NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Review (1/4/2025).

08 Jan, 2025

(This, along with Wrestle Dynasty the following night, are my first live reviews ever for the blog. It was a lot of fun writing these up while watching the show as it happened, and I hope to do it again in the future!)

After much anticipation, the biggest weekend in New Japan’s calendar has arrived!

It’s Wrestle Kingdom 19, live and in living color from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

This is going to be my first live review for the blog, and I’m very excited. Here’s hoping I don’t fall asleep while writing this up.

The headline match for this event – the first of two this weekend held inside the Big Egg – is Zack Sabre, Jr. defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shota Umino in a match that, in the simplest of terms, is extremely vital for both men. For Zack, it’s the chance to be the first foreigner ever to win the main event of Wrestle Kingdom, and to be the first foreigner to win the main event of a January 4th Tokyo Dome event since 2006. For Shota, it’s about proving to the naysayers that he’s ready for the responsibility and pressure it takes to not only stand tall in the Dome, but to also be the face of this new era of New Japan.

Elsewhere on this show, we have the long awaited Dream Match between Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi, DOUKI defending the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against El Desperado, David Finlay defending the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against Yota Tsuji, an IWGP Women’s Championship showdown between Mayu Iwatani and AZM of STARDOM, and a Double Title Showdown between NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi and AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita.

And those are just the matches that I’m most excited to see. There’s a lot to take in on this show, so let’s get right to it!

This should be fun to type up early in the morning, with 9 cats running around my house.

(Preshow): New Japan RANBO for a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

In years past, the RANBO – New Japan’s Tokyo Dome traditional take on a Royal Rumble match – has been contested for spots in a 4 Way Match for the KOPW Championship. However, Great O-Khan, following his most recent defense of the championship against Taichi, declared that the championship was dead, and that the RANBO this year would see the winner earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. So, if you’re wondering why certain names aren’t on the main card, it’s because they’ll be here battling for a title shot.

Elimination occurs by pinfall, submission, or going over the top rope.

RIP to the KOPW Title. It was mostly a joke title, but it did give us some really good bangers when the title was being contested by the likes of Shingo Takagi, Taichi, and HENARE. Hell, we got a Sumo Match between Taichi and Toru Yano in Ryogoku out of it. That’s just glorious.

Great O-Khan, the final KOPW Champion, is the first entrant in the match. Chris Charlton notes that there will be 17 total entrants in the RANBO this year. Second entrant is Josh Barnett! The Warmaster is in the Dome! Nice surprise to see the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Bell sounds, and O-Khan tries for a takedown on Barnett. Barnett is back to his feet, and both men separate. We get more grappling from both men, as Boltin Oleg makes his way out next. It’s been two years since his debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17.

Oleg and Barnett lock up, and Oleg gets a nice side takedown off. Barnett with a side headlock takedown, and Oleg looks for an armbar. O-Khan breaks up their grappling exchange, as the next entrant enters, and it’s Hirooki Goto! He enters and hits a nice lariat to Oleg, followed by a suplex to O-Khan onto Oleg. Barnett quickly knocks Goto to the mat, before going back to Oleg. Barnett looks for an arm submission on Oleg, and here comes Blue Justice, Yuji Nagata!

Walker Stewart brings up how Nagata was Barnett’s opponent in the Dome back in 2003. They immediately face off, as both men trade kicks to the other. Nagata looks to take control of the arm, as O-Khan dominates Goto in the corner. Oleg tries to toss Barnett over the top rope, and they both tumble to the floor! They’re both fighting for a submission regardless. Oh hey, here’s Togi Makabe. Nagata forearms Goto in the corner. Makabe enters the ring and uses his chain to choke O-Khan.

KENTA, fresh off of a victory over Kenoh at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s New Year event, is out next. And as expected, he does his recent dumbass walk to the ring. A reminder that this man was a killer twenty years ago. Nice forearm exchange between KENTA and Nagata right away. Have these two had a singles match before? KENTA gets Nagata on the apron, and knocks him out of the match. I just looked, and they’ve had two singles matches in NOAH. I’m going to have to check those out.

YOSHI-HASHI, my hero during the pandemic, enters next. He’s wearing a shirt that just says “aim high.” Based. Good chop exchange between Hashi and KENTA, two long time haters of one another. Makabe has a sleeper on O-Khan, while Goto chills in the corner. Ah, here comes Yujiro Takahashi, whose appearance reminds me that I must pay attention to House of Torture matches tonight for the sake of this review. Normally, I set an alarm and sleep.

Hashi kicks Yujiro, and then goes to eliminate KENTA, but Yujiro stops him. Hashi gets eliminated by Yujiro. Damn. Maybe next time, buddy. THE ONE AND TRUE ACE IS HERE – TORU YANO! I heard Jon Moxley turned down Wrestle Dynasty because he didn’t want to be in the same country as Yano. Yano uses Yujiro to send KENTA off the apron, and then rolls Yujiro to eliminate him! Again, KENTA would’ve murdered everyone in this match twenty years ago – well, maybe not Nagata.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan is out next, and he gets a big pop. Tenzan goes after O-Khan, who stole his Mongolian chops in 2021. Tenzan naturally uses those chops anyway, because that was a storyline from 2021 New Japan in the Pandemic era. BREAD MANIA RUNS WILD! Here comes Satoshi Kojima, the reigning MLW World Champion. Goto has O-Khan on the ropes, and Yano is popping off Mongolian chops on Tenza. Kojima saves him, and they double team Yano to the mat.

Tenzan accidentally lariats Kojima, and Yano takes advantage with a roll up for the elimination. Kojima starts kicking his ass, as the next entrant comes out – it’s Tomoaki Honma. As it stands, we got Goto, O-Khan, Yano, and the New Japan Dads in the match. Goto and Makabe trade nearfalls on O-Khan. Honma goes for the Kokeshi (I think I spelled that wrong) on Yano, and he misses naturally. Up next is the newest member of Bullet Club War Dogs, SANADA. He was the defending IWGP World Champion at Wrestle Kingdom last year. This year, he was not announced for anything beforehand. Yikes.

