By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S AXS NEW JAPAN TV REPORT
EPISODE 1
AIRED JAN. 16, 2015
BY SEAN RADICAN, PWTORCH COLUMNIST

Hiroshi Tanahashi introduced the show. They went to some slick highlights of IGWP Hvt. Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada at “Wrestle Kingdom 7.” Tanahashi discussed Okada’s road to the title shot at Wrestle Kingdom with English subtitles. He talked about Nakamura and Okada being good looking guys, but he has short arms and legs. Tanahashi talked about G1’s prestige being boosted by the winner getting a title shot at Wrestle Kingdom. They focused on the Tokyo Dome after highlighting Okada winning G1 22 in 2012 and defending his title shot successfully before facing Okada on Jan. 4, 2013. Tanahashi talked about how the cheers from the fans echo in the Tokyo Dome. This was a very cool introduction to the match.

Mauro Rannalo and Josh Barnett then introduced the match as it began with the entrances of Okada first and then Tanahashi. Barnett talked about challenging Nagata at the Tokyo Dome for the IWGP title in 2003. Rannalo talked about Okada coming back to NJPW after an unsuccessful stint in TNA as Samoa Joe’s sidekick. He said he had beaten Tanahashi for the IWGP Hvt. Championship right away and had a new attitude with the “Rainmaker” moniker. Tanahashi was out next and Rannalo said he was in the midst of his sixth IWGP Hvt. Title reign. He said 29,000 people were in attendance for this show. Rannalo said the series between Okada and Tanahashi was tied at 1-1 at this point.

Back from commercial break, the formal introductions took place. Rannalo mentioned Okada and Tanahashi had been battling for a year to determine the king of NJPW.

IWGP Hvt. Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada

Rannalo hammered home the fact that Okada had returned to NJPW and ended Tanahashi’s record title reign after 11 title defenses in 2012, but Tanahashi won the belt back in June of 2012. Okada offered a clean break and did the rainmaker pose. Tanahashi then offered a clean break and mocked the rainmaker pose during the early stages of the match. The announcers mentioned that Tanahashi won a tournament to capture the IWGP Hvt. Championship for the first time after Brock Lesnar was stripped of the title following a contract dispute. They went back and forth on the mat. Tanahashi grabbed a headlock and Okada drove him into the corner, but did not offer a clean break and hit a shoulder tackle. Tanahashi fired back with a springboard splash off the turnbuckles. They went to break with Tanahashi in control.

Back from the break, Tanahashi went up top, but Okada crotched him by running into the ropes. He then followed up with a hangman’s DDT off the top. Rannalo talked about how Okada had won the title show by becoming the youngest person to ever win the G1 Climax. Okada used the guardrail as leverage to work over Tanahashi’s neck. Okada began working over Tanahashi inside the ring a short time later. The announcers talked about Okada going after Tanahashi’s head and neck area. Okada grabbed a submission and the announcers said he learned it during his time in Mexico. Okada strutted around the ring before putting the boots to Tanahashi in the corner. They went back and forth a short time later and Okada caught Tanahashi with a flapjack off the ropes for a 2 count. The announcers mentioned that Okada was very popular with the women in Japan and had requested that he not get married. Okada worked over Tanahashi’s neck with a submission on the mat, but Tanahashi managed to roll over to get his feet on the ropes. Tanahashi mounted a comeback and caught Okada with a leaping forearm off the ropes. Tanahashi kicked Okada’s leg out from under him and continued to target it. Both men began exchanging big blows in the middle of the ring. They grabbed each other’s heads before continuing to exchange blows. Tanahashi eventually hit a dragon screw and Okada rolled to the floor. Tanahashi went up top and hit high fly flow and Rannalo lost his mind. The ref began counting with both men down on the outside. They went to break after Tanahashi tossed Okada back into the ring.

After the break, Tanahashi was trying to apply a Texas cloverleaf, but Okada blocked it and got to the ropes. Tanahashi began kicking away at Okada’s injured leg. Okada fired back and hit a dragon screw of his own, which drew a gasp from the fans. Okada hit a DDT and looked in the DID submission. Barnett called it a tangled variation of a simple chancery. Tanahashi screamed and tried to hit some knee strikes on Okada’s side. He finally managed to get his foot on the bottom rope. Okada went for an elbow off the top, but Tanahashi got his knees up. Tanahashi did the rainmaker pose and went up top. Okada popped up and cut him off. They battled up top and Tanahashi hit several elbows to Okada’s head. He sent Okada down to the mat, but Okada hit a standing dropkick that sent Okada off the top to the floor. They showed several replays of the dropkick from different angles as Okada went to the outside after Tanahasi. Okada went for a tombstone on the entrance ramp, but Tanahashi blocked it. Okada got a running start, but couldn’t run very well and Tanahashi caught him with a sling blade on the ramp. The announcers talked about the hatred had developed between both men as it had been a year since Okada returned to NJPW from TNA. Tanahashi tossed Okada back into the ring and the Barnett said Okada didn’t want to win via count out. The fans fired up as Tanahashi set up in the corner and hit a big cross body in the corner. Okada caught Tanahashi, but he countered him into a sling blade. Tanahashi went up top a short time later for the high fly flow, but Okada got his knees up. The fans fired up as both men were slow to get to their feet. Okada hit a neck breaker over his knee after catching Tanahashi going for a splash in the corner. They went to commercial break with Rannalo losing his mind.

