RADICAN’S NJPW “WRESTLING DONKATU 2015” REPORT
MAY 3, 2015
FUKUOKA, JAPAN
FUKUOKA CONVENTION CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON NJPWWOLRD.COM

(1) Yuji Nagata & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Mascara Dorada vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA. The fans fired up for Liger starting the match against Taguchi. Taguchi teased a dive to the floor early, but hung himself in the ropes and patted his butt while Liger looked on from the floor. Dorada went for a handspring arm drag during a fast-paced exchange with KUSHIDA off the ropes, but he caught him and got a cross-arm breaker. Dorada managed to get the ropes. Tiger Mask went to work on KUSHIDA a short time later and got a 2 count with a…tiger driver. KUSHIDA got caught in a surfboard by Liger and his partners cleared the ring, but Liger eventually released the hold and tagged in Nagata. KUSHIDA made the hot tag to Nakanishi, who ran wild with axe handles. He then nailed Nagata with machinegun chops in the corner. Nagata and Nakanishi began slapped each other in the face in the middle of the ring. Nagata went down after several slaps and Nakanishi nailed him with a big clothesline for a 2 count.

Nakanishi got a torture rack on Nagata. His partners ran in and tried to break it up, but Nakanishi eventually tossed Nagata at them. The action broke down and everyone hit moves on Nagata in the corner. Captain New Japan came off the top and hit a diving headbutt on Nagata, but he kicked out at 2. They set up a big dive sequence with one man after another hitting dives to the floor. The fans fired up after a beautiful step-up dive from Dorada. Nagata capped the sequence with a slingshot splash to the floor and the fans went nuts again. Nagata ended up ducking a hip attack off the turnbuckles from Taguchi, who ended up hitting Captain New Japan. He then finished him off with a wrist-clutch exploder.

Winners: Yuji Nagata & Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask & Mascara Dorada.

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was a fun opening match that the fans were into, especially the dive sequence late in the match capped by a slingshot splash from Nakanishi.

(2) Tetsuya Naito & Sho Tanaka vs. Kota Ibushi & Yohei Komatsu. Komatsu wanted to start the match and pushed Ibushi into the corner. Tanaka returned the favor and shoved Naito into the corner. Naito ended up allowing Tanaka to start the match, but Ibushi refused to let Komatsu kick things off. Tanaka ended up taking Ibushi down with a dropkick as he came off the ropes and tagged in Naito. Ibushi also tagged out to Komatsu. Komatsu and Naito exchanged big chops to the chests until Naito got the upper hand. Komatsu took Ibushi down with a hurricanrana as he came off the ropes and the fans applauded. Naito fired back and hit a big backdrop on Komatsu and began working over his mid-section. Tanaka tagged in and continued to work over Komatsu. Naito and Tanaka tagged in and out to continue to work over Komatsu. Komatsu finally mounted a comeback after getting slapped silly by Naito and made the tag to Ibushi. Ibushi went to work on Naito and hit a standing SSP for a 2 count and the fans fired up. Ibushi went for a moonsault, but Naito got his knees up.

Both men began trading forearms in the middle of the ring. They continued to go back and forth until Ibushi hit a Pele kick on Naito and both men were down. Both men tagged out. Tanaka and Komatsu began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring. Komatsu hit a big running forearm followed by a suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. He then locked in a Boston crab on Tanaka, who eventually managed to get to the ropes. Tanaka fired back and went to work on Komatsu with the help of Naito. He then applied a Boston crap on Komatsu again, but Ibushi eventually made the save. Tanaka sent Ibushi packing, but ended up getting rolled up for a 2 count. They continued to go back and forth. Komatsu countered Tanaka and got a single-leg crab. Tanaka tried to fight it, but Komatsu dragged him away from the ropes and forced him to tap.

Naito and Ibushi exchanged some words after the match until Ibushi backed down and smiled at Naito.

Winners: Kota Ibushi & Yohei Komatsu

Star rating: (***1/4) –The focus of the match was on Tanaka and Komatsu and they delivered some really good back and forth action with Naito and Ibushi going at it on the outside. This was a nice way to showcase the young talent in NJPW.