Kojima immediately pops off the Machine Gun chops, Kobashi style, to SANADA. Makabe with the 10 punches in the corner to SANADA. SANADA low blows Makabe, and sends him to the apron. Here comes Taichi next, and you know he wants SANADA! Kojima gets eliminated. Taichi was nice enough to bless us with a live performance in the Dome. Chris Charlton said SANADA and Taichi were best friends, and somewhere, Zack Sabre, Jr. is weeping. Dangerous Tekkers forever. Taichi rushes the ring, and SANADA powders to the outside. Taichi follows him out, and they brawl on the floor. O-Khan and Makabe are also on the floor, brawling. Goto kicks Honma in the back, and gets a nearfall. Tomohiro Ishii is the next entrant.

Ishii and O-Khan exchange bombs right away, and Ishii wins that. He goes toe to toe with Honma next. Honma connects with the Kokeshi this time. Ishii with the brainbuster to Honma, and that’s enough for the elimination. HOLY SHIT, ALEX ZAYNE IS HERE! The Sauce is in the Tokyo Dome! I love a guy whose moves are named after Taco Bell menu items. SANADA and Taichi continue to fight in the ring, as Zayne slides in the ring.

Taichi avoids a low blow, and SANADA traps his leg in between his legs while the referee is distracted, and Taichi gets disqualified! Taichi responds by sending SANADA out of the ring, causing his elimination! They continue to brawl, as Goto and Zayne go at it. Yano is removing the turnbuckle pad. Nice Cinnamon Twist to Goto. Yano hits Goto with the turnbuckle, and Zayne sends him over the top rope. O-Khan sends Ishii to the apron, and Zayne is on the apron as well.

Ishii gets knocked off by O-Khan. Zayne takes Goto and O-Khan down with a head scissors combo. O-Khan swats Zayne out of the ring. We’re down to Goto and O-Khan! 30 minutes into this, and we get a collar and elbow tie up. Big boot to Goto, who’s able to kick out. Mongolian chops to Goto. Goto blocks a clothesline, and hits GTR! He sends O-Khan to the apron, and gets shouldered in the ribs. O-Khan grabs Goto and looks for a suplex. Goto escapes, and clotheslines O-Khan to the floor! Hirooki Goto wins, and he’s earned a shot at the IWGP World Championship!

It’s the RANBO. It had some surprises, and it was good fun. I did enjoy the SANADA/Taichi interactions, and I can’t wait for that singles match. My only gripe is that this company is seemingly afraid of having Taichi wrestle Zack Sabre, Jr. COWARDS!

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship 4 Way Tokyo Terror Ladder Match: KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight © vs. TMDK (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) vs. Catch 22 (TJP & Francesco Akira) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney).

Bullet Club enters with a parade of beautiful women in silver. My first thought was “whoa, it’s the robots from Austin Powers!” United Empire is out next, and thankfully, we do not get that weird TJP entrance that happened at Wrestle Kingdom in 2024. TMDK, the winners of Super Jr. Tag League, are out next. I am in the majority of thinking that this should’ve just been Eagles and Fujita challenging tonight because, you know, they won Super Jr. Tag League. The champions, the Intergalactic Jet Setters, are the final ones out.

The titles are raised above the ring, as we get set for the 3rd Ladder Match in New Japan history, and the first inside the Tokyo Dome. The bell sounds, and all eight men brawl immediately. Knight hits a crossbody that takes out most of the participants. TMDK grab a ladder, and KUSHIDA dropkicks it into them. Knight with a splash onto the ladder crushes Eagles and Fujita. United Empire double team the champions in the corner, but here comes Connors and Moloney with a chair to TJP.

Moloney kicks TJP and Akira down, and Connors sends them to the outside. Ladder to the midsection of Fujita, and a double chair attack to his chest and legs. Connors grabs a tall ladder and brings it into the ring. War Dogs set it up, and scale it, but here comes KUSHIDA to knock it over. He kicks TJP and Eagles to the floor, and hits a baseball slide to Akira. KUSHIDA places Moloney on a table, and Knight goes to the top rope, but Connors knocks him down. He tosses a chair at Knight’s head next. Connors and Moloney position the table against the barricade. Moloney with a Dominator Piledriver that misses the table, but it does land on the floor.

Another table gets set up, but TJP makes the save and slows down the War Dogs. Akira jumps off of TJP with a senton to Moloney, crushing him through a table. Eagles with Sliced Bread to Connors, and Knight with a springboard attack to Eagles. Knight sets the ladder up, and then places a shorter ladder in between it and the ring ropes. Knight dropkicks Connor’s legs, sending him face first into the ladder. He places Connors on the ladder, and here comes Eagles with a springboard 450 onto Connors!

Knight climbs the ladder, and Fujita cuts him off. Fujita sets another ladder up, and makes the climb. Akira goes up with him, and they throw punches. TJP grabs Fujita, and we get a Cutter Tower spot from Catch 22. Eagles now makes the climb, but TJP leaps onto the ladder from the ropes. He sprays mist into Eagle’s face, and hits a clothesline, sending Eagles and him through the smaller ladder. Knight hits a high dropkick to TJP off of KUSHIDA.

Knight climbs, and Moloney cuts him off. Both War Dogs are trying to stop Knight, and KUSHIDA is holding them off. Knight hits a splash from the very top of the ladder to Moloney! He and KUSHIDA position the ladder on top of Moloney, and KUSHIDA makes the climb. Fujita fights for his spot up the ladder, but KUSHIDA looks for an ankle lock. He tosses Fujita down, and here comes Eagles with a leg submission of his own. Knight with a hurricanrana to Eagles.

Knight climbs the ladder again, and Moloney powers up and forces the ladder to fall over, sending Knight crashing into the ropes. Moloney and TJP scale the ladder. TJP pulls Moloney shoulder first into the ladder, and here comes Eagles next. They fight atop the ladder. Akira and Fujita climb the other ladder, and we get a little Super Jr. Tag League finals rematch as all four men brawl. Eagles kicks TJP down, and Eagles goes flying.

