NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome Review (1/4/2014).
Things were looking better than ever for New Japan Pro Wrestling as 2014 dawned on the world. After a wildly successful 2013 – one spearheaded by the legendary rivalry between Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi – the promotion was looking to start the new year off with a bang with their Tokyo Dome spectacular, Wrestle Kingdom 8. The plan going into the event would be a double main event showcase, as Shinsuke Nakamura would defend the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi, while Kazuchika Okada would defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event against G1 Climax 23 winner Tetsuya Naito.
There was just one tiny problem with that plan: The fans turned on Tetsuya Naito.
Going into the G1 in 2013, New Japan’s plan was to have Naito become the next big babyface star of the promotion, a new challenger for Okada, as Tanahashi’s time in the main event scene was seemingly coming to an end. This was justified when Naito pinned Tanahashi to win the G1, and Tana then lost his IWGP Heavyweight Title match to Okada at King of Pro Wrestling in October, thus stepping back from the title picture. Naito was a white meat babyface, happy to take Tana’s place and lead the next generation of New Japan stars.
Fans did not enjoy this decision one bit. They did a full 180 on Naito, going from completely supporting him, to not giving him the time of day. This was an unprecedented period for the promotion. The man who is half of the build of the Tokyo Dome main event is getting jeered by the fans. So, what did the promotion do to save face? They held a fan vote that would ultimately decide which match would main event the show.
They were unanimous in their choice. Tetsuya Naito was unwanted in the main event scene, and the fans overwhelmingly chose the Nakamura-Tanahashi Intercontinental Title match to main event the show, while the Okada/Naito Heavyweight Title match was bumped to the semi-main event slot. You can blame it on any number of factors – The fan’s love and support for Tanahashi, their disdain for Naito as the next star, or the fact that Okada’s new found spot as the Ace wasn’t as over as they thought – but the fans spoke loud and clear. They didn’t want Okada and Naito main eventing the biggest show of the year. They wanted Nakamura and Tanahashi.
This fan vote, and the ensuing event, would help shape New Japan for years to come, even if no one knew it at the time. It would lead to another exciting chapter in the Okada/Tanahashi series, it would lead to a character change that ultimately worked for Naito, and it would further elevate Nakamura and the Intercontinental Title to legendary status. That’s the main headline coming into Wrestle Kingdom 8, but what about the rest of the show?
This event comes at a time when the international reach of the company was about to really pick up steam, but they still weren’t quite there yet. 35,000 fans jam packed the Dome for this event, a seminal moment in the lore of the King of Sports.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Four Way Match: Young Bucks © vs. Forever Hooligans vs. Suzuki-gun vs. Time Splitters.
The Bucks superkick the Hooligans to start this off. They hold down the ring, kicking away at Time Splitters. Double hip toss and dropkick to KUSHIDA. Gut buster/neckbreaker combo to Alex Shelley next. Time Splitters with a nice combo to get the Bucks off their back, as Taichi has decided to join commentary momentarily. Shelley and KUSHIDA try a double suplex, but the Bucks fight it off. Nice dropkick connects, and the Bucks give KUSHIDA a double “Suck It.” KUSHIDA comes off the ropes with a springboard elbow to both Bucks. The Hooligans connect with a double baseball slide to the Bucks on the floor. Hurricanrana by Rocky Romero to KUSHIDA, followed by a diving forearm by Alex Koslov.
Good double team clotheslines by the Hooligans to Shelley in the corner. Koslov lifts Romero up and tosses him knee first into Shelley. Koslov then does a weird Russian dance kick combo, and Suzuki-gun breaks up the pin. TAKA and Taichi then imitate that dance combo to Koslov. They then pin Koslov and count their own pin, declaring themselves champions. It doesn’t work that way, fellas. We get that multiman suplex attempt from all eight men, and now everyone is down.
