New Japan Pro Wrestling 1/4/2024 Wrestle Kingdom 18 In Tokyo Dome

New Japan Pro Wrestling 1/4/2024 Wrestle Kingdom 18 In Tokyo Dome

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match - BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (c) vs. Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP)

 

Akira has body paint on and TJP has a weird mask on. TJP hits a double dropkick to start then he and Akira tope their opponents. Drilla is on TJP's shoulders and takes a diving cutter off the top. Clark takes a shaker heights drop then back body drops Akira to the floor. TJP is pulled down off the apron and into the rails by Drilla.

TJP takes a suplex + spear combo on the floor. TJP is sent into the rails then Clark chokes him with a chain on the rails. Drilla's mouth is bleeding and he kicks Akira around. Drilla back elbows him then Clark suplexes Akira. Akira takes a Clark elbow drop for 2. Akira rolls Clark up into a double stomp. Akira jumps off Clark's back and canadian destroyers Drilla.

TJP top rope crossbodies Clark then release backdrops him on his neck. TJP facewash kicks Drilla then double stomps him while he is in tree of woe. The faces take moves at the same time and Drilla double stomps Akira. TJP takes a high angle ddt from Clark then takes a drilla killa on his head for 2. TJP takes a high + low and Akira is speared through the ropes off the apron.

TJP bites Drilla and Drilla grabs the ref. Akira hits a to prope spanish fly on Clark then TJP mists Drilla. Akira 2nd rope asai moonsaults outside. Drilla takes a 2v2 double meteora and is pinned.

It was indy crap as expected with canadian destroyers and multiple head drops that meant nothing.

NJPW World Television Title Match - Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tana lost some weight and has a new outfit and robe. Zack double knuckle locks him then they trade strangleholds. Zack slides out between Tana's legs. Tana armlocks him then Zack rolls and bridges out. Zack hammerlocks him then takes a twist and shout. Zack takes 2 more of those then Tana slingblades him. Tana hits a top rope high fly flow crossbody then Zack gets his knees up on the high fly flow. Zack bridge pins him for 2.

Tana blocks a kick then dragon screws Zack off of it. Zack triangles him then Tana puts him in a texas cloverleaf. Zack armbars him then ties up his legs and both arms but Tana ropebreaks. Tana dropkicks him in the knee and poses. Zack goes for a hold then has it reversed with an abdominal stretch. Tana rolls him up for 2 then Zack armbars him.

Zack euros him then Tana hits strikes. Tana slaps him and Zack bridge pins him for 2. Tana bridge pins him for 2 and is put in a choke on the mat. Zack abdominal stretches him and blocks a dragon screw. Zack twists Tana's neck with his feet then PK's him.

Tana rolls him up off a slam and they trade pin attempts. Tana gets the win.

It was a short match at under 10 minutes. They kept it moving and mostly did submission wrstling here. It wasn't bad, but you expect a 20 minute classic out of these two and instead it was just an undercard match. Maybe it was better this way but it's just a tough pill to swallow. 

Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura

 

They stare down and lock up. Yuya wristlocks him and Yota rolls through it. Yota side headlocks him and hits a spear off Yuya's leapfrog. Yota topes him into the rails then hits an electric chair drop for 2. Yota stands on his neck then Yuya rolling armbars him.

Yota hits stomps and they trade chops. Yota shoulders him over for 2. Yota armdrags him and Yuya hits chops. Yuya armdrags him then hits a nice dropkick. Yuya double chops and bulldogs him for 2. Yuya backdrops Yota, misses a crossbody then takes a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Yota corner splashes him then superkicks him off his top rope crossbody. Yota hits his orange crush/falcon arrow for 2 then Yuya armdrags him.

Yota hits his curb stomp then Yuya germans him. Yuya uranage's him then dragon suplexes him for 2. Yuya swings him into a front suplex and picks up the win in a shocker.

I didn't think they had enough time here and I didn't like the card placement on this one. Yota's kind of already a main eventer and they were put in a midcard style match here. It was an okay match but we're probably going to see a 10x more interesting match from these two in about 3 Tokyo Dome shows from now.

Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino vs. House Of Torture (EVIL & Ren Narita)

 

I don't get this one at all. Kaito's been teaming with Oiwa but today he's teaming with Shota.

They get started before HoT really gets in the ring. Kaito hits forearms on Evil then hits corner punches. Kaito dragon screws Sho and Kanemaru. Kaito dropkicks Evil in the knee then draogn screws him. Shota then stf's Ren at the same time. Kanemaru rings the bell and the faces break their holds. The ref is sent out and HoT jumps in. Kaito takes corner attacks and is chopped in the crotch.

Ren boots Kaito then takes a flying knee. Shota gets in and beats up HoT. Shota slingshot ddt's Ren on the apron then Shota dropkicks Shot and Kanemaru outside. Shota top rope dropkicks Ren while he's on the mat then side slams him for 2. Kaito corner forearms Ren then Shota running euros Ren. Ren takes spinning forearms then an enzugiri + jumping knee combo. Evil chokes Shota with his shirt then Kaito sto's Evil. Kaito knocks Sho off the apron then Evil hits everything is evil on Kaito.

Ren puts Shota in a sleeper and Shota half-nelson suplexes him twice. Ren hits Shota with a bar and facebusters him for the win.

This was short, a waste of time and a burial for Shota and Kaito. It also had the usual HoT shenanigans despite only being 7 minutes long. 

NEVER Openweight Title Match - Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga

 

They collide in the ring and trade forearms. Shino hits shots then shoulder battle. Tama dropkicks him, corner lariats him then Shingo backdrops him. Tama no sells it then exploders him. Tama hits another exploder then corner splashes him. Shingo lariats him then shoulders and slams him. Shingo misses a senton.

Tama is knocked off the apron and Shingo tope con hilos him. Shingo suplexes him for 2. Shingo corner lariats him then Tama diving neckbreakers him off the 2nd rope. They trade forearms then Tama rolling death valley drivers him. Tama gets stuck up top then Shingo suerplexes him. Shingo sliding lariats him.

Tama hits a tonga twist then top rope splashes him for 2. Shinog powerbombs him for 2 then sliding d's him. Shingo hits a big lariat then Tama does a nice cutter counter. Tama hits a high underhook ddt then lariats him. They trade headbutts and Tama enzugiri's him. Shingo counters a tiger driver with a hurricanrana then Shingo cutters him. Shingo hits a big lariat then hits a made in japan for 2.

Shingo hits forearms and a lariat. Tama rolls him up and hits a styles clash. Tama cutters him for 2. Tama then wins it with a jay driller.

It was a good heavyweight match with the two trading lariats and high impact moves at a good pace. It was what you would want and expect out of this match and they did a good job with it.

We see Nick and Ryan Nemeth arrive. Of course, Nick is the former Dolph Ziggler.

IWGP Tag Team Title / NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Title Match - Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo)

ELP = El Phantasmo

Yoshi and ELP start us off. They trade forearms and ELP dropkicks him. ELP takes a double shoulder then a is hiptossed on. Hiku double suplexes both opponents. Yoshi takes a side slam and elbow drop off the buckles. Goto runs into a Hiku ddt.

Goto spinning heel kicks Hiku then backdrops ELP. ELP takes a headhunter + russian legsweep combo. Hiku takes a double suplex then ELP takes a corner lariat. ELP jumps off Yoshi's back, goes up top and hurricanrana's Goto into Yoshi.

Hiku shoulders ovr Yoshi then hits snake eyes on Goto. Hiku shoulders him over then double lariats both opponents. Hiku is thrown into ELP and is superkicked. Yoshi dragon suplexes ELP. Goto lariats ELP then ELP takes a double team gutbuster. ELP takes a superkick then an elbow slice + bomb for 2.

Hiku takes a double lariat over the top. Yoshi hurricanrana's Goto into Yoshi. ELP tokes Yoshi outside then Goto ushigoroshi's Hiku. ELP superkicks Goto then top rope moonsaults Yoshi outside. Hiku rocket launchers ELP off the ropes for 2. ELP straightjacket piledrivers Goto then Hiku top rope splashes Goto to win it.