Fujita pulls Akira’s legs through the ladder rung, and he grabs the championships to win the match for TMDK! Good spot fest to kick the night off. Eagles and Fujita winning was the right choice, as they continued their momentum from Super Jr. Tag League. Good start for TMDK tonight. Kevin Knight was a true MVP in this match. He busted his ass for the entirety of it. Give him a singles run. With this win, Kosei Fujita is the youngest holder of a Junior championship in New Japan history.

2. IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani © vs. AZM.

Two years ago at Wrestle Kingdom 17, KAIRI and Tam Nakano got six minutes in their Women’s Title match. This had fucking better get more time.

Despite being a forgotten championship in the Bushiroad banner, the IWGP Women’s Championship has gotten a great shine in 2024 thanks to Mayu Iwatani’s body of work, considered by many to be some of the best work of her career (her Historic X-Over II match with Momo Watanabe was amazing). Here, she looks to extend her reign – which started in April of 2023 – by defeating High Speed Queen AZM.

Mayu is one of the best women’s wrestlers of all time, and is so deserving of a chance to walk the ramp in the Tokyo Dome. Commentary brings up how Mayu, in this reign, holds the record for most defenses of any IWGP Championship in history – more than Kazuchika Okada in his historic 4th reign as Heavyweight Champion.

They rush to the middle as the bell sounds. They throw hard forearms, and Mayu with a nice kick to the midsection. Nice drop toe hold by AZM, and a dropkick to the head. Mayu powders to the floor, and AZM runs up the turnbuckle and dives to the floor onto Mayu! She rolls her back into the ring, and connects with a beautiful head scissors into an armbar. Mayu avoids a corner strike and hits a single leg dropkick.

Mayu with a dropkick to AZM in the ropes. She goes to the top rope, and connects with a frog splash. She covers, and AZM kicks out. She tries for a German Suplex, and AZM blocks it. AZM runs right into a superkick. Mayu goes for the Poisonrana, and AZM is able to trip her just in time. With Mayu hanging upside down, AZM connects with a double stomp to the chest. AZM goes to the top rope, and hits another double stomp to the midsection. She covers, and Mayu just gets her shoulder up.

AZM blocks a kick, but Mayu connects with a forearm. AZM hits her kick, and Mayu superkicks her right in the jaw. Mayu with a nice running single leg dropkick in the corner, and she’s back on the top rope. Shotgun dropkick, Toyota style, connects on AZM. She goes back up top, and misses the moonsault. AZM with a nice kick to the head. Mayu blocks a powerbomb, and tries for the Dragon Suplex, but AZM counters with the Canadian Destroyer!

Double arm Canadian Destroyer connects, and spikes Mayu! AZM covers, but Mayu somehow kicks out. AZM goes to the top rope, and eats two feet of Mayu on the way down. AZM is bleeding from the mouth. Head scissors into the arm bar, but AZM puts Mayu in a roll up for 2. High German Suplex, and Mayu kicks out at 1! Mayu hits a beautiful German Suplex, then rolls through for the Gut Wrench German, and AZM counters that into a roll up for another close 2!

Mayu blocks a head scissors, and connects with the Tombstone Piledriver. Mayu is back on top, and hits the moonsault! She covers, and AZM is able to kick out! Mayu is stunned. She grabs AZM, and hits the Dragon Suplex into a bridge for the pin and the win to retain. Post match, they shake hands.

It was still too short for my taste, but damn if these two women didn’t maximize their time. That was fucking awesome. Great back and forth chemistry between both women, and AZM popped off some nearfalls that I bit on. This had some good stiff strike exchanges, and some great high flying sequences from AZM. Awesome match. Just give them more time!

3. NJPW World Television Championship 4 Way Match: Ren Narita © vs. Ryohei Oiwa vs. Jeff Cobb vs. El Phantasmo.

Originally scheduled to be a 3 Way Match between Narita, Oiwa and Cobb, Phantasmo made his return to New Japan during Christmas week, announcing that he had beaten his recent bout with cancer. He was quickly added to this match.

This is Oiwa’s first appearance in the Tokyo Dome. He had a great excursion in Pro Wrestling NOAH, and he has the best nickname in wrestling: The Grip.

Narita’s nickname is “Souled Out.” It must be nice to be named after one of the shittiest WCW events ever.

The three challengers quickly decide to corner Narita. Phantasmo with a Tope to Narita on the floor. Oiwa and Cobb shoulder tackle each other in the ring. Nice forearm exchange, and here comes Phantasmo, who misses a Stinger Splash in the corner. Oiwa with a hip toss, and Cobb with a suplex to Phantasmo. Oiwa shoulders Cobb down, which was nice. He stomps Cobb’s arm into the mat, then hammerlocks the arm.

Narita comes in, and chokes Oiwa down. Phantasmo returns to the ring, and gets choked by Narita as well. Now Narita is choking Cobb, and he gets a nice takedown off into a leg lock. Oiwa with a standing splash to Narita for a 2 count. Narita rakes the eyes of Oiwa, and gets caught in the sleeper hold. Phantasmo with a nice hurricanrana to Oiwa that sends him to the floor. Cobb tries for Tour of the Islands, and Phantasmo gets a nearfall off of him with a rollup.

He goes to dive to the floor, but Cobb punches him, causing him to fall onto Narita and Oiwa. Cobb has a smile on his face, and he hits a beautiful senton onto all three of his opponents! Big pop from the crowd. Seriously, push this man to the moon. In the ring, Cobb slams Narita to the mat, and then hits a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Dropkick by Oiwa sends Cobb into Narita. Oiwa with a gut wrench suplex to Cobb for a 2 count.

Running kick to the head by Phantasmo to Narita, and Oiwa cuts him off on the top rope. Cobb lifts Oiwa for a powerbomb, and Oiwa grabs Phantasmo for a suplex as well! Nice Tower of Doom spot. Narita hits a diving knee to Cobb from the top, and he gets a nearfall. He also gets nearfalls off of Phantasmo and Oiwa. Narita has his push up board ready to use, but here’s Jado to steal it from him. All three challengers take turns striking Narita, who rolls to the floor.

