RADICAN’S 6/9 NJPW Dominion PPV report: Lee vs. Ospreay, Naito vs. Ibushi, Okada vs. Jericho

RADICAN’S NJPW DOMINION 2019 REPORT
JUNE 9, 2019
OSAKA, JAPAN
OSAKA-JO HALL
AIRED LIVE ON NJPW WORLD AND FITE TV

Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Don Callis, and Chris Charlton

(1) SHOTA UMINO vs. IWPG U.S. CHAMPION JON MOXLEY – non-title match

Umino nailed Moxley with a flip dive as he was about to get back into the ring. Umino went up top and hit a big missile dropkick and the fans fired up. Moxley then charged out of the corner and wiped him out with a clothesline. Moxley went on the attack and mocked the fans for clapping when Umino kicked out. Moxley is the first person since A.J. Styles to win a title in his first NJPW appearance. Moxley grabbed a modified STF with a fishhook, but Umino managed to get to the ropes. Umino fired back with a dropkick and a German with a bridge for a two count. Moxley hit his full release vertical suplex on Umino for a two count. The fans applauded. Moxley hit the Double Arm DDT for the win.

WINNER: Jon Moxley in 4:00. (**)

(Radican’s Analysis: Good showing for Umino, but Moxley came across looking strong.)

Moxley grabbed the mic after the match. He said he brings a message from Cincinnati, Ohio. He said he’s the international purveyor of violence. Moxley announced that he wants to be in the G1. The fans applauded. Moxley teased hurting Umino, but instead he helped him to his feet and carried him to the back. The fans applauded. What a moment this is for Umino.

(2) Shingo Takagi beat Satoshi Kojima. Shingo said he wanted to be in G1 Climax after the match.

(3) CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI & Jushin Liger) beat Suzuki-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki).

(4) Ryusuke Taguchi & Juice Robinson & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori & Chase Owens & Jay White).

(5) Tomohiro Ishii beat Taichi to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion

(6) IWGP Hvt. Tag Team Champions G.O.D. (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) beat L.I.J. (EVIL & SANDADA). SANADA left EVIL alone in the ring after the match.

Katsuyori Shibata’s music played after the match. Shibata made his way down to the ring in a suit. He stopped at the end of the ramp and pointed back towards the entrance ramp and it was KENTA! The fans applauded.

Shibata stood in the ring with KENTA. He told the crowd that KENTA was in NJPW. KENTA got on the mic as the fans talked excitedly. KENTA got on the mic and introduced himself. He thanked Shibata for the opportunity. He said he came out to say what he really feels. He said he wants to show them KENTA’s professional wrestling. He said he would do it in G1! Shibata said and that’s it and dropped the mic. KENTA posed with Shibata after.

(7) IWGP Jr. HVT. CHAMPION DRAGON LEE vs. BOSJ 26 WINNER WILL OSPREAY

Hiroshi Tanahashi was shown in the Japanese commentary booth. Both men shook hands before the opening bell rang. Lee flipped out of an arm drag attempt during the early going. They went to a fast exchange with both guys trading dropkicks at the same time. They teased going to a stalemate, but Lee ended up blasting Ospreay with a dropkick. Ospreay fired back and hit a top rope 619. He then hit a big twisting splash to the floor. Ospreay locked in a bridging double arm submission that forced Lee into a pinning predicament for a two count. Lee blocked Pip Pip Cheerio and hit a STO and both men were down. Lee ducked Ospreay’s dropkick in the corner and hit his Shibata style corner dropkick for a two count. Ospreay fired back with a handspring kick. He then hit Pip Pip Cheerio for a two count. Ospreay set up for the Sasuke Special. He missed and landed on his feet only for Dragon Lee to wipe him out. Lee set Ospreay up on the guardrail and he wiped him out with a big suicide dive. Someone on the indies is going to get hurt trying to duplicate this move. Both men went flying over the announce position. Ospreay sold like he had hit his head. They got back into the ring and Lee hit a straight jacket German with a bridge for a two count.