(3) Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Cody Hall). Bullet Club jumped their opponents at the bell. Tenzan and Kojima mounted a comeback inside the ring and went to town on Hall. They then went to work on Tonga and the fans fired up. The fans chanted for Tenzan as he worked over Tonga inside the ring. Fale cut off Tenzan when he went for his signature knee drop off the top. They brawled into the crowd and everyone ended up going at it on the outside with Bullet Club in control. Tenzan limped back towards the ring after Fale had choked him with a foreign object, but was greeted with stomps from Tonga. Fale tagged in and sat on top of Tenzan’s back as he screamed. The crowd fired up and tried to rally behind Tenzan. Hall tagged in and continued to work him over. Hall lifted up Tonga in the suplex position and dropped him on top of Tonga for a 2 count.

Tonga hit a series of double chops on Tenzan and the fans booed. Tenzan fired back and caught Tonga with a leg lariat as he came off the ropes and tagged in Kojima, who hit machine gun chops on Tonga in the corner. Tonga fired back and hit a dropkick on Kojima before tagging in Fale. Fale missed a charge in the corner on Kojima, who nailed him with an ace crusher. The fans fired up for a tag to Honma. Honma went to work on Fale and set up for his headbutt off the ropes, but Fale got out of the way and the crowd groaned.

Fale went to work on Honma and elevated him up in the air as he came off the ropes and made the cover. The action broke down and Bullet Club hit a series of moves on Honma in the corner. Hall capped the sequence with a discus clothesline for a 2 count. The fans chanted for Honma and the action broke down again. Kojima nailed Fale with a series of double chops and sent him to the outside with a clothesline. Tenzan and Kojima then hit a 3D on Tonga. Kojima wiped out Hall with a lariat and the fans went nuts as Honma went up top and hit his signature diving headbutt on Hall for the win.

Winners: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma

Star rating: (***) – This was a fun tag match with the babyfaces taking a beating and then mounting a comeback on Bullet Club. The match was designed nicely to send the fans home with a Honma win. Cody Hall looked good once again, as he appears to be improving with each outing in multi-man tag matches.

(4) IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag Team Champions RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Beretta) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. ReDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) in a Three-Way match. The fans chanted for RPG Vice after the opening bell. They did some comedy early with the different teams blind-tagging themselves into the match. Nick hit a dropkick on Beretta and he went and hugged Romero. Romero took Nick down and he ran to Fish and tagged him into the match. Liger was shown in the commentary booth joining the other announcers. Romero poked Fish in the eye when they were going at it in the middle of the ring, but Fish nailed him with a kick. Romero tried to tag out, but everyone dropped down from the apron. He then went and hugged the ref. Romero fended off Fish and Romero before tagging in Beretta. They nailed Fish with a combination of moves for a 2 count.

Nick ran into the ring and RPG Vice ran wild on him in the corner. Matt tried to come in, but they tripped him into Nick’s crotch. Romero sent ReDRagon packing to the floor and nailed O’Reilly with a running knee strike off the apron. Beretta set up for a dive, but the Young Bucks nailed him with a double superkick as he came through the ropes. O’Reilly pitched Beretta back into the ring, but Fish could only manage a 2 count after making the cover. ReDRagon began tagging in and out of the ring to work over Beretta. The fans tried to fire up behind Beretta, who mounted a comeback and wiped out Fish with an enzuguri. He went to tag in Romero, but O’Reilly dragged him off the apron at the last second and tossed him into the guardrail. Nick dragged Beretta into The Young Bucks corner and tagged himself into the match. Nick ran wild and The Young Bucks stood tall in the ring, but Fish quickly cut them off. Fish ducked a running knee from Nick in the corner and he hit Matt.

