Pre-Match: Rambo
Long match. Perhaps too long but it had some fun surprises including Fujita Hayato and Takashi Iizuka. **1/2
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (c) vs. Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP)
If you wanted a strong start to the main card of the Tokyo Dome, this was the wrong match. Jr Heavyweight tag team wrestling seemed like a good idea but the execution was very weak. TJP's new aswang gimmick was a distraction, for one but the main issue is that catch 22 weren't good in their babyface roles. Not very good selling. Okay hope spots. Not that Connors and Moloney were much better. Fine but forgettable. **1/4
NJPW World Television Title Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
I was excited for this match before the show but reality came crashing down hard. Tanahashi working the 2nd match of WK is about right for him right now. But the match was fine because of Zack Sabre Jr, who can craft an interesting match with almost everyone. Tanahashi just has to exist and play the hits, and win, apparently. The belt was intended for young guys but that's clearly a plan for the past . **3/4
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
The first good match of Wrestle Kingdom. They structured the match wisely to have Tsuji, the established one, dominate which allowed Uemura to catch him and everyone watching by surprise. Strong performances by both. Tsuji looked good leading the match, showing great power in his moves. Tsuji working the heelish role has potential. Uemura has got decent fire. a lovely suplex and drop kick. A little more seasoning and you've got something. A feud certainly for the future as well as the present. ***1/2
Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino vs. House Of Torture (EVIL & Ren Narita)
A fun match while it lasted but a weak finish and it being short limited its potential. The heavy face/heel dynamics were interesting. No attempt at wrestling a fair fight whatsoever. Kiyomiya and Umino are the perfect counter to that. It's rare that the HOT antics work for me but they worked a treat here. However,
Narita probably needs to limit the comedic facial expression. ***
NEVER Openweight Title Match: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga
This was kick ass. Even Tama Tonga delivered. He didn't let up with the pace and threw some great strikes. I can't recall many better. It's a shame that he won because I don't see him continuing this.
Shingo was obviously very good as well, linking it all together as he does. The counter sequences were well done and they popped the crowd big with some of the moves they pulled off. Much to love, little to dislike except the result. ***1/2
IWGP Tag Team Title / NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Title Match: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c) vs. Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) (c)
This was a match that was perfectly fine without being interesting. I don't think Hikuleo and ELP are interesting champions nor a team I'll be checking out religiously but I think they did okay in the match. This wasn't Bishamon's best performance either. ***
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado
This wasn't too unlike most other Hiromu Takahashi matches during this title reign. Desperado works the leg and that awkwardly turns into a kick out of everything match. Not the worst match thanks to Despy being undeniably great and making it work but this is so far below what these two usually offer. It never really ever hinted at being great despite their best attempts. Very little finesse from Hiromu. And that's his gimmick. He's not coming off the page any more unless he's wearing a crazy robe. Desperado's presentation is much better. ***1/4
IWGP Global Heavyweight Title Three Way Match (vacant): Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay vs. Will Ospreay
This is a good match but I can't help but feel like they are all wrestling past each other. All attempting to do different things and it's not as cohesive as it could be. It felt like Finlay's only purpose was to interrupt Ospreay and Moxley doing their shitty sequences where they take a big move and do one right back. Now Ospreay and Moxley did some actual wrestling too and those parts were good but then they'd do that. Imagine not doing a move a second after being dropped on your head. Just frustrating. Finlay felt like a bit part and he wins. It's bad booking. It was bad booking not to have Shota Umino beat Ospreay, or Tsuji. But here we are. The title changed hands in a match that was good but felt held back by poor instincts and a weak third partner in every sense. ***1/4
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
It'll be very easy to overrate this because of the two wrestlers in it, the arena and based on the fact that it’s actually good unlike many dream matches. In fact, their first match wasn't very good, due to injuries amongst other things. However, I thought this was a great match. Danielson working the arm was very compelling. Strong storytelling and great wrestling to boot. Danielson doing submissions can vary from interesting to boring and this is the former. He crafted some wonderful submission sequences and would occasionally throw a disgusting kick to the bicep. Danielson was doing some of his best work in that regard. He was excellent. Okada sold very well and helped enhance those submissions by doing so. Okada attempted to tell a story with Danielson's eye in return, but he lacked the aggression and follow through. It was a nice idea though, and Danielson did a good job at selling it himself. The closing stretch focused more on the rainmaker being hit (and a pin attempt to follow) than whether it'll get the three which is refreshing. And a preferable way to end the match, although they could've milked it a little longer. But enough of that, the faults are very little. And the highs are terrific. A strong MOTYC. ****1/4
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match: SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
If you like two sloppy, clunky impersonations of Keji Muto, this match is for you. Well, SANADA was less sloppy and more clunky whereas Naito, through all his effort, just isn't upto crafting a good match. He can try all he likes but he can barely make minimal contact on a front kick at times. But worst of all, this wasn't that memorable. The key spot of the match was either Naito landing awkwardly on the apron or SANADA getting a close two count on Naito. But otherwise, this was a match to forget. Good atmosphere with the fans being pro Naito all the way. But a good atmosphere doesn't make a good match. **1/2
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