The Bucks double team TAKA, and send him to the floor. Taichi eats a face buster by Nick Jackson, while Jackson eats a Tope from Romero. Koslov with a suplex that sends him and Matt Jackson to the floor. TAKA with a springboard moonsault onto everyone on the floor. Time Splitters run the ropes and hit a combo aerial offense onto everyone. In the ring, Taichi hypes the crowd up, then rips his pants off. He goes to the top rope, but is cut off by the Bucks. They give him a double suplex to the floor onto the rest of the participants.
The ref is doing a ring count for a Four Way? Everyone scurries back inside at the count of 19. KUSHIDA and TAKA square off, then Shelley kicks him down, then Romero kicks Shelley down, then Matt Jackson superkicks him, then Koslov kicks him, then Nick Jackson kicks him. Hooligans with a Doomsday Device gets a 2 count. Time Splitters do a neck crank, dropkick combo, Machine Gun style, onto Koslov. Powerslam by KUSHIDA, then a frog splash from Shelley, and the Bucks break up the pin.
Time Splitters knock the Bucks out of the ring, then hit a double elbow to Romero. KUSHIDA with a moonsault connects, then Taichi gives him a low blow. Black Mephisto connects, and the Bucks break up the pin. The Bucks fight off Suzuki-gun, then hit the Meltzer Driver on Taichi for 2. Superkick Party to TAKA, then a Death Valley Driver, 450 splash, and moonsault combo to take the win and retain the titles.
Very fun opening match, as all eight men threw caution to the wind, and had a sprint of a match. Lots of moves, lots of aerial offense, and a crowd that was very appreciative of what they saw. Good way to start the event.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Killer Elite Squad © vs. Bullet Club.
Tama Tonga does a bit of a Haka, as Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows make their way to the ring, decked out in military gear.
Davey Boy Smith, Jr. & Lance Archer enter the Tokyo Dome on motorcycles, which is pretty cool.
Hey, Tiger Hattori is the ref for this. Nice!
The bell sounds, and we start off with Archer and Gallows. They get into a shoving contest, before Archer unloads with forearms. Gallows boots him in the face, and Archer gives him a clothesline to the floor. DBS comes in, and the KES double team Anderson with a shoulder tackle. Leg drop and splash combo follows, and now they turn their attention to Tama Tonga, tossing him into the ring. Gallows and Anderson save him from further harm, as Gallows clotheslines Archer out of the ring and boots him for good measure. Anderson goes to work on DBS, stomping away at his chest. Gallows tags in, and unloads with punches in the corner. A big splash follows. DBS tries to fight back with some midsection blows, and Gallows throws him to the floor. With Tiger distracted, Tama attacks DBS on the floor. Gallows brings him to the apron, but gets throated on the ropes.
Gallows connects with a suplex for a 2 count. Anderson tags in and goes to work punching at DBS, who flips him over and gives him a taste of his own medicine. Anderson taunts at Archer, then rakes the eyes of DBS. Gallows makes the tag, and he knocks Archer off the apron. Big kick in the corner by Anderson, and a splash from Gallows. Clothesline by Gallows, and a senton by Anderson. That all gets Bullet Club a 2 count.
Anderson goes for Gun Stun, but DBS counters into a back suplex. Archer and Gallows tag in, and they throw bombs at each other in the middle of the ring. Big splash by Archer, followed by a facebuster on the knee. He clotheslines Gallows down, then gives him a full nelson release slam for a 2 count. Archer takes control of the wrist, then walks the ropes, Don Jardine style. Tama Tonga knocks him down, unbeknownst to Tiger Hattori.
Anderson is in, and he gives Archer some stiff uppercuts. Archer grabs him by the throat and throws him across the ring. Big Stinger Splash from the Ticked Off Texan, and he places Anderson on the top rope. He lifts him up for the Inverted Razor’s Edge, and then Tama pulls Hattori out of the ring. KES double team him in the ring. They try the same on Anderson, but Gallows breaks it up. All four men are going at it now, as Bullet Club looks for Magic Killer on Archer. DBS with a belly to belly suplex to Gallows.