Now all three go at it in the middle of the ring. Huge Sudden Death kick by Phantasmo to Oiwa. He dives onto Cobb, who catches him and hits an F5. He covers, and Oiwa breaks up the pin. Oiwa with a nice clothesline to Cobb. Nice Doctor Bomb by Oiwa to Cobb, but Narita pulls the referee out to break up the pin. Narita looks to use his weapon on Oiwa, and he connects. Cobb blocks a shot, and breaks the board across his knee. Narita responds with a low blow.

Cobb hits Tour of the Islands to Narita, and Phantasmo hits a senton to break it up! He dives on Oiwa on the floor, then hits the Thunder Kiss on Narita to take the win and the championship! That was a nice feel good moment for Phantasmo, who overcame cancer at the end of 2024. He had a rocky year, with his Guerrillas of Destiny mates going to WWE – or in the case of Hikuleo, just disappearing altogether. But he returned here in the Dome to take the TV Championship. A well deserved moment for one of New Japan’s hardest working foreigners.

Phantasmo, Oiwa and Cobb worked hard, especially towards the finish, which got hot. Fuck House of Torture.

4. Hair & Career Lumberjack Death Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL.

At King of Pro Wrestling in October of 2024, Hiroshi Tanahashi announced that he would be having his final match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in 2026. EVIL then decided that he didn’t want to wait that long, and is trying to end Tana’s career sooner. On the road to this match, EVIL chopped off some of Tana’s hair, which pissed the Ace off. So now, Tana’s hair AND his career are at stake in this match, which will feature Lumberjacks and no rules.

EVIL gets his entrance theme played live, and he comes out looking like the old school EVIL from Los Ingobernables de Japon. House of Torture are accompanying EVIL to the ring. Great.

Tanahashi is followed to the ring by Tenzan, Master Wato, Tiger Mask, Boltin Oleg and Toru Yano. I saw Yano and immediately thought “this match is going to be a clusterfuck.”

The bell sounds, and the crowd is very much behind Tana. EVIL takes advantage of a HoT distraction, and he takes the side headlock. Tana tries to take control of the arm, and goes into the side headlock. Tana with a back elbow to the head, followed by a middle rope crossbody. He plays some air guitar, which is always cool. Kanemaru distracts Tana, and EVIL tries to send him to the floor. Tana kicks Dick Togo away, and EVIL hits a Dragon Screw Legwhip to Tana. He goes to the floor, and HoT go on the hunt. Hontai get into it with them, and we get a big brawl.

EVIL sends Tana into the ring post, and then places a chair around his neck. He grabs another chair, and swings it into Tana’s neck. HoT spray paints poor Master Wato’s chest. Narita brings Tana back into the ring. EVIL with the old wrist tape choke hold move next. How very 1970s NWA of him. EVIL sends Tana back first into the exposed turnbuckle, then connects with a fisherman suplex for a 2 count. Tana with some forearms to EVIL, who responds by raking the eyes.

Tana catches a leg, and hits the Dragon Screw, Tana style! Tana with a baseball slide to Togo, followed by a diving forearm shot to EVIL. Tana knocks HoT off the apron. Powerslam by Tana, and then the middle rope senton for a 2 count. EVIL tries to run away, but Oleg carries his dumbass back to the ring. EVIL rakes the eyes again, and he tries to use the referee to his advantage, and the ref punches EVIL! Tana goes for Sling Blade, and EVIL throws the ref into him. HoT comes in to attack Tana and Hontai.

Togo with a middle rope karate chop to the dick. That was amazing. Yano and Tiger Mask fight HoT off, but the numbers game is too much. Oleg with a double suplex to HoT, and Master Wato hits a diving senton onto them. Tana is back to his feet, and he hits the exposed turnbuckle! EVIL hits a lariat, but Tana eats it! Another lariat drops Tana, but the Ace kicks out. Everything is EVIL is blocked by a Tanahashi version of it!

Beautiful Dragon Suplex by Tana, followed by Sling Blade. That gets a nearfall. Tana goes to the top rope, and hits the High Fly Flow crossbody. He’s back up, and EVIL pushes the referee into the ropes, knocking Tana down. Togo with salt in the eyes, and EVIL goes to the top. Super plex connects, and then Darkness Falls. EVIL covers, and Tana kicks out. EVIL with the Scorpion Deathlock submission. Tana looks ready to tap, but EVIL stops the submission like a fucking moron.

EVIL with a lariat, and Tana bitch slaps him. EVIL drops him with another lariat, and then Everything is Evil, but Tana quickly turns it into a small package for the flash win! Tana’s career is still alive, and he keeps his glorious hair. It was what I expected – House of Torture bullshit. I love Tanahashi, so it gets a pass.

Post match, House of Torture continue to attack Tanahashi, but a man in a hoodie comes it to scare them off – IT’S KATSUYORI SHIBATA! In an AEW hoodie, no less. He helps Tana to his feet, and them asks for a mic. Shibata says if Tana isn’t tired, then they should have a match tomorrow at Wrestle Dynasty! Tanahashi says he’s never tired, and let’s do it! We’re getting Tanahashi vs. Shibata in the Dome tomorrow! LET’S FUCKING GO!

5. NEVER Openweight Championship/AEW International Championship Title for Title: Shingo Takagi © vs. Konosuke Takeshita.

This is the one match I’m most excited for between both nights! The former ace of Dragon Gate and the former ace of DDT go at it in a New Japan ring! Shingo called out Takeshita at a STRONG event, and the match was made for the NEVER Championship. It was added that if Takeshita was still International Champion by this event, then both titles would be on the line. The winner of this match faces Tomohiro Ishii tomorrow at Wrestle Dynasty.

Don Callis, aka Dong Challis, is here. That nickname is coined by my girlfriend.

The bell sounds, and both men quickly connect with shoulder tackles to the other. The impact can be heard all through the Dome. Takeshita boots Shingo in the face, then connects with his crazy diving clothesline. Hip toss by Shingo, followed by a shoulder tackle. Shingo with some light kicks to the face, and Takeshita gets right in his face. Shingo with an elbow to the jaw, and Takeshita asks for more. Shingo gives him another, and Takeshita drops him with a hard forearm.