Both men traded forearms up top a short time later. Lee headbutted him and he hung upside down on the top turnbuckle. Ospreay managed to free himself and he hit a double kick to Lee’s head. Ospreay went up top and hit a corkscrew moonsault off the top to the floor and both men were down. Ospreay appeared to land his ribs right on Lee’s shoulders on his way down when they showed the replay. Ospreay hit a hook kick and went for the Stormbreaker a short time later, but Lee blocked it. Lee countered the Stormbreaker again. Ospreay got Lee up on his shoulders, but Lee countered it into a DDT. Lee held on, but Ospreay countered him into a stunner and both men were down. Both men exchanged blows from their knees in the middle of the ring. They got to their feet and continued to trade blows. Lee appeared to get the upper hand, but Ospreay surprised him with a hook kick. Lee went for a snap German and they traded counters. Lee hit a poison hurricanrana, but Ospreay caught him with the one man spanish fly. He made the cover, but Lee kicked out at the last second.

Ospreay went up top, but Lee nailed him with a superkick. Lee then hit an inside out hurricanrana, but Ospreay landed on his feet! Lee acted like he had hit the move, but he turned around and Lee sold shock. Lee ran at Ospreay and ate an apron bomb. Ospreay then hit a SSP back inside the ring for a near fall. Ospreay hit the Robinson Special. He went for the Os-Cutter, but Lee nailed him with a knee strike in midair and both men were down. Ospreay got hung upside down on the turnbuckles on the apron side of the ring. Lee hit a big double stomp and spilled to the floor. It appear Lee’s leg gave out when he landed and both men were down on the outside. Lee got back into the ring first. Ospreay got up and collapsed. He barely beat the ref’s 20 count only for Lee to nail him with a running knee. Lee went for the Desducadora, but Ospreay blocked it. Will countered Lee and got him up for a powerbomb, but Lee countered it into a destroyer. He then hit a running knee strike for a near fall. WOW! Lee took his knee pad down, but Ospreay blocked his running knee attempt. Lee fought out of his clutches and hit a big running knee with his exposed knee to Ospreay’s jaw. Lee set up for the Desducadora, but Ospreay flipped out of it and hit a hook kick. He then hit the Hidden Blade. Lee looked to be out of it. Ospreay hit a double jump Os-Cutter out of the corner. He hung on and hit the Stormbreaker and it was good for the win.

WINNER: Will Ospreay in 20:00 to become the new IWGP Jr. Hvt. Champion. (****½)

(Radican’s Analysis: Great match with some fantastic counter sequences down the stretch. Ospreay is on a roll in terms of having incredible matches. The spot where Ospreay landed on his feet on the floor after the inside out apron hurricanrana was incredible. The junior division in NJPW is loaded right now.)

After the match, Lee put the title around Ospreay’s waist. Both men hugged and Ospreay gave Lee his ice bag.

A video package aired for the Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito match for the IWGP IC Championship.

(8) IWGP IC CHAMPION KOTA IBUSHI vs. TETSUYA NAITO

Tanahashi was still in the Japanese broadcast booth. Callis blamed Charlton, who he called Harry Potter, for them not being shown on the broadcast. The bell rang to start the match and the fans fired up chanting for both men. They had a fast exchange and Ibushi caught Naito with a big kick. Ibushi fired back and hit his signature hip toss/dropkick to the back combination. Naito went on the attack and stood on Ibushi’s head in the corner. They went to an exchange off the ropes and Naito tried to slide under Ibushi, but he caught him with a double stomp. Ibushi sent Naito to the floor and hit a springboard corkscrew splash. They had a fast exchange and Naito ended it with a swinging DDT and both men were down. Naito hit a big one-legged dropkick when Ibushi got up and it was good for a two count. They battled up top and Ibushi hit a backflip kick from the mat after sliding under Naito. Ibushi sent for his inside out German, but Naito blocked it. Naito hit several big uppercuts and got Ibushi on his shoulders, but he slipped out of it. Ibushi went for a German on the apron, but Naito fought out of his grasp. Ibushi charged at Naito, but ate a kick. Naito went for a German to the floor. Naito hit a German that sent Ibushi head-first into the apron. He’s lucky if he doesn’t have a concussion or a broken neck. Ibushi barely beat the ref’s count getting back into the ring, so it appears he’s alright.

