New Japan Pro Wrestling 4/11/2025 Windy City Riot 2025

New Japan Pro Wrestling 4/11/2025 Windy City Riot 2025

TJP vs. Tom Lawlor

They stall a bit then mat wrestle early. Tom backrolls him into a leglock then TJP rolls him up. Tom grounded ankle locks him then TJP turns it into a sharpshooter. TJP lets go and Tam ends up doing an armbar. TJP rolls him into an armbar. They leglock each other at the same time then slap each other while in the hold.

TJP cranks Tom's arm back. Tom then goes out to stall. Tom pulls TJP's arm down over the top rope. Tom stomps him then flips him into an armbar. Tom single arm ddt's him for 2. They trade shots in the corner. TJP 2nd rope dropkicks him from behind.

TJP triangle dropkicks him on the outside. TJP top rope flying forearms Tom. TJP does facewash kicks. Tom does a single leg codebreaker and TJP spinning heel kicks him. TJP does an octopus to Tom. Tom does a TTD for 2.

Tom 2nd rope superplexes him. Tom then hits a kamigoye for 2. TJP superkicks him then takes a spinning forearm. TJP tornado ddt's him then hits a top rope frogsplash to win.

Thoughts: It went a little longer for an opener at only 10 minutes. They spent a lot of time on armwork that didn't really get followed up on later.

NJPW STRONG Women's Title #1 Contendership Match - AZM vs. Mina Shirakawa

This went to a double countout in a really stupid finish. The ref was up to like 17 and 18 and they just kept trying to tornado ddt the other person on the floor instead of even trying to get in. Then they got mad after for being counted out. The crowd thankfully booed it because it was BS. It was all fast paced wrestling here and seemingly every move had an additional spin on it for some reason. There weren't any clear faces or heels here and it was just average.

NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Title Match - The World Class Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) (c) vs. Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA)

Kush and Jor go at it. Kush side headlock takeovers him then side headlocks him. They shoulder battle and Kush shoulders him over. Jor hits Kush from behind then is tripped and takes a kick. Jor eye rakes him.

Royce gets in and he is tripped into a standing frogsplash on the back. KK then does an assisted springboard crossbody. Kush and KK then do stereo plancha's outside. TJP is watching in the aisle for some reason.

KK low diving shoulders Royce for 2. KK is tripped into the ropes then he is thrown into Jor's pounce. Royce then running forearms Kush into the rails outside. KK takes a double atomic drop then is fisherman suplexed for 2. 

KK takes a boot to the head + spinning backbreaker combo. Royce chinlocks KK. Royce spinning ofrearms him then KK cradles him for 2. KK hits a big dropkick on him. Kush and Jor get in. Kush its shots and kicks on him. Kush crossbodies him. Kush then hits a pele kick.

Kush hiptosses Jor into a basement dropkick. Jor has Kush in a powerbomb position on the 2nd rope and KK jumps up and hurricanrana's Jor in one motion.

Kush tries a handspring double back elbow but is hit. Royce pop-up knees KK. KK then takes a falcon arrow + powerbomb combo for 2. KK hits a nice ddt on Jor then Kush jumps off KK's back to tornado ddt Royce.

Royce is on Kush's shoulders and KK dropkicks him for 2. Royce low blows Kush. Jor pop-up powerbombs Kush. Royce then does a high german on Kush and wins.

Thoughts: I liked it. Royce and Jor had no problems being a bit heelish here while Kush/Kevin were the faces. They had some nice double teams and put over Kevin's agility. It was a good match.

TJP and Royce tug of war over the tag titles after.

NJPW STRONG Openweight Title 30 Minute Iron Man Match - Gabe Kidd (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii

They lock up. They slap each other then do a fast slap flurry. They trade lariats and slap each other again. Gabe suplexes him then is lariated over. Both are already down and we are only a few minutes in.

They trade forearms again. Gabe knocks him down after slaps and forearms. Gabe hits kicks to the back and shoves him around. Ishii hits chops and Gabe bites him.

Gabe hits forearms then is dropped with a forearm from Ishii. Ishii foot chokes him. They trade chops for a while. Ishii is sent into the buckles then Gabe drops him with chops. Ishii hits chops then Gabe chops back. They keep trading chops and Gabe double chops him down.

Gabe hits more chops then bites him. Gabe slams him for 2. Gabe hits chops in the corner and drops him with a punch. Ishii is thrown into the buckles but bounces off and shoulders over Gabe. Ishii backdrops him then 2nd rope suplexes him for 2. Ishii hits Kawada kicks and forearms. Gabe then drops him with a shot. Ishii bites Gabe on the buckles then does a sunset bomb for 2.

Gabe exploders him. Gabe throws him out and then sends him over the rail. They trade chops outside and go into the front row. Gabe forearms and bites him there. Gabe runs at him but Ishii moves and Gabe goes into the seats. Gabe ddt's Ishii onto chairs on the floor.

