IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP) (c) vs. CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)
This has probably been the type of awesome spot fest that the title division has lacked since the days of Time Splitters vs Bucks matches. The match was just a simple, fast paced spot fest that allowed all three individuals to shine whilst jerking the curtain of the Tokyo Dome. Nor did the match go overly long. This ended as it should’ve and at the right time. I might have to seek out more Catch 22 matches, if they are similar to this. The division definitely came out looking brighter as a result of this match. ***1/4
IWGP Women's Title Match: KAIRI (c) vs. Tam Nakano
Well this was much, much shorter than I imagined. I know that this match was just a vehicle for the Sasha Banks/Mercedes Mone coming out, to a big pop as well, after the match. The actual match was alright and had a few bright moments, mostly Tam Nakano braining KAIRI with her offence but the in-between work was so-so at best, lacking the fluidity and intensity that it should’ve had, which is classic KAIRI. Though this was sent out to waste several minutes, so I won’t hate it too much. This is a classic example for “fine for what it was”. **1/4
IWGP Tag Team Title Match: FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (c) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
Well this was just a heavyweight version of the opening match - an awesome tornado tag team match with slightly greater spots to make up for the fact that FTR were unover at the bell, because why would they be? Nevertheless, this began to deliver a quality match once they got going, which was quick into it. Some of the spots, such as the suplex to the outside of the Power-plex got big reactions, as did the finish with YOSHI-HASHI getting the winning pin. FTR continue their losing tour on their way out potentially. ***1/2
NJPW World Television Title Tournament Final Match (vacant): Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita
The first match with some proper storytelling attached to it, ala the Shibata elements. Ren Narita is still in the phase of trying to be like Shibata but also figuring out who Ren Narita is and Zack is playing along with that, toying with Ren in the process. This slowly built towards being a great match, opposed to the previous matches which wasted no time, leading to some big submission attempts, which turned out to be the segway into the instant tap out finish with Ren Narita tapping straight away to a ZSJ leg hold. And the post match angle made the winner logically - Zack Sabre Jr joins (and presumably leads) TMDK, presumably setting off a big year for him. Perhaps Ren Narita could’ve done with a big push at this stage but he’s not hurt and Zack gets rewarded for a quality 2022. ***1/2
NEVER Openweight Title Match: Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga
Maybe I’ll watch this later.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Keiji Muto & Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito)
This was pretty fun to watch. Obviously, it was great but it provided a neat send off for Keiji Muto for his original home promotion, where he won the top title multiple times over. It allowed him to team and go against old proteges of his and received a big ovation and chants. There was some comedy with Tanahashi stopping him with the moonsault, some stuff with SANADA. But the main talking point will be Shota Umino getting the winning pinfall on BUSHI. A sign for the future perhaps. ***
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Four Way Match: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Master Wato
The best way I can describe this match is that it willed itself to become a decent match with some well timed, quality moments, surprisingly built around Wato getting 2.9 nearfalls/false finishes on all three opponents while the crowd was buying into them. The match was rough around the edges, rarely got going but there was things to like. Somewhat disappointing but Wato’s nearfalls were too good to deny. ***
IWGP United States Heavyweight Title Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega
Well shit. They did it. Honestly, I thought it would be good-great but, like a lot of highly touted matches, wrestled like a match trying to be the greatest match unlike what this was, which was them going out there, following the story they were actually telling and wrestling the match and not the moment. There was no gratuitous let’s soak in the crowd moment, or something similarly manufactured. They simply tried to win. Both wrestled with intent, aggression and with follow through. Omega was aggressive from the off, hurting Ospreay quickly with his approach and spent the whole match following up on that with some of the most dangerous stunts he could think of. In classic Kenny fashion, there were some call backs to his previous matches, like the table spot with Okada, but in this case, they linked into the story of the match in a natural way. Omega put the table on the injured back of Ospreay, after he just crashed into the edge of the ring. Exactly the right thing for the right moment. Moreover, Ospreay proved that his best self is him selling for his opponent and working from beneath. His selling was great at times, playing into the blood extremely well and the effect it should have on you, while still providing some excellent offence when he could. This match was Omega heavy however, but luckily, this was the best Kenny Omega performance since 2018. I’ve never been in love with Omega’s work during his AEW. He was usually good but rarely great and NEVER this good. And he showed up big time in this match. This was nothing short of amazing. A quality dome match. ****1/2
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
This had a lot against it, not only did it have to follow a match, it was a match that was cold going into and a match with very little more to achieve or explore. The match was ultimately good, very good towards the end. Some of the nearfalls and counter sequences were well crafted but the body of the match failed too hook me to a big degree. There was this sea of low energy that accomplished the same, old familiar spots that we’ve seen before. But as I said, that improved as the match went on and they started to switch it up slightly. Just enough to recover what could’ve been New Japan’s Jericho vs Triple H. Okada retains, as he should’ve. I just hope Jay White does something fresh. It’s needed. ***1/2
Ichi, Ni, San, Daaaa!
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