Romero ended up alone in the ring with The Young Bucks, but Matt hit the suck it lariat in the corner. RPG ended up alone in the ring with Nick. They nailed him with a combination of moves capped by a running knee from Beretta, but he kicked out at the last second. The announcers fired up as ReDRagon went to town on RPG Vice wiping out Beretta and then Romero with a combination of moves for a near fall on Romero. They set up for chasing the dragon on Romero, but Matt broke it up. O’Reilly had Beretta in an arm bar over the ropes, but the Young Bucks broke it up with a double superkick. Beretta then superplexed Matt off the top into a pile of wrestlers and attendants on the floor and the fans fired up. They showed an awesome slow motion replay of the superplex to the floor. The ref’s count almost reached 20, but everyone jumped back into the ring.

The action continued at a rapid pace with everyone hitting moves. O’Reilly stood tall in the ring after wiping out Nick with a combination of kicks. The Young Bucks got the upper hand and hit a series of spectacular moves capped with a senton on Romero, who was hung on the ropes, for a near fall. The Young Bucks set up for more bang for your buck on Romero, but he got his knees up. The pace picked up once again with guys hitting moves everywhere. Nick superkicked Beretta to turn a dude buster into a code red from Matt and the fans fired up. O’Reilly went for a pendulum lariat, but Matt grabbed him and The Young Bucks hit a Meltzer driver on the floor and the announcers went nuts. Holy crap! The Young Bucks isolated Trent in the ring and hit more bang for your buck for the win with Matt making the cover!

Winners: The Young Bucks to become the new IWGP Jr. Hvt. Champions

Star rating: (****) – This was awesome. It started a bit slow, but once the pace picked up, all three teams put together some incredible multi-man sequences. The superplex spot to the floor was insane, as was the Young Bucks hitting the IndyTaker to the floor. The second half of this match was just tremendous all-around if you like fast-paced multi-man tags.

They went to a video package highlighting Kenny Omega’s reign of terror over the Jr. Hvt. division. They showed him beating Taguchi and Dorada. They went to the footage of the angle that set up Omega vs. Shelley from “Invasion Attack 2015.”

Alex Shelley came down to the ring wearing a strange black helmet. KUSHIDA came down to the ring with him.

(5) IWGP Jr. Hvt. Champion Kenny Omega (w/The Young Bucks) vs. Alex Shelley (w/KUSHIDA & Taguchi). Omega offered a handshake, but Shelley flipped him off. The fans chanted for Shelley before both men went at it. They did some chain wrestling and came to a stalemate. They went to a fast-paced exchange off the ropes and Omega ended up taking a huge dropkick on his knees from Shelley. Shelley sent Omega to the floor and the fans fired up. He went for a dive, but Matt tripped him from the outside. Omega had a trashcan, but Shelley dropkicked it into him. Shelley set up for a dive, but Omega tossed the trashcan into his face and the fans booed. Omega worked over Shelley back inside the ring and the fans tried to rally behind him. Omega targeted Shelley’s back and continued to work him over.

Omega shoved the ref away and did the sexy party in from of him after being warned to stop choking Shelley with his boot in the corner. Shelley tried to mount a comeback, but Omega nailed him with a big kick and he went flying into the turnbuckles. The ref got distracted because Omega had a foreign object. The Young Bucks distracted the ref a short time later and Omega kicked a trashcan into his face and hit a brainbuster for a near fall. Omega put the trashcan over Shelley’s head on the floor a short time later and nailed him in the head with a broom that Nick handed to him, which plays into his cleaner gimmick. Omega went to powerbomb Shelley into the trashcan that was set up on a chair, but Shelley countered and drove him face-first into it. The fans fired up with Omega down on the outside.

Shelley hit a big slingshot DDT off the apron to the floor on Omega. The Young Bucks helped Omega beat the ref’s count, but they pushed him right into a double stomp off the top from Shelley for a near fall. The fans fired up and chanted for Shelley. Omega fired back and went for a suplex, but Shelley fought out of it. He went for the one armed angel, but Shelley countered it into a DDT. Shelley went up top for a splash, but Omega got his knees up at the last second. Omega hit a gut-wrench Liger bomb for another 2 count. Omega went for the one armed angel, but Shelley slid out of it. They went back and forth and Shelley hit a dragon suplex. Liger fired up for Shelley on commentary. They went back and forth in the middle of the ring. Shelley eventually hit a big superkick and went for the emerald frozien. He nailed Omega with it, but Matt pulled the ref out of the ring and the fans weren’t happy. KUSHIDA went after Nick inside the ring, but Matt cut him off. The ref ended up down on the outside after the Young Bucks had pulled him to the floor. KUSHIDA wiped out the Young Bucks and nailed them with a huge dive off the top to the floor. Shelley caught Omega with sliced bread and the fans went nuts, but he kicked out at the last second. Hoy s---t. Omega fired back and decked Shelley with two running knees. He then hit the one armed angel for the win. Heck of a finish to this one.