Gabe chops him against the rails then throws him over the rails. Gabe 2nd rope superplexes him for 2. Gabe 2nd rope moonsaults him for 2. Ishii enzugiri's him then Gabe knees him in the gut. Gabe hits forearms then Ishii hits headbutts. Gabe drops him with a punh then doctor bombs him for the pin. Gabe is up 1-0.

Gabe boots the back of Ishii's head and leans on it. Ishii hits some slaps as Gabe taunts him. Gabe then hits a big punch. Gabe hits a corner lariat then Ishii back body drops him. Gabe hits slaps. Ishii slaps back and Gabe goes down.

Gabe hits a big knee to the face. Ishii rolling armbars Gabe. Ishii goes a rare triangle choke but Gabe powerbombs him. Ishii holds on and taps him out. We are now tied 1-1 with 2 minutes left.

Gabe rolls out and comes back in. Ishii forearms him and yanks the arm. Gabe cradles him for 2. Gabe lariats him. Gabe goes out and the time limit expires.

We then go to sudden death. They lariat each other at the same time and Ishii hits 2 before Gabe does. Gabe rebound lariats him then piledrivers him for 2. Ishii dragon suplexes him but Gabe powers up. Ishii lariats him and Gabe no sells it. Ishii drops him with an enzugiri. 

Ishii running lariats him for 1. Gabe suplexes him for 1. Gabe rolls him up for 2. Ishii forearms him down. Ishii piledrivers him and Gabe hits a knee to the face. They trade shots and Ishii headbutts him for 2. Ishii brainbusters him and wins.

Thoughts: It was mostly all chops, slaps and lariats as expected. We've seen these matches and they have a limit to them entertainment wise I feel because it's the same thing over and over again. It was fine but they didn't exactly reinvent the wheel here or really go all out for a classic. We all knew what this was going to like just by looking at the match line-up and that's what it was.

El Phantasmo & Rocky Romero vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Titan)

RR and Titan go at it. RR backs him up on the ropes and dances. Titan trips him then goes up and over him and does flips. Titan flying headscissors him then boots him. They trade forearms. RR slams him then double stomps him.

Naito and ELP go at it. Naito ducks a lock-up then ELP ducks a lock-up. ELP side headlocks him then shoulders him over. ELP goofs around on the ropes then does Naito's pose. Naito then spits at him.

ELP is thrown out then Naito teases a dive and taunts him. Naito reverse ddt's him on the knee then neckbreakers him. ELP takes a double spinebuster > double leg split > double kick. Titan hits kicks on ELP then ELP chops him. Titan boots him out of the corner and ELP catches him with a suplex.

RR hits forearms on Naito. Naito atomic drops him then RR basement dropkicks him. RR hits corner lariats on both opponents then hits a double lariat. Naito takes kicks from both then takes a dropkick + UFO neckbreaker combo for 2.

RR and ELP are sent into each other. Titan top rope double crossbodies both. Titan hits kicks on RR then tornado ddt's ELP out. RR takes low dropkicks from both opponents. Titan corner lariats RR. Titan then walks up the ropes, walks the ropes and springboard splashes RR for 2.

ELP hits forearms then Naito spits at him. RR rewind kicks Naito. Titan ducks a lariat and hits a jumping back kick on RR. Naito hits a bad destino on ELP then Titan topes ELP outside. Naito hits a northern lights bomb on RR then Titan top rope double stomps RR to win.

Thoughts: It was fine. Naito was definitely taking it easy here and didn't really take much of a beating. It was fast paced with a lot of flying and interactions between the two teams. I was okay with it.

Naito eye rakes RR after.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. David Finlay

Zack wristlocks him. DG tries to reverse it. Both get pulled down by the wrist and Zach upkicks him to escape the wristlock. DF side headlocks him then shoulders him over. Zack does like an octopus on the ropes and they end up rolling down to the apron and floor. Zack then lets go of it.

Zack pulls on DF's fingers then stomps the arm into the mat. DF back elbows him then misses a senton. Zack twists his neck with his feet. DF backdrops him.

DF rakes the face then suplexes him. Zack euros him many times and is uranage backbreakered on the knee. Zack is thrown hard into the buckles. DF corner euros him then Zack suplexes him into the buckles.

Zack goes up and over and twists his neck. Zack germans him for 2. Zack PK's DF and DF flips him off. Zack hits more PK's then takes a backbreaker. DF suplex throws him. Zack rolls him up off a dominator attempt and they trade pin attempts. Zack crucifixes him for 2.

DF hits a nasty oblivion for 2. DF powerbombs him. They try pin attempts. DF backrolls him but is rolled up. DF hits a powerbomb then buckle bombs him. DF then hits another powerbomb for 2. Zack then triangles him off the pin attempt. Zack pulls back on both of the arms and DF ropebreaks.