Archer gives Anderson a big boot to the face. Huge chokeslam from Archer to Anderson, who’s able to kick out. Archer goes for it one more time, but Anderson counters into a Gun Stun! He covers, but DBS breaks up the pin. Gallows takes DBS out with a neckbreaker, then strikes Archer in the throat. Magic Killer connects on Archer, and Bullet Club take the Tag Team Titles! Another good sprint of a match, with good action and nice tag team work on both sides. The interactions between them were fun, especially Archer and Gallows. The numbers game proved too much, as Tama Tonga at ringside helped give Anderson and Gallows that extra advantage that they needed. Good little match.
- NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship: Rob Conway © vs. Satoshi Kojima.
Would you just look at him? I’m not going to lie to you, reader – Rob Conway defending the 10 Pounds of Gold in the Tokyo Dome was one of the reasons I was excited to watch this show.
Also, there is nothing wrong with a little bread action in the form of Kojima.
The bell sounds, and the fans are surprisingly very into this! They lock up, and Kojima forces Conway into the ropes. We get a somewhat clean break, and Kojima takes the side headlock. Conway with a nice back elbow, and he unloads with punches to the head. Conway with some elbows to the chest, but he misses one, and Kojima strikes at his head now. Big shoulder tackle from Kojima, followed by a back suplex.
Conway avoids a lariat, and crotches Kojima on the ropes. He hits a dropkick to send Kojima to the apron. They exchange blows on the apron, until Kojima levels Conway with a DDT on the hardest part of the ring. Back inside the ring, Conway takes control and forearms Kojima into the turnbuckle. Conway with some chops, before doing a Ric Flair style pose. Kojima takes advantage and unloads with Kobashi style chops in the corner, and the crowd erupts. Conway’s selling of that was extraordinary. Kojima goes to the top rope, but Conway cuts him off and sends him to the floor. Conway whips him into the steel barricade, then gives him a clothesline.
In the ring, Conway plants Kojima with the Lo Down, but Kojima kicks out. Conway with some clubbing blows to the chest. Another elbow to the chest gets him a nearfall. Conway then does the Mongolian Chops, right in front of Hiroyoshi Tenzan at ringside! What a heel. Kojima doesn’t like this, so he gives Conway a Cutter. Brainbuster follows, and that’s enough for a nearfall. Kojima gears up for the Lariat, but Conway avoids it and gives him a spear.
Conway looks for a suplex, but Kojima counters into a Cutter attempt. Conway avoids that and places Kojima on the apron. He forearms him a few times, until Kojima gives him a lariat to the back of the head. In the ring, Kojima connects with a huge lariat to Conway to win the match and become the NWA Worlds Champion! Post match, he is awarded the championship by the legendary Harley Race, and Kojima seems elated to share this moment with someone like Harley.
You know what? This match looks weird as fuck on paper, but it works! It’s not a classic by any means, but for a sub 10 minute match, it’s a lot of fun! Kojima was his usual great self, but props have to be given to Rob Conway here. He sold great throughout, and he played up his character well to the crowd, who were very into this match. Not a bad match at all really. And again, it’s Rob Conway. Would you just look at him?
- Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata vs. Daniel Gracie & Rolles Gracie.
In MMA circles, Sakuraba is known as “The Gracie Hunter,” as he’s someone who has defeated multiple members of MMA’s greatest family, including the legend himself, Royce Gracie. I imagine that’s why this match is taking place here, in a wrestling ring.
The Gracies are decked out in Karate gear, as Rolles and Sakuraba start things out. Sakuraba goes for a takedown, and Rolles is able to block it. He applies a sleeper hold right away, and Sakuraba gets to the ropes quickly. They circle each other, looking for an opening. Rolles with a nice takedown, and he takes side control. He quickly transitions to a Triangle Choke submission. Sakuraba escapes, and returns to his feet. Some kicks to the legs of Rolles, who remains on the ground.