Omega tried to sweep Shelley away with his broom after the match, but KUSHIDA backed him away. Omega got on the mic and laughed. He said he had just done a long tour with NJPW and had given them the best bout every night. He said their last hero had fallen. He said he wasn’t going to attend this year’s Best of the Super Juniors. He told Matt to sweep Omega away and he made sweeping motions towards Shelley on the floor. Omega said the winner of the best of the super garbage got to face him. He then said, “Hit my music!” KUSHIDA didn’t look happy on the outside and glared at Omega.

Winner: Kenny Omega to retain the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Title

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was really good with Shelley getting screwed constantly by the Young Bucks from the floor during the early going and into the later stages of the match. The fans were behind Shelley and really fired up when KUSHIDA took care of the Young Bucks. This was very good all-around.

They went to a video package for Maria Kanellis. A field of flowers was shown and then Maria appeared blowing kisses. A graphic appeared calling her a beautiful wife. Ave Maria played in the background. Maria was shown rubbing her chest into Liger’s face. They then focused on Karl Anderson’s infatuation with her. Anderson and Gallows were shown screaming Maria’s name. They showed The Kingdom beating Bullet Club for the IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Championship in April. Gallows was shown yelling at Anderson for being infatuated with Maria. Gallows said they had a surprise for Maria. Anderson was shown saying he doesn’t care about the tag titles and only cares about Maria. Gallows yelled at him again. Maria was shown saying Anderson is really gross backstage with Bennett. This video package was something else.

Bullet Club came out first and the camera zoomed in on Amber’s boobs. Anderson forgot to do his machine gun pose during their entrance and Gallows and Amber yelled at him to focus. The Kingdom was out next. The camera zoomed in on Maria’s crotch and breasts as she made her way down to the ring. Anderson was shown smiling as she made her way down to the ring. The camera actually bumped into Maria’s butt several times zooming into it while she grinded on the apron.

(6) The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Michael Bennett & Maria) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson & Amber Gallows). Anderson tried to start a chant for Maria after the bell rang and Gallows got very upset. Anderson took a double dropkick from Taven and Bennett during the early going. Gallows cut Taven off and went after Maria on the apron. Anderson tagged in and went after Maria on the outside, but Bennett cut him off and tossed him back into the ring. Taven hit a twisting neck breaker, but Anderson fired back and tagged in Amber. Amber pointed at Maria and told her to tag into the match. The fans chanted for Maria and she tagged in. Gallows grabbed Maria by the hair from the apron and Amber went to work on her. Maria fired back with a superkick and tagged in Taven, who went at it with Gallows. Gallows caught Taven with a superkick and knocked Bennett off the apron.

Anderson tagged in and went after Maria, so Gallows tagged himself back into the match a short time later. Gallows tagged Anderson back into the match, but he was talking about Maria and Taven wiped him out. Maria got the tag from Taven. Anderson recovered and smiled when he saw Maria in the ring. The ref told Anderson he had to get out of the ring. Maria fired up on Amber and hit several clotheslines. Maria went up top and the camera zoomed in on her butt again. She nailed Amber with a splash off the top, but Gallows broke up the pin. The action broke down and Taven wiped out Anderson with a huge dive over the top to the floor! Maria was alone in the ring with Maria. Gallows went after her, but Bennett cut him off. They went to a bunch of spots and when the smoke cleared Maria was in the ring alone with Anderson. They came back-to-back and Anderson smiled at Maria when he turned around. They danced together, but Maria nailed Anderson with a low blow. Maria then got a small package on Amber for the win.

