick.

The Gory Bomb is countered into a rollup for two on Ray and Nox superkicks her for the same. Ray is right back up with a tornado DDT for her own two and it’s off to a guillotine in the middle of the ring. Ever the face, Nox powers up with a spinebuster but Ray puts it right back on. This time Nox manages to get to the rope for the break and busts out a chokeslam of all things.

It takes a little too long for Nox to get up top though and Ray crotches her down, only to get caught in the Canadian Destroyer for another near fall. The Shiniest Wizard gets the same with Ray having to get her foot on the rope. They head to the apron and Nox’s running knee goes into the post to crush the dreams. The Gory Bomb finishes Nox at 13:29.

Rating: B-. The storytelling was strong here and Nox is very good as an underdog face. It’s easy to get into what she’s doing as anyone can sympathize with someone who almost lost their career because they got hurt. Ray was great here by going after the knee and showed a side of herself that she hasn’t done before, which made for a rather good story.

A-Kid’s pick goes in a bit of a different direction from NXT TV on December 25, 2013.

Antonio Cesaro vs. William Regal

The Fink is doing entrances, which makes things even better. The disgusted yet also terrified look on Regal’s face is perfect. Cesaro cranks on the arm to start and Regal can’t counter. Antonio takes him to the mat but Regal nips up to draw a gasp from the crowd. Cesaro stays on the hold and takes Regal down again but there’s another nip up. “You still got it!”

Regal takes Cesaro down to his knees but still can’t get away from the wrist control as we take a break. Back with Cesaro still on the arm and jumping onto a standing Regal’s shoulders (basically putting himself in a fireman’s carry) to apply even more pressure. Regal flips him down into an armbar but Cesaro nips up just like Regal did earlier. William takes him down by the other arm but Cesaro powers up into a test of strength.

Cesaro easily powers Regal down but the Englishman counters into a cross arm choke. He leans backwards to put Cesaro over his knees while still choking, only to be flipped forward to escape. Back to the test of strength before Regal counters a front facelock into a dragon sleeper. Cesaro flips him forward in a kind of reverse suplex for two but Regal gets him down into the corner and does his “distract the referee while kicking the opponent in the face” spot.

Antonio chop blocks Regal down and rams the bad knee into the apron a few times as we take another break. Back with Cesaro holding a leg lock but Regal keeps fighting back with kicks to the head. Cesaro keeps control by cranking on the knee even more and taking off Regal’s knee brace. The knee is bent around Cesaro’s neck in an old Brock Lock but Regal counters into a rollup and backslide for two each. Cesaro hits a series of ten uppercuts to knock Regal silly, setting up the Cesaro Swing.

After some trash talk Antonio loads up the Neutralizer but Regal backdrops his way out. He drops a knee on Cesaro’s arm to take away the Neutralizer. Regal goes after the arm with everything he’s got and hits an overhead suplex for two. The knee is too damaged for the knee trembler though and Cesaro comes back with a headbutt. Regal is fine with that and headbutts Cesaro right back before loading up a double underhook suplex. Cesaro backdrops Regal but can’t break the grip.

Regal takes him to the mat again and tries the Regal Stretch but Cesaro makes the rope. A forearm from the good arm lays Regal out and a double stomp to the back of the head has the referee checking him. Cesaro looks down at Regal before picking up his limp body. He sets up the Neutralizer but thinks twice about it and lets Regal fall back to the mat. Regal tries to pull himself up so Cesaro puts on the Neutralizer. He looks down at Regal’s unconscious body and looks disgusted after pinning Regal at 16:00 shown of 24:00.

Rating: A. I loved this for a lot of reasons. First of all, the technical stuff at the beginning was excellent with two old school craftsmen doing their jobs as well as anyone can. It’s wrestling in its purest form and when you have guys who can work that style it’s as entertaining as you can get. Then there’s the excellent storytelling with Regal trying every trick he knew but not being able to stop Cesaro’s raw power. The ending with Cesaro not wanting to hurt Regal anymore but giving in to his natural instincts of winning at any cost was great stuff. I loved this match and continue to wait for Cesaro to be taken seriously in WWE.

Regal is taken out by referees but Cesaro goes after him and extends a hand. Regal stares him down and shakes hands as we go off the air.

Overall Rating: B. This is the kind of thing that I could go with for a long time: opening up the vault and just throwing stuff out there. I’d love for there to be some kind of a show like this on the Network (you might even say it’s uncovering gems that have been hidden from sight) every week, and that might be what we’re getting around here for the time being. NXT UK doesn’t have a ton of history so mixing it up a bit is a good idea. Anyway, this was an entertaining watch and I like that they threw in some surprises instead of the stuff you probably would have guessed. Good stuff here, and all they can really do right now.

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