Nagata tags in, and so does Daniel. Daniel takes Nagata to the mat, and takes top position. Nagata transitions to side control, and looks for an arm choke. Daniel gets to the ropes, and both men are back to their feet. Nice Judo throw by Nagata, who looks for the Kimura off of that. Nagata forces Daniel against the ropes. Very stiff kicks by Nagata to the leg, followed by a slap. They shove each other, and Daniel applies a rear naked choke. Nagata quickly gets to the ropes.
Rolles tags in, and takes top position, unloading with strikes to the side of the head. Big knees to the midsection against the turnbuckle, as Daniel tags back in. He also gives some knees to Nagata, then looks for a takedown, but Nagata turns it into a throw of his own. He applies an arm bar, and Daniel does his best to block it. He turns it into an armbar of his own, and Sakuraba comes in to break it up. Rolles tags in, and Nagata unloads with a forearm and a kick, before tagging Sakuraba in.
Nice takedown into an armbar from Sakuraba, and Rolles gets his bare foot on the ropes. Rolles tries to German Suplex Sakuraba, but full nelsons him as Daniel tags in. He lightly knees Sakuraba in the midsection, then applies a front face lock roll. Sakuraba transitions to top position, and drops some chops on his head. Nagata makes the tag, and they double team Daniel with kicks to the chest. Nice back suplex to Daniel, who kicks out. Nagata looks for his zombie eyes armbar. Daniel gets to the ropes. More strikes to the back, and Daniel blocks a back suplex into a Judo throw. He uses his karate robe to choke Nagata out. The Gracies celebrate as if they’ve won, but turns out they’ve been disqualified.
Man, I’m normally all about these MMA hybrid style matches in wrestling when done right, but this was kind of boring and hard to get through. It doesn’t help that it felt way out of place on this show so far. This is a hard skip for me.
- Suzuki-gun vs. The Great Muta & Toru Yano.
There’s a really cool Dragon style entrance for Muta and Yano. Yano looks fucking psychotic as a blonde. Recent AEW signing Shelton Benjamin is in this match, as is Murder Grandpa himself, Minoru Suzuki.
The bell sounds, and we get Muta and Suzuki to start things out. Muta sprays green mist into the air immediately. Muta looks to control the back, but Suzuki gets him to the mat with an armbar attempt. Muta escapes, and here comes Benjamin. Muta takes his back, and Benjamin takes his. Benjamin looks to control the arm, and Muta gets to the ropes. Yano tags in, and he’s all smiles. He forearms Benjamin, but gets caught in an armbar in the ropes by mortal enemy Suzuki.
On the floor, Benjamin attacks Muta, while Suzuki beats the hell out of Yano. Suzuki chokes Yano on the floor, while Benjamin sends Muta into the barricade. Hey, here’s Taichi with a chair to Yano! Taichi and TAKA choke Yano out with a chair, while Muta is walking around ringside, seemingly unaware of this. Back in the ring, Benjamin makes the cover, and Yano kicks out. Double arm suplex gets him another nearfall.
Suzuki tags in, and he taunts Muta. He boots Yano in the corner, then gives him a snap mare and a PK for a nearfall. He won’t take his eyes off of Muta. Benjamin makes the tag, and he hammerlocks the arm. Taichi chokes Yano against the middle rope. Muta tries to come in with a broken chair, but gets admonished by the referee. Suzuki-gun continue their decimation of Yano in their corner. Benjamin connects with a suplex, then Yano quickly removes the turnbuckle pad. Benjamin runs right into it, and Yano tags Muta in.
Dragon Screw Legwhip to Benjamin, then Muta tosses him to the floor. Muta uses the chair on both Benjamin and Suzuki. Back in the ring, Muta with his trademark snap elbow to the chest. Benjamin connects with his Dragon Whip kick to the head, and tags in Suzuki. Suzuki sends Yano into the exposed turnbuckle. Yano tries it on Suzuki, but he blocks it and kicks him hard in the back. Forearms by Suzuki, who gets pulled to the mat by Yano. Benjamin comes in and clotheslines Yano, then knocks Muta off the apron.