After the match, Anderson tried to stop Gallows from going after Maria. Anderson teased checking on Maria after the match, but tossed her into an uppercut from Gallows. They then hit the magic killer on Maria and the fans gasped. Bennett and Taven finally ran into the ring to make the save, but it was too late. Taven and Bennett ended up helping Maria to the back.

Winners: Matt Taven & Michael Bennett & Maria

Star rating: (*) – This match was mostly about Anderson’s infatuation with Maria while Gallows and Amber tried to keep him in check. Not much to the match, and the camera’s infatuation with Maria’s naughty parts was bad in how it came across.

(7) NEVER Openweight Champion Togi Makabe & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba. The fans fired up for Makabe and Ishii kicking things off. Both men proceeded to forearm the crap out of each other in the middle of the ring. They decided it was time for shoulder tackles and they went back and forth exchanging them, but neither man would go down. Both men continued to go back and forth until they both hit shoulder tackles at the same time and went down. Shibata tagged in and pointed at Sakuraba to tag in and he obliged. Sakuraba went for a kimura, but Shibata countered it and went for an arm bar. They went back and forth going for submissions. Sakuraba ended up in the ropes and Shibata granted him a clean break.

Shibata escaped from a triangle and went for a big roundhouse kick, but Sakuraba ducked it. He backed Sakuraba into the corner and Yano made a blind tag. Tanahashi tagged in as well and the fans fired up. Yano smiled and looked around as the fans fired up. Tanahashi grabbed Yano and he went to the ropes and screamed for a rope break. He kept running to the ropes anytime Tanahashi touched him. Tanahashi had finally had enough and went after him against the ropes. Yano was messing around near the wrong corner and Shibata nailed him with a big kick. Tanahashi had the upper hand, but Sakuraba grabbed him with a choke from the apron. Shibata then grabbed Yano with a choke, but Ishii made the save. Sakuraba continued to choke Tanahashi while Yano undid the turnbuckle pad. Yano then dragged Tanahasi to the floor and whipped him into the barricade and then tossed him into the crowd. Ishii and Sakuraba took care of Shibata on the outside as well. Makabe was shown in a bad state. Tanahashi stumbled back to the ring and Yano whipped him into the exposed turnbuckle.

Tanahashi took a beating as his opponents tagged in and out to work him over. Sakuraba nearly had a kimura on Tanahashi, but Shibata made the save. Tanahashi finally fired back on Yano and hit a dragon screw. Tanahashi made the tag to Makabe and he went at it with Ishii. Makabe hit a big powerslam on Ishii as he came off the ropes. He then hit baby punches on Ishii in the corner from the mount before hitting a suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Ishii fired back a short time later with a powerslam of his own to cut Makabe off. Both men went back and forth exchanging clotheslines in the middle of the ring. Makabe hit several in a row. Both men took turns hitting clotheslines, but they both got up. They then hit clotheslines at the same time and staggered. Makabe finally took Ishii down with a clothesline and tagged in Shibata.

Shibata kicked Ishii into his own corner and Sakuraba tagged in. Shibata cut him off with a kick and went to town in the corner before nailing him with his signature heat seeking missile. Shibata went for a kimura a short time later, but Sakuraba countered and nearly had a kimura of his own. Both men went back and forth. Sakuraba hit Shibata with several knees to the chest, but Shibata lifted him up and hit a suplex and both men were down. Yano got the tag, but Shibata cut him off and tagged in Tanahashi. Tanahashi hit the flying burrito on Yano and cleared the apron. Tanahashi charged at Yano in the corner and he got out of the way and shoved him into the exposed turnbuckle. He then rolled up Tanahashi for a near fall. Yano thought he had tossed Tanahashi out of the ring, but he skinned the cat and eventually hit a sling blade on Yano followed by another, but the pin got broken up. The action broke down and Tanahashi ended up alone in the ring with Yano. He hit a slam and went for the high fly flow. Yano got his knees up and went for a small package, but Tanahashi countered it into one of his own for a near fall. Tanahashi then grabbed Yano by the hair and rolled him up in a small package for the win.

