Katsuyori Shibata vs. Ren Narita
He’s back! Shibata changing this to pro wrestling rules is a sign that he’s good to go, right? I hope so. A return from injury is always good but this was a big one to come back from (a subdural hematoma). After years and years of testing the waters and being told no, Shibata continued to try to get cleared, and now it’s happened. Ren Narita is a good pick as a symbolic idea. Narita is a student of Shibata’s via the LA Dojo and seems to idolise him. Narita is low enough in the hierarchy to get absolutely killed by Shibata as well. And boy, did Shibata kill him. ***
IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) (c) vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
The crowd needed a good pick me up after being forced to watch EVIL wrestle (I didn’t watch it but I can imagine so) so these four went out and had a balls out, fast paced tag team match with no stalling or messiness that bogged down Tekkers matches previously. YOSHI-HASHI not only has the effort but the booking behind him so he took most of the match by himself with Goto being his partner rather than the other way around. He and Taichi practically worked this like a singles match but Goto and ZSJ had their moments and roles within the match. The crowd audibly gasped at the piledriver and seemed to come alive for the closing stretch. Good tag team match. ***1/4
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: El Desperado (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
This was a big step for this rivalry. It started out something the fans were waiting for each BOSJ tournament and it eventually manifested itself into something that’s 2nd from the top of a Tokyo Dome show. And best of all, Desperado won it, defeating his long-time rival and the favourite coming into the match. The match was hardly a classic, nor was it close to their best but it was a good rendition with the strike exchanges, reversals and dives. The moment didn’t have the gravitas that it probably should’ve had (the Tag Team title match result felt bigger) but it was a good win nevertheless. ***
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
The match that needed to deliver the most did just that. There was nothing silly, like a 60 minute draw tease or interference. Just two great wrestlers wrestling. And fair play to Okada, he took an absolute beating in this match. His back will be sore after constantly Made In Japans, including one on the outside floor but he got wiped out by a Pumping Bomber that caught him flush on his eye socket. Okada brought it as well - great selling, great displays of toughness and presence. My favourite part of the match was when Okada was about to do his pose when Shingo caught him with a DDT. I believe it was one Rainmaker and done and it was an empathic one at that. These two mix and match with each other wonderfully. However, Okada’s best work was after the match in trying to get the title over. What a worker. ****
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