Stinger Splash by Benjamin, then a hard slap by Suzuki. He traps Yano in an armbar next. Benjamin superkicks Muta out of the ring. Suzuki locks Yano in the Sleeper Hold, then transitions to the Gotch Piledriver. Muta comes in and connects with the Shining Wizard, then hits a Dragon Screw on Benjamin. Suzuki avoids a mist blast and puts the sleeper on Muta. Yano is in the ring with a chair, but Suzuki avoids the shots and puts the sleeper on him.
Muta stands in front of them, as Yano lowblows Suzuki. Muta with the mist to the face, and Yano gets a roll up for the victory and the win. Muta immediately leaves. That was okay. Not my favorite thing on the show.
- King of Destroyer Match: Bad Luck Fale vs. Togi Makabe.
You win this match by KO or submission.
Makabe rushes Fale during his entrance and beats on him with hard forearms to start things out. Fale fires back with ones of his own. Big exchange between both bulls, who won’t go down. Makabe finally knocks Fale out of the ring, and he follows him. Fale reverses an irish whip and sends Makabe into the steel barricade. Fale takes a swing at Tomoaki Honma at ringside, then powerslams Makabe to the floor. He grabs a steel chain and wraps it around Makabe’s head, and drags him around ringside.
Back in the ring, Fale hits a nice Samoan Drop. He follows that with several elbow drops to the spine, then standing all of his body weight on Makabe’s back. Fale applies a Camel Clutch next. Fale gets Makabe in the corner, and drills his midsection with punches. Makabe wants more, and Fale gives it to him. Makabe finally gets back in the lead after a huge clothesline drops Fale. Makabe strikes Fale in the corner, then splashes him a few times. He stands on the middle rope and strikes Fale more in the head.
King Kong Lariat connects. Makabe with an Air Raid Crash, but he misses the King Kong Knee from the top rope. Fale hits a big boot that sends Makabe to the floor. He grabs the chain and looks to do more damage, but Makabe kicks him low and takes the chain from him. He wraps it around his arm and hits a clothesline. Makabe grabs a ringside table and smashes Fale in the head with it. He sets the table up, then places Fale on it. Makabe goes to the top rope, and Fale cuts him off. He throws Makabe back into the ring.
Big splash in the corner, followed by one on the mat, and Fale is back in control. Makabe is back to his feet, and Fale gives him a chokeslam. Makabe just barely gets back to his feet. Fale lifts the big man off his feet, and gives him a Border Toss! That was a nice visual. The crowd erupts in support for Makabe, who’s somehow able to return to his feet. Fale gives him a powerslam, then goes to the top rope. He goes for a splash, and Makabe moves out of the way just in time.
Both men are back to their feet, and Makabe quickly clotheslines Fale to the outside. Fale gets back in the lead by focusing on the midsection again, and then he lays Makabe across the table still set up. Fale takes a moment to taunt, and Makabe uses that as his chance to grab Fale, and powerbomb him off the apron and through the table! Makabe rolls him back into the ring. He connects with multiple clotheslines in the corner. Fale tries to return to his feet, but Makabe is quick to hit the King Kong Knee from the top to the back of his head.
He returns to the top, and hits it proper a second time. Makabe returns to his feet first, and Fale does not! It’s over. Makabe takes the win. It definitely had its lull moments throughout, but when the big moments happened, they hit big, and that’s enough to make this a pretty decent outing. There wasn’t a big focus on weapons, just two big dudes hitting each other as hard as possible. Makabe took a hell of a beating, but he had enough fortitude to come back and slow Fale down for good.
- Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hirooki Goto.
The battle of childhood friends! Long time mates and enemies Shibata and Goto face off on the big stage. Goto is returning from a broken jaw.
Goto gets a cool entrance, led to the ring by traditional Japanese drums.