It was rushed and short unfortunately. This needed about twice the time it got. It was fine and all but not what it could have been due to time constraints.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match - Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado

Despy = El Desperado, HT = Hiromu Takahashi

Despy tope con hilos him into he rails before HT even gets in. Despy backdrops HT then corner lariats him. HT corner lariats him and basement dropkicks him. HT runs the apron and dropkicks him over the rails. Despy is sent into the other set of rails then HT falcon arrows him in the ring for 2. Despy spinebusters him for 2 then stretch mufflers him.

Despy stomps him and HT grabs his mask. Despy kneebreakers him and hits something like an abdominal stretch bomb. Despy back body drops him then HT hits a wheelbarrow flatliner. HT rebound germans him then Despy rolls him up into a stretch muffler. HT canadian destroyers him then lariats him. HT hits a time bomb and gets caught on the buckles doing a move. Despy then backdrops him off the 2nd rope. Despy hits forearms then is superkicked twice. HT running lariats him then Despy hits an olympic slam variation. Despy hits angel's wings for 2.

HT rolls him into a pin attempt then is forearmed. Despy jay drillers/pinche loco's him twice and wins it.

It was your usual indy match between these two with lots of head drops and other dangerous moves and little selling. Thankfully, it was under 20 minutes.

IWGP Global Heavyweight Title Three Way Match - Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay vs. Will Ospreay

 

Will Osperay had the IWGP US title. He made it the IWGP UK Title. Then NJPW made it the Global title. Finlay gets double teamed to start. DF goes out and takes a running face kick from Will. DF is crotched on the rail then Mox lariats him. Will beats up DF in the aisle and DF is still being 2v1'd here. Mox is irish whipped into a box then Mox suplexes DF on the floor.

DF is double backdropped through a table. Will then signals to Mox that it's time to get in and fight. They trade forearms. Will face kicks and backdrops him. Mox backdrops him back and they lariat each other. Will handsprings and is caught with a german. Mox running knees Will then hits corner punches.

Will goes for an os cutter, is caught and sleeper suplexed. Will standing spanish flies him and Mox turns it into an armbar. Will then buckle bombs Mox out of it. Mox no sells it and lariats him. Will is back body dropped on the apron and DF pushes Mox into the post. Will ohok kicks DF on the apron and DF neckbreakers him on the apron with the shillelagh.

Mox cutters DF then is sent into the buckles. DF pounds on Mox and busts him open. DF hits crossface punches on Mox on the ropes. Mox does a standing orange crush on DF then Will handspring double pele kicks them. Will jumps off of Mox's back and elbows DF. Mox topes DF then Will top rope moonsaults both opponents outside.

Will spingboards on Mox and is forearmed down. Mox death rider ddt's him then piledrivers DF on Will. DF uranages Mox onto the edges of chairs then dominators Will onto him. DF chairs Will then Will cutters him. Mox death rider ddt's Will and Will hidden blades him for 2. DF hits oblivion on Mox then Will hidden blades DF.

DF hits forearms on both then is forearmed by both. The War Dogs come in and beat up Mox and Will. Mox and Will stop the heels with Will hitting a springboard cutter on Alex. Will swantons both War Dogs through tables outside and DF rolls up Mox for 2. Mox ddts and death riders DF. Will hidden blades Mox twice then stormbreakers him. DF hits oblivion on Will for 2. DF picks him up like a suplex and knees him in the gut to win.

They were doing a decent job of it then they started no selling and we had Bullet Club interference which brought it down some. I still thought it was somewhat good overall and they definitely did try here.

David Finlay has words for Nick Nemeth after. DF pushes him and they fight until it is broken up.

Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada

Okada comes out wearing a white jacket with black lines, then he goes under a scanner and the robe gets some coloring on it. Bryan wears a jacket with dragon style feathers on it. Bryan hits leg kicks and they wrestle a bit. They trade forearms while holding hands then Okada running back elbows him. Okada ddt's him and sliding dropkicks him. Bryan is ddt'd on the floor. Okada runs at him off of stuff then takes a flying knee outside. Bryan hits slaps and slams a rail door on Okada's arm.