Diving senton from the middle rope gets Takeshita the nearfall. Takeshita looks to slow things down with a chin lock. Shingo gets to his feet, and elbows Takeshita’s leg. The International Champion responds with a hurricanrana. Shingo goes to the floor, and he pulls Takeshita face first to the apron. He follows that with a crazy Death Valley Driver on the thin padded floor. Shingo brings him back into the ring, and connects with a lariat in the corner.

He places Takeshita on the top rope, and brings him down to the mat with a high suplex. Shingo with a sliding lariat, and Takeshita kicks out. Shingo is firing himself up, and Takeshita looks for a German Suplex. Shingo fights out of it with his closed fist/lariat combo. Shingo looks at the camera and say it’s time. I love when he does that. Shingo looks for Made in Japan, and turns it into an Exploder Suplex. Takeshita with a German Suplex, and Shingo with a back suplex, and Takeshita with a German Suplex! Good sequence there.

Tomohiro Ishii is at ringside watching, and if you can believe it, he’s not smiling. Shingo pounds his head off the turnbuckle, and he rushes Takeshita with a lariat, and Takeshita does the same. They exchange elbows in the middle of the ring, with Takeshita winning out. Shingo with a lariat in the ropes, and Takeshita rebounds with a lariat of his own. Bastard Driver connects, followed immediately by the wheel barrel German Suplex!

Takeshita rushes Shingo, and Shingo responds with a hard lariat! Shingo with an elbow to the side of the head, and then Made in Japan, damn near spiking Takeshita! Shingo only gets 2 off of that. Shingo gears up for the Pumping Bomber, but he and Takeshita just collide with one another! Takeshita with a running knee to the head! Takeshita gets Shingo on the top rope, and hits a beautiful Frankensteiner! Running knee connects flush, and Shingo kicks out at 1!

Blue Thunder Bomb, Generico style, and Shingo kicks out again! Shingo gets Takeshita up in the air, and he connects with Last of the Dragons, and almost spikes Takeshita again! Shingo with a couple of hard lariats to the chest, and a double chop. Boot to the jaw by Takeshita, and a Poisonrana. Shingo with a Poisonrana of his own! Takeshita rebounds with a rolling elbow to the back of the head. Elbows by both men, and Shingo connects with a closed fist! Takeshita with a knee to the face, and Shingo hits the Pumping Bomber! Takeshita rebounds with another forearm!

Takeshita hits the Raging Fire to win and become a double champion. That was fucking awesome. My favorite match of the night so far, and it’s not even close. I do wish the match lasted longer than it did, but I can’t complain about what they accomplished here. This was nothing but big bombs, crazy counters, and unbelievable sequences. That’s all I wanted from this, and it succeeded. Shingo Takagi has been one of my favorites for a long time, and Konosuke Takeshita is easily one of my five favorite wrestlers to watch right now. Run it back, and give them more time, and they’ll make this match look like childs play.

6. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: DOUKI © vs. El Desperado.

Both men are coming off of fantastic 2024s. Desperado won the Best of the Super Junior Tournament, regained the IWGP Jr. Title, and then hosted his own show, “Despe Invitacional,” which sold out Korakuen Hall and was one of the most acclaimed wrestling events of the year. DOUKI, meanwhile, finally turned in a great BOSJ performance, took the Jr. Title from Desperado, and then proceeded to have a great reign with the title with multiple defenses. This is the long awaited rematch.

DOUKI has an awesome Japanese theater style entrance. Commentary talks about how DOUKI made his debut in wrestling in front of less than 10 people. Now he’s here in the Dome. Crowd is hot for both men as the bell rings. They roll around the ring to start out, with DOUKI sending Desperado to the floor with a head scissors. DOUKI connects next with a Tope to Desperado. The challenger sends the champion into the barricade, then he hits a Senton to him, sending both into the barricade!

Desperado throws DOUKI into the barricade, and DOUKI responds by doing the same. They throw forearms on the ramp, as the count out gets closer and closer to 20. They make it back into the ring, and Desperado hits a back suplex for a 1 count. DOUKI with some hard chops to the chest, and Desperado responds with a slap to the face. Step up enziguri by DOUKI. Desperado with a nice spinebuster, and DOUKI catches him with the Douki Chokey! Desperado counters it into a version of the Cloverleaf, and DOUKI gets to the ropes.

DOUKI with a shoulder tackle from the apron, and he looks for a guillotine, and then transitions to a head scissors to the floor. Desperado avoids a diving attack, but DOUKI is quick to go to a diving senton to Desperado, sending Desperado back first into the barricade, and DOUKI smashes his arm into the barricade. Fuck, the bell is rung, and it seems the match is over due to injury. I think DOUKI broke his arm. Desperado is the new Jr. Champion.

As officials check on DOUKI, Desperado grabs a mic. He says these things can happen when you put your all into what you do. He will not apologize for what’s happened, because this is the price of giving your all. He promises to do this again. Damn, that fucking sucks. All that momentum DOUKI built up in 2024, and it ends with possibly a broken arm. A shame too, because that was building up into a fine Jr. match. Shit happens in wrestling, though, but it still sucks. Great refereeing, as the match was immediately called off due to the injury.

7. IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: David Finlay © vs. Yota Tsuji.

Finlay has been a dominant Global Champion. He’s been trying to avenge all of his recent losses, and the last one he needs to avenge is Tsuji. arguably the hottest of the Reiwa Musketeers, as they’re called. Tsuji enters looking like a perfect caricature of the guy in the LIJ logo.

I learned in the build to this match that Tsuji is a pudding enthusiast. So, that rules!

Finlay enters with a machine gun that hilariously looks fake. It’s a sponsorship with Tekken 8, I guess?