Naito set Ibushi up on the top turnbuckle. He hit an avalanche poison rana, but Ibushi kicked out at the last second. Ibushi blocked a Destino attempt and set up for his tombstone variation. He couldn’t lock it in with Naito struggling to get out of it, so he just spiked Naito right into the mat. Both men were down and the ref began his standing 10 count. Ibushi sat up and dragged Naito up to break the count. Kelly said they don’t have to get to their feet to break the 10 count. Both men exchanged blows from their knees. They got to their feet and continued to trade bombs. Naito fired back with a headbutt out of nowhere that stunned Ibushi. He then grabbed Ibushi and hit several headbutts. Ibushi blocked another headbutt attempt and hit a palm strike and then obliterated Naito with a clothesline. Ibushi set up for the Boma Ye, but Naito ducked it and hit a dragon suplex. He then ran into a big Destino, but Ibushi kicked out at the last second! WOW! Naito went for another Destino, but Ibushi blocked it and hit a GTS. He went for the Last Ride. Naito tried to punch out of it, but Ibushi hit it anyway for a near fall. Ibushi pulled his knee pad down and went for The Kamigoye, but Naito turned it into a big DDT and both men were down.

Naito blocked a charge in the corner and hit a swinging reverse DDT. Ibushi kicked out and the fans fired up. Naito screamed and set up fro Destino, but Ibushi blocked it. Naito popped up onto his shoulders and they nearly slipped, but Naito used the ropes and hit a poison rana. Naito then hit Gloria, but Ibushi kicked out. He set up Ibushi and it was good for the win.

WINNER: Tetsuya Naito in 22:00 to become the new IWGP IC Champion. (****¼)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was a great match with the crowd into. Naito had the crowd booing him early with his heel tactics like stepping on Ibushi’s head and raking his eyes. The next second he’s making these fantastic comebacks and the fans are cheering him. This match had some really dangerous spots that made it hard to watch, especially the German on the apron where Ibushi landed on his head. The finishing stretch had some rough patches as well, but this was really good overall.

I’m not sure where these two go from here, but G1 will likely tell us their direction. Naito wanting to be double champion has me believing Natio will hold the title until Wrestle Kingdom even though he doesn’t seem to care much about it.)

After the match, Naito got the belt and stood on Ibushi’s head and posed. He then did his pose with the title lying in front of him.

A video package aired for the Okada vs. Jericho main event.

(9) IWGP HVT. CHAMPION KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. CHRIS JERICHO

The announcers said Okada would try to keep this from being a street fight. The fans chanted for Okada after the bell rang and Jericho motioned towards the fans to stop chanting. Tanahashi was still in on commentary. Okada offered a clean break against the ropes and Jericho poked him in the eyes. Jericho took Okada down and yelled at the fans. Jericho bailed to the floor when Okada set up for a dropkick. Jericho walked around the ring and Okada went after him. He eventually caught him with a big boot to the face as Jericho came off the ropes. Okada went up top for a dropkick, but Jericho blocked it and got the Wall of Jericho. Okada struggled, but managed to get to the ropes to force a break. Jericho sent Okada over the barricade with a sliding dropkick. He started tossing chairs around and set Okada up on a table at ringside. He then hit a DDT on the table, but it didn’t break. Jericho rang the ring bell and raised his hand and the fans applauded. Callis said that Jericho would be looking to hit his new finish, The Judas Effect, to beat Okada. Jericho set up Okada for a powerbomb through a table, but Okada blocked it twice and drove him into the barrier. Jericho took the camera and filmed himself flipping off the fans.

Jericho tossed Okada into the ring and went up top. He connected with a crossbody, but Okada kicked out at two. Jericho taunted the fans as they chanted for Okada. Okada tried to fire back, but Jericho cut him off with a dropkick. He played to the fans and cupped his hand to his ear Hogan style. He then choked Okada over the middle rope. Jericho hit a nice vertical suplex a short time later and the fans applauded. Okada finally fired back with a big flapjack and both men were down as the 10 minute mark passed. Okada hit a running elbow on Jericho off the ropes and fired up towards the crowd. He then hit his signature DDT. Jericho went to the outside. Okada followed and whipped him into the barricade. He then booted Jericho over the barricade. The fans fired up and Okada got a running start, but Jericho turned his big splash attempt over the guardrail into a Code Breaker.