The bell sounds, and we are under way. They look to take wrist control early, before settling on a lock up. Shibata with a hard slap to Goto, and they break apart. Another lock up, and Goto forces Shibata against the ropes. Shibata slaps him again, and Goto avoids a PK. Snap mare by Shibata, followed by a hard kick to the back. Shibata applies a Figure Four Leglock next, which leads to Goto trying to slap his way free. It doesn’t work, so he grabs the bottom rope.
Shibata with his trademark forearms in the corner. He goes to run, and Goto follows him with a spinning kick in the corner. More forearms from Shibata, and Goto with some of his own. Big exchange between both men, and Shibata gets the upper hand. Running dropkick right to the jaw connects flush. Goto rolls to the floor, and Shibata brings him right back in. He kicks him hard in the chest repeatedly.
Hard Kawada style kick to the jaw follows. Shibata runs the ropes, and Goto catches him with a clothesline. Now Goto unloads with several kicks to the chest. He hits a clothesline in the corner, then goes to the top rope. He connects with an elbow drop for 2. They exchange forearms once again, and Shibata eats a lariat from Goto. He kicks Goto right in the face, and Goto responds with another lariat. This exchange repeats, until Goto finally drops Shibata with a clothesline for a nearfall.
Goto with a back suplex for 2. Shibata locks in the abdominal stretch next, and then he transitions to a German Suplex. He lifts Goto up, who hits another back suplex. Goto lifts Shibata up, who back suplexes him! Now both men take turns doing this, until Goto hits a clothesline to the back of the head. Shibata responds with a kick to the jaw. Goto with another clothesline, and Shibata kicks out at 1! Shibata with a kick to Goto, and Goto kicks out at 1! Nice exchanges, where both men kick out at 1.
Shibata locks Goto in the Sleeper Hold next. He transitions to the Ushigoroshi, Goto’s move! Shibata connects with the PK, but Goto is able to kick out. Goto lifts Shibata up for the Dominator, but drops him face first across his knee instead! Ushigoroshi connects, and another neckbreaker gets him a 2 count. Goto with a chest buster for another nearfall. Shibata is able to hit a Shouten next! Goto elbows his way free from the Ushigoroshi, including one that hits him in the eye.
Goto with a headbutt, and Shibata responds with one of his own. An eerie foreshadowing? Both men exchange forearms on their knees. Goto catches a kick and lariats Shibata down. More lariats to the front and back of his head, and Shibata finally goes down! Goto connects with Shouten, and that’s enough for the win! Post match, they hug it out, and even leave together.
You’ve seen this kind of match a thousand times – big strikes, Fighting Spirit, 1 count nearfalls, crazy transitions – and it never gets old, at least to me.
This was another big meaty match between two guys who specialize in hitting each other hard. Since they’re besties, they hit even harder here! Shibata thought he was being cute, stealing some of Goto’s arsenal, but Goto wasn’t going to put up with that shit for long. He fought through the damage, and put his buddy down for good. A very entertaining match, and far and away the best match on this show so far.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Prince Devitt © vs. Kota Ibushi.
Devitt, Bullet Club’s OG leader, makes an entrance out of a casket, donned in creepy body paint. It’s one of many iconic entrances that got Devitt noticed by WWE, along with his incredible talent.
All of Bullet Club is at ringside with Devitt, and Red Shoes is already expecting their bullshit. The bell sounds, and this Junior clash is under way. They lock up, and Ibushi forces Devitt to the ropes. We get a clean break, until Devitt kicks him low, and stomps on the back of his head. Shoulder tackle by Devitt, and a nice crisp kick to the chest by Ibushi. The Young Bucks distract Ibushi, but he’s still able to hit a beautiful dropkick that sends Devitt to the floor.
Doc Gallows is on the apron, and Ibushi sends Devitt into him. Ibushi takes control of the arm, and whips Devitt, but he ends up getting dragged to the floor, where Bullet Club attack him. Red Shoes is distracted for all of this. Ibushi returns to the ring, where Devitt drops all his weight on his midsection. He stomps Ibushi into the corner, then hits a low dropkick to his chest. Devitt places Ibushi on the top rope, and hangs him upside down. He distracts Red Shoes, while Bullet Club choke Ibushi.