Shibata stormed to the back after the match ended while Makabe and Tanahashi celebrated in the ring.

Winners: Togi Makabe & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata

Star rating: (***) – This was an entertaining match with three separate rivalries playing out to build towards future singles matches. Yano being a thorn in Tanahashi’s side has been entertaining, but I’m ready for Tanahashi to move on.

(8) Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Bullet Club (IWGP Hvt. Champion A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi). Styles and Okada and HASHI and Takahashi paired off and took turns brawling in and out of the ring during the early stages of the match. The action settled down with Okada working Styles over in the ring. HASHI tagged in and continued to work him over, but Styles cut him off and tagged in Takahashi. Takahashi raked HASHI’s eyes and hit a buckle bomb. Styles tossed HASHI to the floor and threw him over the guardrail and onto the table at ringside. HASHI had trouble getting back into the ring, but managed to beat the ref’s count. Takahashi tossed HASHI throat-first over the top rope and covered him, but the ref refused to count. Styles tagged in and continued to work over HASHI. HASHI finally countered Takahashi and hit a neck breaker. The fans fired up and he made the hot tag to Okada, who ran wild on Styles and Takahashi.

Okada placed Styles on the turnbuckles and dropkicked him to the floor. He followed up with a big DDT on Takahashi. The fans chanted for Okada as he worked over Takahashi. Takahashi fired back and hit a fisherman buster on Okada. Styles then tagged in and went at it with Okada. He ended up suplexing Okada into the turnbuckles. He set up for the Styles clash, but Okada countered it into a neck breaker over his knee. Okada went for a tombstone, but Styles escaped. Okada then went for the rainmaker, but Styles ducked it and hit a Pele kick. Styles then bounced off the ropes right into a dropkick from Okada. HASHI got the tag and cleared the apron before going after Styles. He hit a big blockbuster variation neck breaker on Styles. He then hung Styles on the ropes and nailed him with a dropkick for a 2 count.

Okada and HASHI took turns hitting moves on Styles in the corner. HASHI then hit a neck breaker on Styles out of the corner for a 2 count. Okada lifted Styles and signaled for the Styles clash, but Styles fought out of it. Styles lifted HASHI and slammed him face-first into the mat. He made the cover with a handful of tights, but HASHI managed to kick out. Takahashi wiped Okada out on the floor. He then joined Styles in the ring to work over HASHI. They nailed him with a double suplex, but Okada dove into the picture to make the save. HASHI cut off Takahashi with a huge lariat, but Styles nailed him with a springboard forearm. HASHI shoved Styles to the mat a short time later and went for a swanton, but Styles got out of the way. Styles went up top, but Okada cut him off. HASHI went up top, but Styles slid under him and dropped him face-first into the turnbuckle. He then hit the bloody Sunday DDT and the Styles clash for the win while Takahashi held Okada back.

After the match, Styles and Okada went face-to-face. Styles held up the IWGP Hvt. Championship and Okada pointed at it. Styles then hit a low blow and went for the Styles clash. Okada went for the rainmaker, but Styles slipped away and left the ring. Okada held up the title and the fans applauded. The ref eventually returned the belt to Styles.

Winners: A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was a solid match, but nothing terribly exciting happened to build towards Styles and Okada for their upcoming match.

A video package aired for the Nakamura-Goto match.

(9) IWGP IC Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto. Nakamura got a bodyscissors during the early going, but Goto made it to the ropes. Nakamura tied Goto up and nailed him with a kick. Nakamura laughed, but Goto fired right back with several forearms. Nakamura got wiped out by a shoulder tackle a short time later and ended up on the floor. Nakamura made his goggle pose on the floor to mock Goto. Goto went after him, but Nakamura rolled back into the ring. Goto managed to get his hands on Nakamura finally while he was playing games with him rolling in and out of the ring. Goto tossed him into the ringpost, but Nakamura fired back a short time later and draped him over the guardrail. He nailed Goto with a big running knee. He then got on top of the announce table and hit a jumping knee to the back of Goto’s head. Goto struggled and barely beat the 20 count. Nakamura greeted him with a kick to the head. The fans fired up with Nakamura in control. Goto got his foot on the ropes to break a chin lock. Nakamura nailed him with a light kick. Goto got pissed and fired back with some overhand chops, but Nakamura dropped him to his knees with a knee to the gut. Nakamura hit a jumping knee to the head and made a cocky cover, but only got a 2 count. Nakamura hit the vibration boot in the corner. He went for a running knee in the corner, but Goto got out of the way. Nakamura raked at Goto’s eyes, but Goto fired back a short time later and dropped him with a big clothesline.