Bryan bangs Okada's arm off his shoulder then northern lights suplexes him. Bryan stomps Okada's arm into the mat then knees the arm. Bryan fujiwara armbars him then kicks the arm. Bryan dropkicks the arm while it's tied up in the ropes then Bryan runs into a face kick at 10 minutes. Okada neckbreakers him on the knee and slams him. Bryan top rope double underhook suplexes him.

Bryan hits slaps and kicks on the apron then Okada tombstones him on the apron. Okada boots him in the injured eye then takes off Bryan's mask to boot him there more. Okada dropkicks him then top rope elbow drops him. Bryan crucifixes him then hits buzzsaw kicks. Bryan hits downward elbows then Bryan flying knees him.

Bryan ties up both of his arms with his legs then turns it into a rings of saturn. Bryan hits reverse curbstomps. Okada rainmakers him at 20 minutes. Bryan hits chest kicks then Okada hits a german. Bryan high kicks him then spinning forearms him. Bryan flying knees him then Okada hits an emerald flowsion. Okada dropkicks him then hits an attitude adjustment. Okada rainmakers him and gets the win.

The match ended way too soon. Even the announcers weren't really ready for it and it didn't feel anywhere close to being over. I didn't end up liking the story on this one. Bryan worked the arm and Okada worked Bryan's eye for a bit but it ultimately ended up not meaning anything. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match - SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito

 

Sanada's in old orange Mutoh colors and came out in a robe. They lock up and Naito goes for an armbar. Naito clean breaks him and Sanada throws him out. Sanada teases a dive. Naito boots and clubs him and they trade chest shots. Naito hits his hiptoss neckbreaker.

Naito armdrags him then baseball slides him in the back of the neck. Naito hooks his legs around Sanada's neck and pulls his arm. Sanada dropkicks him in the knee then backdrops him. Sanada leapfrogs and dropkicks him then plancha's him. Sanada top rope dropkicks him then does a TKO variation. Sanada puts him in skull end. Sanada misses a top rope moonsault then Naito drives his own back into the apron with a swinging dropkick on the apron. Naito then bridging neckbreakers him on the floor.

Naito hiptoss neckbreakers him on the knee then 2nd rope hurricanrana's him. Sanada dropkicks him then bridging twisting neckbreakers him in the ring. Sanada poisonrana's him then hits a shining wizard. Sanada goes for a top rope moonsault but Naito gets his knees up. Naito hits a diamond dust then hits destino. Sanada then tko's him. Sanada top rope moonsaults Naito's back then his chest. Sanada takes a release german on his head then is spinebustered.

Naito hits destino on Sanada twice then Sanada hits a deadfall ddt. Naito enzugiri's him then Sanada hits a spinning forearm and an asai ddt. Naito koppo kicks him and tornado ddt's him. Sanada rolls him into a bridge then shining wizards him. Naito hits his own version of deadfall then brainbusters him. Naito hits destino and wins it.

It was good main. Not great or anything but the crowd was into it, they didn't overdo it and they paced it well. All of the focus on the deadfall ddt kind of came out of nowhere as that has not been focused on much all year. I liked Sanada busting out some different moves here than usual and he actually showed some passion during this. I do feel bad for Sanada though as he was never really fully given the keys to the kingdom during his reign and I don't think he will get another run with it. 

Naito got jumped by The House of Torture after. Togo holds Naito by the hair and Evil talks trash. Sanada shining wizards Evil then him and Naito work together to take out Togo. Naito has kind words for Sanada after and promises a big year for LIJ.

Overall thoughts: The main was good and that's mostly all that matters here. I didn't like Okada/Bryan. It didn't go long enough and was just not their best work. The three way was okay. Tama/Shingo was the only match on the undercard that got enough time as everything else was shortened, which sucks as this is the biggest show of the year. They gave enough here to satisfy you, but even on the biggest show of the year, we didn't get the best version of the various matches possible. And as always, while the Tokyo Dome shows are fun, they really are totally different than your average NJPW show with different wrestlers and different show formats that don't always really represent what this promotion is.