Devitt applies an abdominal stretch next. He transitions to a gutbuster across his knee for a nearfall. He chops Ibushi in the corner, then whips him away. Ibushi kicks him in the chest, but Devitt chops him so hard, he goes to the floor. With Red Shoes distracted again, Karl Anderson lifts Ibushi up and powerbombs him right on the apron. The impact looked sick as hell. Back in the ring, Devitt powerslams Ibushi, then goes to the top rope. He misses the double stomp, and eats a dropkick that sends him to the floor.
Ibushi kicks the Bucks away, who came into the ring. Ibushi springboards off the very top rope with a beautiful corkscrew moonsault onto Bullet Club! Back in the ring, Ibushi hits a springboard dropkick for a 2 count. Quick flurry of strikes from Ibushi ends with him kicking Devitt in the chest, followed by a standing shooting star press and a middle rope moonsault for a 2 count. Devitt tries for 1916, but Ibushi counters into a roll up. Devitt forces Ibushi away, and he eats a flying chair to the head! Devitt covers, but Ibushi kicks out.
Roll up into a gut wrench German Suplex gets Ibushi a nearfall. Scoop slam by Ibushi, and he goes to the top rope. Gallows cuts him off, and Devitt sends him to the floor. Red Shoes finally catches on, and ejects all of Bullet Club to the backstage area. On the floor, Devitt places Ibushi against the barricade, then connects with a brutal shotgun dropkick. He brings Ibushi back into the ring, then scales the top rope. He connects with the diving stomp to the back, and Ibushi is able to kick out. Spinning back kick by Ibushi, and a beautiful dropkick by Devitt.
Devitt chops Ibushi in the corner, then connects with a closed fist. Ibushi dropkicks him on the top rope, then goes to the apron. He goes for the springboard hurricanrana, but Devitt catches him! Ibushi is able to fight through it, and hit the hurricanrana for a 2 count. Devitt explodes out of the corner with a big lariat, then lifts Ibushi up for the 1916! He covers, and Ibushi is able to kick out! Devitt goes back to the top rope, and hits the Double Stomp! He covers again, but Ibushi kicks out once again!
Ibushi counters 1916, and kicks Devitt right in the jaw. Nice Snap German Suplex, followed by a clothesline. Ibushi lifts Devitt up for a huge Last Ride! Devitt somehow kicks out of this. Ibushi goes to the top rope, and hits the Phoenix Splash! He covers, and that’s enough for the 3 and the win. Ibushi is the new Junior Heavyweight Champion! This had a lot of shenanigans, and was a little slow for my taste, but when it picked up, it was hot in that closing stretch. Both of these guys are generational performers, and they have great chemistry. Devitt had a great strategy focusing on the midsection, but Ibushi’s blistering offense, both on the ground and in the air, made this a seemingly impossible match for Devitt to win. All in all, a fantastic Junior display that had the Tokyo Dome rocking by the end.
Post match, Ibushi is confronted by a man in a suit and a white Lucha mask. His name? El Desperado, making his debut in NJPW.
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada © vs. Tetsuya Naito.
Naito enters first to a reaction that can best described as “good.” It’s not horrible by any stretch, but you can immediately tell that this isn’t the reaction of your next big babyface star. Okada enters next to a shower of money from the sky. He gets a pretty great reception from the fans. He also looks like a million bucks. Both men butt heads in the center of the ring.
The bell sounds, and the fans are firmly behind Okada. That has to be a gut punch to Naito. They lock up, and Naito takes control of the arm. Okada transitions out of that into the side headlock. Naito rolls him through, and Okada applies a head scissors. Both men are back to their feet now. Naito twists at the arm, working on the wrist. Okada hammerlocks the arm and forces Naito against the ropes. He fakes a strike, and whips Naito against the ropes. We get a nice exchange that ends with Naito executing a beautiful hip toss.