Goto went to work on Nakamura and hit a Saito suplex for a 2 count and the fans fired up. Both men went back and forth exchanging forearms. They continued to trade forearms and Nakamura went for a kick and missed, but spun around and decked Goto with a kick with his other leg and both men were down. Nakamura began kicking Goto in the chest. He blocked a kick, but Nakamura kicked him right in the arm with his other leg. Nakamura hit several knees to the head and grabbed a standing choke before slamming Goto down to the mat. Nakamura marched around, but missed a running knee. He set Goto up top a short time later and nailed him with a running knee to the gut for a 2 count. Nakamura went up top, but Goto nailed him with a spin kick and he spilled to the floor. The fans fired up with Nakamura down on the outside and Goto trying to gather himself inside the ring. They went at it on the apron with both men trying to hit a suplex. Nakamura slipped out of a suplex and grabbed a sleeper, but Goto turned it into an Angle slam for a 2 count. Goto hit a face buster over his knee. He lifted Nakamura up on his shoulders. He tried to fight out of it, but Goto connected with a neck breaker over his knee. He set up for the shouten kai, but Nakamura slipped out and hit a reverse powerslam. Nakamura set up for the Boma Ye, but Goto nailed him with a huge lariat and both men were down as the announcers went nuts.

Both men got up and traded blows in the middle of the ring. Nakamura caught Goto with a big jumping kick to the head as he came off the ropes a short time later. Nakamura went for the reverse powerslam from the apron to bring Goto back into the ring, but he blocked it and nailed Nakamura with another big clothesline. The fans fired up with Goto back in control. Goto went up top, but Nakamura cut him off. Goto got the upper hand and signaled for a powerbomb off the top, but Nakamura ended up hitting a backdrop. Nakamura then set up on the second turnbuckle and hit the Boma Ye. He got a running start and hit another Boma Ye, but Goto kicked out at the last second and the fans went nuts. Holy s—t! Nakamura set up for another Boma Ye, but Goto got out of the way and hit several headbutts. Nakamura fired back with one of his own, but Goto obliterated him with a clothesline and the fans went nuts again. Goto lifted Nakamura up on his shoulders. He placed him on the top turnbuckle and climbed the ropes. He lifted Nakamura onto his shoulders and hit a neck breaker over his knees. Holy s—t! Nakamura sold like he was really hurt, but kicked out at the last second and the fans went nuts. Goto lifted up Nakamura and hit the shouten kai to become the new IC Champion! Wow!

They presented Goto with a trophy after the match before giving him the title as regal music played in the background. He was then given a large gift certificate for delicious Japanese food. Goto was eventually presented with the title and the fans applauded.

Goto got on the mic and cut a promo from the crowd. The fans chanted his name before he began speaking. Goto thanked the fans and they applauded. The fans seemed to like what Goto had to say during his show closing promo.

Winner: Hirooki Goto to become the IWGP IC Champion

Star rating: (****1/2) – This was an amazing match. Nakamura mocked Goto during the early going and didn’t take him seriously, but Goto began chipping away at him with powerful neck breakers and big clotheslines. The final segment of this match was awesome with some great near falls, especially Goto kicking out of two Boma Ye’s from Nakamura. This is a big win for Goto.

Quick overall thoughts: (8.0) - This was a very good show. There were some slow spots, but most of the matches were good to very good. The strong points of the show were the Three-way IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag, Omega-Shelley, and the excellent main event between Goto and Nakamura.

***

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