They ended up back inside the ring and Jericho made the cover for a two count. The fans chanted for Jericho and he flipped them off. Jericho went for a tombstone, but Okada reversed it. Jericho then reversed and they went back and forth. Jericho finally rolled Okada up, but he grabbed Okada’s legs and grabbed the Walls of Jericho. Kevin Kelly said it would be something if Jericho submitted Okada with The Young Lion submission hold. Okada struggled, but got ot the ropes. Jericho choked Red Shoes and he went down in the corner. Callis called Red Shoes a pussy only to turn around into a dropkick from Okada. Jericho blocked a corner dropkick attempt from Okada, but Okada caught him with a dropkick of his own when he came off the second turnbuckle. Okada hit a tombstone and went for The Rainmaker, but Jericho turned it into a double underhook powerbomb and stacked Okada up for a near fall. Jericho went for a Code Breaker, but Okada caught him and hit his emerald frozien style neck breaker for a two count. They battled near the apron a short time later. Jericho slammed Okada’s head into the turnbuckle and hit an inside out springboard dropkick and Okada went down on the apron.

They battled up top and Okada shoved Jericho to the mat and dropped an elbow. He went for The Rainmaker, but Jericho blocked it and hit an enziguri. They traded blows from their knees. Both men got to their feet and continued to trade blows. Jericho hit a big chop right before the 20 minute mark passed. Okada fired back and hit a big uppercut. Jericho avoided Okada’s dropkick by holding onto the ropes and hit a Lionsault for a two count. Jericho went after Okada’s ribs in the corner with some kicks. He backed away, but Okada surprised him with a shotgun dropkick. Okada hit some kicks in the corner and returned the favor by standing on Jericho’s head. Okada shoved the ref and hit some more kicks. He ran towards the corner, but Jericho surprised him with a Code Breaker for a near fall. Jericho slapped Okada and told him to stay down. Jericho took off the turnbuckle pad and taunted Okada. He went for a lawn dart into the exposed corner, but Okada countered it and hit a German. He held on and went for The Rainmaker. Jericho ducked it and Jericho went for a Rainmaker, but Okada countered it into a Code Breaker for a nearfall. Okada hit a spinning tombstone and signaled for The Rainmaker. Jericho ducked a Rainmaker and went for the Wall of Jericho and got it.

The fans chanted for Okada and Jericho kept telling the ref to ring the bell. Okada began crawling towards the ropes, but Jericho dragged him to the middle of the ring and applied the Liontamer. Okada turned over and used his legs to power out as the 25 minute mark passed. Jericho ducked a charge and Okada went into the exposed corner. He hit a clothesline, but Okada ducked The Judas Effect. He went for a Rainmaker, but Jericho ducked it. Okada then blocked a Code Breaker attempt and got a pinning combination for the win.

WINNER: Kazuchika Okada in 25:00 to retain the IWGP Hvt. Championship. (****)

(Radican’s Analysis: Very good main event with Jericho showing he can still pull off a big NJPW style main event with his new heel character. Jericho was really good here heeling on the crowd and working over Okada’s ribs throughout the match. It was clear Jericho was still very much in the match when Okada beat him with a wrestling move.)

Jericho attacked Okada after the bell and shoved the ref. Jericho tossed Red Shoes to the floor He nailed Okada right in the face with a chair. Okada did get his hands up. Jericho hit the Judas Effect. Jericho put a chair around Okada’s neck and tossed him into the ringpost. The table Jericho had set up at ringside was still there. Jericho set him up, but Tanahashi came out of the commentary booth to make the save. The fans started a big Tanahashi chant. Jericho wanted the mic. He asked Tanahashi if he wants to mess with him after what he did to Okada. He said he’s the greatest off all time even in this bulls–t country of Japan. He said have your championship, bitch to Okada.

Jericho rubbed Okada money on his crotch and put it on a camera up on the entrance ramp. Several young lions held Tanahashi back. Tanahashi went to check on Okada, who was still down. Tanahashi helped Okada to the back. Kelly said there would be no post-match speech for Okada, who was being helped to the back because of Jericho. Kelly said Okada won the match, but Jericho has forever etched his name into Dominion history.

The crowd booed as the show closes after Okada and Tanahashi had left the building.

Contact Sean at radicansean@pwtorch.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/sr_torch.