They go face to face, and Finlay shoves Tsuji. The bell sounds, and the crowd is behind Tsuji. They lock up, and Finlay gets Tsuji in the turnbuckle. He rakes his forearm off the head, and eats one from Tsuji. They throw elbows to the jaw, with Tsuji getting the upper hand. Double stomp to the head. Finlay rakes the eyes, and runs into a tilt a whirl backbreaker, which sends Finlay to the floor. Tsuji with a tope to the floor, but Finlay catches him and sends him back first into the apron. He tosses Tsuji into the ring post, which he avoids, but he can’t avoid the Pounce into the barricade...period!

Back in the ring, Finlay gets a nearfall. Finlay takes top position, and throws hammers on Tsuji’s head. Finlay gives the fans the double bird, and they boo him accordingly. Tsuji blocks a Urinage, and stomps his head into the mat. Tsuji with some nice elbows to the head, followed by a shoulder tackle and a splash for a 2 count. Nice Stinger Splash by Tsuji, and a hurricanrana. Finlay is on the floor now, and Tsuji charges him with the Fossbury Flop (did I spell that right?)

Back in the ring, Tsuji tries for a suplex, and Finlay counters with a forearm. They both throw forearms, and Tsuji gets in the leader with the harder strikes. Finlay comes back with the Cactus Clothesline, sending both men to the floor. Finlay lifts Tsuji up and sends him head first into the ring post. He brings Tsuji around the barricade, and hits the Irish Curse, sending Tsuji crashing through a ringside table. Finlay returns to the ring, and taunts the crowd.

Despite being caught up in the cables at ringside, Tsuji is able to get back into the ring. Finlay with a diving elbow in the corner, and Tsuji turns it around with a suplex into the turnbuckle. Finlay is on the top rope, and he eats a kick to the head. Tsuji goes to the top, and Finlay turns it into a powerbomb off the top rope, which gets a 2 count. Dominator by Finlay, and he hits another, and then another! He covers, and Tsuji kicks out again.

Finlay lifts Tsuji up for a strike, and Tsuji just collapses. Tsuji pops off a small package for a quick nearfall, but Finlay is back up with hard forearms. Running knee strike by Tsuji, and another knee to the head, and Finlay kicks out. Tsuji misses the top rope double stomp, and Finlay connects with a powerbomb, and then a Buckle Bomb. Another powerbomb, and Tsuji kicks out, but just barely. Finlay goes for another powerbomb, and Tsuji counters with a hurricanrana.

The double stomp connects, and Finlay is able to kick out. Tsuji goes for Gene Blast, but Finlay counters with the Gun Stun, and Prima Nocta for a close nearfall. Tsuji blocks Prima Nocta again, but Finlay hits a spear out of nowhere! Tsuji blocks Prima Nocta and hits Gene Blast, but Finlay gets his foot on the bottom rope! Finlay grabs at Tsuji’s knee pad, and Tsuji coldly brings him to his feet. Hard elbow to the head, and another, and another. Finlay is out on his feet.

Headbutt by Tsuji, and he screams to the heavens. Curb Stomp connects, and he goes for Gene Blast, but Finlay counters into Overkill, and that gets a close nearfall! Finlay goes for a back slide, and Tsuji counters out of it with a hell of a power bomb. Gene Blast connects, and Tsuji gets the 3 and the win to take the Global Heavyweight Title! Tsuji takes his first singles championship in a match that got better as it went along, but almost never felt like a big time Tokyo Dome match. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but I feel like it was lacking in some areas. Taking place right after DOUKI broke his fucking arm probably didn’t help matters, but even still, this was missing something to take it to the next level.

8. Special Singles Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi.

This one has been in the making for 15 years. Naito has been like a big brother to Hiromu, from his days as a Young Lion, to his entry into Los Ingobernables de Japon in 2016. These two were scheduled to face off at the 48th Anniversary event in March of 2020, but then COVID happened and fuck everything up. After winning World Tag League together, both men agreed to finally have their long awaited singles match against each other at the Tokyo Dome.

Hiromu enters wearing some kind of weird acid trip style body suit. I don’t even know how to describe it. Look it up and see for yourself.

Naito offers the LIJ fist bump, and Hiromu politely declines. The bell sounds, and here we go. They lock up, and they exchange control of the back. Naito tosses Hiromu, and blocks a kick. He poses, and then dropkicks Hiromu out of the ring. Back in the ring, Naito gets a crovat in, and Hiromu punches his way free. Naito with a neckbreaker, and he goes into the head scissors. Hiromu gets his boot on the bottom rope, and Naito suddenly forgets how to release the hold.

Naito stomps Hiromu, who responds with chops to the chest. Naito spits in his face, and Hiromu is able to hit a dropkick to the face for a 2 count. Naito blocks a clothesline, as well as a suplex attempt. Arm drag by Naito, followed by a dropkick to the back of the head. Naito with a neckbreaker to Hiromu, and he gets a nearfall off of that. Hiromu lifts Naito up and sends him to the apron, and follows up with a sunset flip powerbomb to the ringside floor.

He rolls Naito back into the ring, and he hits the Attitude Adjustment for a nearfall. Naito blocks a Time Bomb attempt, but he can’t block a German Suplex. Hiromu turns Naito inside out with a clothesline. Time Bomb connects, and Naito kicks out. Naito tries to come off the ropes with a DDT, but Hiromu is able to stuff it completely, and gets a nearfall. Thrust kick to Naito, and another hard clothesline.

Hiromu tries for Time Bomb 2, and Naito counters into a version of the Destino. Naito delivers several elbows to the side of the head, and then comes off the top rope with Esperata (did I spell that right?). Naito hits the Destino proper, and Hiromu is able to kick out. Naito goes for Destino again, but Hiromu catches him, and hits the Time Bomb. Naito is able to kick out. Naito slips out of a Time Bomb attempt, and drives his elbow into the head again.

Hiromu is smiling his way through these strikes. Step up enziguri by Naito. Hiromu with a roll up for 2. Shotgun dropkick sends Naito into the corner, and then Hiromu connects with Destino to Naito! He lifts him up, drills him with Time Bomb 2! Hiromu covers, and Naito is able to kick out. Naito is bleeding from the mouth, as Hiromu fires himself up. He places Naito’s arm around his neck and goes to lift him, but Naito slips out, and then slaps the shit out of Hiromu.