Zack boots him while both are seated. DF then boots back. Zack pele kicks the arm then hits a michinoku driver for 2. Zack hits slapped then takes 2 spinning forearms. Zack gordbusters him and PK's him. Zack michinoku drivers him and gets the pin.

Thoughts: I was surprised to see Zack win here since DF had been winning so many big matches lately. It was a decent match. The two worked well together and Zack focused a bit more on the arm then various submissions on different limbs. I would have liked the finish to have been a submission finish though with all the armwork Zack did. I liked this more than I expected.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match - Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Shota Umino

Shota wristlocks him and Goto side headlock takeovers him. Shota headscissors him and they stand off. Goto wristlocks him. Shota backs him up into the ropes and clean breaks him. Goto side headlocks him. Goto shoulders him over twice.

Goto boots him in the corner then ties his leg up. Goto leglocks him and Shota ropebreaks. Shota hits chops and forearms. Shota running back elbows him and enzugiri's him. Shota catches him with a half-nelson suplex. Goto kneebreakers him then Shota neckbreakers him.

Shota knee drops the leg then ddt's the leg. Goto hits chops. Shota corner euros him then fisherman suplexes him for 2. Shota tornado ddt's him then suplexes him for 2. Shota trips Goto then legbars him. Shota STF's him.

Goto hits chops. Shota euros him down. Goto ushigoroshi's him. Goto spinning heel kicks him and backdrops him for 2. They trade forearms. Shota pop-up powerbombs him. Shota hits another powerbomb for 2.

Goto hits a reverse GTR then is lariated. Shota misses a lariat and is sleepered. Goto PK"s him. Goto hits a GTW for 2. Goto chest kicks him. Shota avoids a GTR then headbutts him. Shota flying knees him in the jaw for 2. Shota forearms him.

They collide with lariats. Goto running lariats him. Shota lariats him. Shota running lariats him for 2. Goto hits a shouten kai for 2.

Shota cradles him for 2. Goto hits a headbutt flurry then running lariats him. Goto hits a GTR and wins.

Thoughts: Shota didn't bring a lot to this and it lost its steam about halfway through. There was no reason to think Shota won here and he lost as expected. It was acceptable and Goto busted out more of his offense than usual but it wasn't anything more.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita

They trade waistlocks. KT wristlocks him. Tana side headlock takeovers him then KT headscissors him. Tana boots him in the knee. Tana 2nd rope twisting crossbodies him. Tana boots him in the knee and KT hits forearms. KT hits a flying lariat.

KT ddt's him then dos something like a cobra clutch. KT hits corner punches then bites his head. KT flying knees him. KT flying forearms him in the corner.

Tana dropkicks him in the knee. Tana dragon screws him. Tana dragon screws him on the ropes. Tana slams him. KT hits a package piledriver. KT exploders him for 2. 

KT goes for a backdrop and Tana kind of does a slingblade off of it. KT 2nd rope superplexes him. Tana dropkicks him in the knee then Tana hits a twist and shout. Tana hits another then KT brainbusters him. Tana hits another twist and shout.

Tana slingblades him for 2. Tana hits a top rope high flying flow for 2. Tana blue thunders him. KT hits his own top rope high fly flow for 1. Tana slaps him then drops him when KT tries to punch him.

Tana straightjacket germans him for 2. Tana then hits a dragon suplex. KT no sells it and Tana slingblades him. Tana top rope crossbodies him. Tana tries a high fly flow but KT gets his knees up. They trade forearms on thier knees.

They get up and trade. KT spinning forearms him. Tana then cradles him for 2. KT pumping knees him twice. KT hits another pumping knee then another for 2. KT meteora's him then hits a raging fire. KT then wins.

Thoughts: It got a lot of time here and Tana lost as expected. I liked KT trying to do the high fly flow and I thought they got about the best you can get out of Tanahashi in 2025. It could have maybe been a bit shorter and a big spot or two could have helped it more. What we got was okay though and it a decent main. The good thing about Tana being in this was that KT could not go overboard and do all kinds of dangrous stuff.

They shake hands after. The wrestlers on the show surround the ring. KT walks out and has words for ELP outside the ring. They seem to tease a match. Tana gets a chant then he gets up and waves. Tana says thank you. He says he's NJPW president now and wants to do wrestling forever. He says he will retire next year though. He says not to worry as he will make NJPW #1. He then does his pose.

Overall thoughts: It was a longer like show like usual. It was all wrestling as usual as well. The opener went a bit long. The women's match had a stupid finish and was more worried about the pace than anything else. I liked the tag title match. Gabe/Ishii was what you would expect with lots of chops, forearms and lariats. They hid Naito's weaknesses in his match and he didn't do too much. Zack/Finlay was better than I expected. Umino/Goto lost steam halfway through and the main was okay.

It was a good show overall and it was what you would expect. I'd give it a 7 out of 10 as I thought it was a good effort overall.