Okada was in control as they came back from the break. Okada went up top and hit a diving elbow. Okada did the rainmaker pose and the fans fired up. Okada went for the rainmaker, but Tanahashi countered it into a straightjacket German for a bridge. Tanahashi then hit a dragon suplex with a bridge for another near fall. Tanahashi hit a sling blade and went up top. Tanahashi hit high fly flow and the fans went nuts counting along with the ref, but Okada kicked out at the last second. The announcing for this match is off the charts. Tanahashi went right after Okada’s leg. Tanahashi got the Texas cloverleaf and the announcers compared it to Jericho’s lion tamer. Okada tried to get to the ropes, but Tanahashi dragged Okada back to the middle of the ring. Okada teased tapping a short time later as Gedo went crazy on the outside. Okada finally got to the ropes and the fans applauded. Okada caught Tanahashi by surprise with a huge dropkick off the ropes a short time later and both men were down on the mat. They showed a slow motion replay of Okada’s dropkick that was gorgeous. The fans fired up as both men slowly got to their knees. Both men grabbed each other as they got to their feet. Okada went for the rainmaker, but Tanahashi ducked. He then went for a dropkick, but Tanahashi held onto the ropes. Okada caught Tanahashi with a dropkick to the back of the head. Okada hit a tombstone and went for the rainmaker, but Tanahashi countered it into the sling blade! Holy crap! Both men were down and they went to commercial break as they had just made their way to their feet.

Back from the break, Okada went for another tombstone. Tanahashi blocked it and went for a gut wrench suplex. Okada let go and landed several elbows to Tanahashi, but Tanahashi teased a dragon screw and nailed Okada’s leg with a dropkick. Tanahashi then hit a tombstone. Okada tried to get up to get to Tanahashi as he went up top. Tanahashi hit the high fly flow on a standing Okada. He then hit a second high fly flow for the win as the fans counted along.

WINNER: Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain the IWGP Hvt. Championship.

They cut to Okada doing an interview backstage. He said something would happen one day eventually and a thunderstorm was on the way. Tanahashi was then shown addressing the crowd after the match. He said an era isn’t something you change, but it’s something you push forward. Tanahashi said the era of emperor Tanahashi would last a bit longer. He concluded saying he loves everyone in the Tokyo Dome. They then cut to Tanahashi posing at the top of the entrance ramp as fireworks went off.

They showed Tanahashi backstage being interviewed. He said he couldn’t imagine today a year ago with such a big crowd. He said Okada had used the word era and said he would change an era. Tanahashi said wrestling isn’t something you do alone, but it’s something you push forward. He said today their match pushed the era forward. He said it was a great match.

They showed Tanahashi back in the studio. He said he could only watch Okada’s presence with awe. Tanahashi said he was able to perform properly for the people. Tanahashi talked about how he lived his life. He said when he was little he scribbled and his mother told him to write properly. As long as you write it, you will get your message across. Tanahashi said that’s what came across in the match. Okada is more athletic than him, but he can execute his maneuvers properly. Tanahashi signed off saying he loves the fan. Rannalo then signed off with Barnett as highlights from the match played.

Overall thoughts: I was just blown away with the presentation of the first episode of NJPW on AXS. Rannalo and Barnett did such a tremendous job setting the entire stage for the Tanahashi-Okada main event at Wrestle Kingdom 7. They did an incredible job of giving the background of the Tanahashi-Okada feud leading into the match with a nice introductory video package and a Tanahashi interview with English subtitles in a studio setting.

The announcing of Rannalo and Barnett during the match was incredible. Not only did they continue to fill in the context of the match and the background of Tanahashi and Okada, but they called the match in a way that it felt like they were live in the Tokyo dome. Rannalo was particularly impressive raising his levels of excitement during the big moments of the match. I thought the audio mix of the commentary of the match was great well, as the crowd could be heard perfectly.

The match itself was incredible and if you just started watching NJPW with the airing of “Wrestle Kingdom 9” with English commentary from Jim Ross and Matt Striker earlier this month, this is a fantastic way to find out even more about the rivalry between Tanahashi and Okada. If you were hooked by these two men and their story at “Wrestle Kingdom 9,” this show will make you want to seek out all of their matches.

I hope this show catches on and brings more exposure to NJPW in the U.S. This was the best one-hour wrestling show I’ve ever seen and I’m incredibly excited to see more episodes on AXS.

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