Hiromu rushes Naito, and gets hit with a spinebuster. Destino connects again, and as Naito goes to pose, Hiromu kicks out at the last second. Powerslam by Naito, and he’s about to walk to the top rope for the Stardust Press spot that wore out its novelty years ago, but Hiromu grabs ahold of his leg. Naito slaps him again, and connects with Valencia. Another Destino connects, and that’s enough for the 3 and the win. Post match, both men engage in the LIJ fist bump, and they hug each other. I’m glad these two got to have this match together, as it clearly meant a lot to them, and at the end of the day, that’s the kind of shit that matters.

I will say that as a fan, this match was a major disappointment. Tetsuya Naito, bless his heart – pack him and smoke him, this guy is cooked. His body just seems completely fucked at this point, and it shows in his major matches like this. I didn’t think these two meshed well here, and I don’t know if it’s because of Naito’s health, or the fact that the vibe of this show has been different since DOUKI broke his arm, but this just didn’t work for me. For a match with this much emotional backstory, this felt rather uninspired.

9. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre, Jr. © vs. Shota Umino.

Main event time, as we get one of the more intriguing Wrestle Kingdom main events in recent memory. On one side, you have ZSJ, who had a phenomenal 2024, besting Bryan Danielson, winning the G1 Climax, winning the IWGP World Championship, and winning Tokyo Sports MVP. On the other side, you have Shota Umino, who was booed at King of Pro Wrestling and Power Struggle when he made his intentions known to challenge The Front Man.

Zack has a chance to become the first foreigner to ever win the main event of Wrestle Kingdom, and the first to win a January 4th Tokyo Dome event since 2006. For Shota, this is do or die. Since this match was announced, many – and I do mean many – have questioned whether or not Shota was ready for this kind of a spot. He still seems to be finding himself – is he more Tanahashi, or is he more Jon Moxley? The chorus of boos that his challenge brought gave many fans flashbacks to 2013, when Tetsuya Naito proclaimed that he was the next big player in New Japan. Fans booed him, and he became Ingobernable.

Is Shota on the same path? Is this a moment of failure that will define him later on, or is it a moment of success where he proves everyone wrong? And for Zack, it’s all about doing something that top gaijin in the past decade couldn’t do – win in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom. Kenny Omega, Jay White, and Will Ospreay were in this spot before, and they all failed. Is this the moment that Zack Sabre, Jr. sprints past them, and forges his own legacy?

Every male New Japan championship defended on this show has changed hands tonight, as a side note, and the IWGP World Championship has changed hands at every Wrestle Kingdom since its inception in 2021.

The bell sounds, and they lock up. Shota gets Zack into the ropes. We get a clean break, and they circle each other. Zack takes the crovat, and switches to a front face lock. He twists the arm around, grabs the wrist. He forces Shota to the mat. They both exchange control of the arm, until Shota flips Zack onto his back. They break away, and we get another stalemate. Zack takes wrist control, and forces Shota’s arm behind his back.

Shota reverses the pressure, and brings him to his knees. Zack tries to slip out, but Shota maintains control. Shota has the full nelson, and Zack finally escapes. Shota with an arm drag, and Zack avoids a dropkick to the face, but he can’t avoid a shotgun dropkick. Nice back and forth exchange there. Shota gets Zack in the corner, and elbows his head. Shota with the crovat next, and Zack tries to take control of the leg. Shota drives his elbow into the neck of Zack, who asks for more. Shota looks for a suplex, and Zack counters by slamming his arm into the mat. Zack proceeds to manipulate some joints, as he bends and breaks Shota’s fingers and wrist. Zack holds Shota’s arm to the mat, and stomps directly on the elbow. Hard kick to the arm, and another. He gives a swift kick to the spine. Shota responds with some forearms, and Zack wants more. He hyperextends the arm, and connects with a European uppercut.

Zack is sent into the ropes by Shota, and Zack rebounds with an abdominal stretch submission. He grinds his elbow and knuckles into the ribcage, as Shota gets to the ropes. He gives a hard kick to the chest, and Shota responds with a high dropkick, Okada style. Shota irish whips Zack into the turnbuckle, and connects with a fisherman’s suplex for a 2 count. Shota looks for an Exploder Suplex, and Zack counters by kicking at the injured arm. Shota fires back with a spike DDT over the top rope, onto the apron. But Shota immediately goes to his ankle, which he hurt during World Tag League.

Shota whips Zack back first into the ringside barricade. The crowd begins booing, as Shota whips Zack into the opposing barricade. Zack boots Shota, and Shota responds with a shotgun dropkick. Shota places Zack on the barricade, and spikes him to the floor with a DDT. Shota looks amused, as the crowd continues to boo him. Shota brings Zack into the ring, then flies off the top rope with a shotgun dropkick to the head. Inverted DDT connects, and Zack is able to kick out.

Zack uses his legs to twist the neck of Shota, then hits a dropkick to the back of the head. He kicks Shota in the spine, and Shota asks for more. Zack, such a gentlemen, responds with an even harder kick. Shota sits back up, and asks for more. Zack kicks the back of his neck, and he gets a nearfall off of it. Zack lightly kicks at Shota’s head, and Shota doesn’t like that. They exchange forearms and uppercuts, as Shota fires himself up.

Shota looks for the Exploder again, and Zack rolls it into an arm bar. He smartly transitions to the bad arm. Zack tries to trap both arms in a stretch, and then goes into a Triangle Choke. Shota isn’t out yet, and he lifts Zack up for a powerbomb, which Zack reverses into a DDT. Shota bounces off the ropes with an uppercut. Shota goes for Hidden Blade, but Zack avoids it. Zack with a Dragon Suplex, and a huge lariat that turns him inside out.

Zack goes for the Zack Driver, but Shota reverses into Twist and Shout. Forearm to Zack, and a hard uppercut to Shota. The challenger with a nasty looking uppercut to the champion. Zack responds with one of his own. This exchange continues, as Zack starts to smile. Shota drops Zack with an uppercut, and Zack is right back up. Shota is bleeding from the mouth. One more uppercut, and Zack is dropped. They exchange back slide attempts, and Shota finally hits the Exploder. Zack kicks out at 1.

Shotgun dropkick by Shota, and Zack uses his own momentum to hit a PK to Shota. Shota blocks Zack Driver, and hits the Tornado DDT off the ropes. Shota goes for Death Rider, but Zack is able to hit the Zack Driver for a close nearfall. Zack goes for the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Shota blocks it and hits the Death Rider. He covers, and Zack is able to kick out. Ignition connects, and another Death Rider connects. Shota covers, but Zack kicks out again.

Shota lifts Zack up, and goes for Death Rider, but Zack Dragon Screws both legs of Shota, including the injured ankle! Zack with a leg lock next. He transitions to an ankle lock, as Shota desperately crawls to the ropes. Zack pulls him farther away, and grapevines the leg. Shota tries again to get to the ropes, but Zack pulls him away again. Now he has the leg hyperextended. Zack figure fours the legs of Shota, and cranks back harder on the leg.

Shota is struggling not to submit. He forces himself up off the mat, and slowly makes the crawl to the ropes. Zack reapplies his submission, as Shota finally gets to the ropes. Zack stands on the injured ankle, then stomps directly on it. Shota can barely put weight on his bad foot. Shota with a weak forearm to the champion, and another. Zack quickly kicks his leg out from under him. More forearms from Shota, and Zack dropkicks the bad leg.

Zack rushes Shota, who responds with a Tornado DDT off the ropes. Shota runs at Zack, hitting a running knee to the back of the head. He places him on the top rope, and slips trying to get up. Zack catches him in a guillotine choke, and he pulls him up to the top rope. Zack attempts the Zack Driver from the top rope, but Shota reverses with some elbows to the head, and a headbutt. Shota falls backwards, but he goes right back. Uppercut to Zack.

Shota is on the top rope, and he hooks the arms for a top rope Death Rider. Zack wisely rolls to the ropes. Great move by the champion. Shota stomps on Zack’s spine on the apron, and he even shoves Red Shoes away – his own father! Red Shoes tries to pull him away, and Shota continues his attack. He lightly kicks at Zack’s head. Forearm connects to the jaw of Zack, who’s out on his feet. Hard uppercut drops the champion.

Zack attempts to kick at the injured leg, but Shota brushes it off. He grabs the wrists, and stomps on the chest of the champion. He drives his boot into the throat next. Zack slaps the shit out of Shota. He then kicks the hell out of the head and back of the challenger. We have hit the 40 minute mark. Zack takes the wrist, and kicks the hell out of Shota’s chest. Another slap to the face, and Shota responds with some of his own. Nice slap fest!

One hard slap, and Zack wins that exchange. Zack gets caught with the Emerald Flowsion, and Shota only gets 2. Shota with the Uppercut to the back of the head, and Zack kicks out. Shota goes for Death Rider, and Zack counters out of it and locks the Ankle Lock in. Shota counters into a victory roll for 2. Zack slaps him again, and gets a huge lariat by Shota! The challenger rushes Zack, but his ankle gives out! Zack takes advantage and hits the Zack Driver, but Shota still kicks out!

Zack lifts Shota up, and hits the Gotch Style Piledriver, Suzuki Style! Zack grabs Shota, and hits the Sabre Driver! He covers, and he wins! Zack has made history again! First foreigner to win a WK main event, first to do so in the Dome since 2006, and he does so in the third longest Tokyo Dome main event of all time. For a main event that had as cold of expectations as any in recent New Japan history, that blew away all expectations.

What a fantastic 43 minute main event showdown. These two always have great chemistry, but here, they wrestled a story heavy bout that, in my eyes, was all about applying what you’ve learned. For Zack, learning and studying under the tutelage of Minoru Suzuki came in hand courtesy of the Gotch Style Piledriver at the match’s finale. Zack applied his lessons in this match, he applied all of the submission style wrestling he had been taught, and that’s what brought him the win.

And then you look at Shota Umino, and it was almost like he couldn’t help himself but to cosplay as different wrestlers. You saw him use moves made famous by peers like Will Ospreay and Tetsuya Naito, his mentor in Jon Moxley, or even a legendary Japanese figure like Mitsuharu Misawa when Shota used the Hidden Blade, Tornado DDT off the ropes, the Death Rider, and the Emerald Flowsion respectively. And each time, victory slipped through his grasp. The story of Shota coming into this was whether he could find himself, and if this match is proof of anything, it’s that Shota Umino still has no idea who he is.

That to me makes for a great long term story to tell down the road. This was a failure for Shota Umino in his first Tokyo Dome main event, but it was just the first road block on his journey to immortality at some point in the future. This was definitely the best he’s looked in a big time match, and he can finally say he’s standing in equal footing with the rest of the Reiwa Musketeers. But, he still has a long way to go.

And with that, Wrestle Kingdom 19 is finished! Overall, I enjoyed this show a lot, and I certainly liked it more than last year’s event. Other than the individual House of Torture performances and the Naito/Hiromu match, there wasn’t anything here I didn’t like. I feel horrible for DOUKI, and I hope he gets a chance down the road to redeem himself from this bad injury he got here. Every match was at least decent to good, with a few standouts that I’ll always remember.

Mayu/AZM was an excellent case of time management, and it ended up being one of the hardest hitting matches all night. Shingo/Takeshita was everything I wanted it to be, and I probably had the most fun watching their match. The main event between ZSJ and Shota was an excellent piece of storytelling, as we got to see more of the growth of Zack Sabre, Jr., while also watching the future star Shota Umino continue to struggle for an identity.

This was a fun excuse to lose several hours of sleep, and now I shall try to sleep, as Wrestle Dynasty is just around the corner. I have low expectations for that card, so I’m hoping to get them shattered, just like I did with the ZSJ/Shota main event. This is a tough time to be a New Japan fan, as they are in a transitional period ala 2008-2011, but sometimes, those are the best times to watch a promotion, as you get to see all the hard work and growth in the present that will pave the way for a better future.