Snap Mare by Naito, followed by a chin lock. He goes from that to a head scissors, and he cranks on it hard. Naito with a diving senton gets him a 2 count. Naito with a neckbreaker, and he traps the arms full nelson style in his legs to further crank on the neck. Okada gets to the ropes to break the hold, but Naito stays on him with kicks. Naito goes for the Combinacion, but Okada spots it a mile away and dropkicks Naito to the floor.
Okada drags Naito up the entrance ramp and applies one of his many Lucha submissions that tears at the arms and neck. He walks further up the ramp, then sprints to Naito, landing a nice dropkick to the head. Back in the ring, Okada connects with a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Naito attempts to fight back with strikes and chops, but Okada drops him with a scoop slam, followed by an apron senton. Okada tries to cover with just his boot, but Red Shoes ain’t dealing with that shit.
Snap Mare by Okada, followed by a neck crank via Naito’s own arms. He goes from that to the Deep in Debt Submission. Naito is able to get his foot on the bottom rope. In the corner, Okada connects with a few back elbows to the head. He misses a splash, but hits an elbow to an incoming Naito. Naito is able to power through, and hit his Combinacion. Diving forearm and a hip toss by Naito, followed by a dropkick to the head.
Naito with a shotgun dropkick sends Okada into the turnbuckle. He unloads with several hard strikes and kicks to the champion. You can hear the crowd boo just a tad. Okada is on the floor now. Naito meets him there, only to walk into a Tombstone attempt. Naito is able to counter it into a swinging DDT on the floor! Naito brings Okada back into the ring, and hits a springboard shotgun dropkick to the back of his head. Naito goes into the Koji Clutch next.
He strikes Okada in the head against the corner, and the Rainmaker asks for more. Naito responds by headbutting Okada to the mat. Naito takes a moment to glance at the crowd, who seem indifferent to him now, and that distraction leads to Okada placing him on the top rope, and dropkicking him to the floor – but not before Naito’s leg gets caught in the top rope in a very ugly way.
Okada hits an apron DDT to the floor that damn near spikes Naito on his head. Red Shoes begins his count, and Okada is furiously demanding that Naito return to the ring. He eventually does, only for Okada to give him a powerslam. Okada goes to the top rope, and hits his diving elbow drop. From there, we get the Rainmaker pose to glorious applause. Naito avoids the Rainmaker, and Okada tries for Heavy Rain, and Naito counters that into a DDT. Naito with a running kick to the head.
Naito tries for a German Suplex, and Okada blocks it. Naito avoids a dropkick, and goes back to the Koji Clutch. After much struggle, Okada is able to get his foot on the bottom rope. Enziguri by Naitio, followed by a German Suplex into a bridge for a nearfall. He scoop slams Okada, then goes to the top rope for the Stardust Press. Okada is back up, and cuts him off. He pulls him down by the leg. Naito runs right into a flapjack.
Okada spikes Naito with a DDT, then goes into the Red Ink submission. Naito just barely makes it to the ropes, but Okada isn’t done just yet. He looks for the Tombstone now, but Naito is fighting it off. He explodes with forearms and a headbutt. Okada blocks a boot and connects with one of his own. Naito with a jumping elbow to the head. He places Okada on the top rope, and hits a beautiful hurricanrana. Naito with a Dragon Suplex, and Okada kicks out.
Naito connects with Gloria, and that gets him a nearfall. He quickly scales the top rope to hit the Stardust Press, and Okada moves out of the way. Naito eats mat. Okada drops Naito with a neckbreaker across his knee. Naito kicks out again. He lifts him up for the Heavy Rain, and again Naito kicks out. Okada goes for the Rainmaker, but Naito counters into a roll up for 2. Back to their feet, Naito connects with a high Urinage.
Both men throw forearms on their knees. Now back to their feet, the bombs continue. Neither man will back down. Naito with a headbutt, followed by more forearms. Okada with some nasty uppercuts. Okada avoids a diving elbow, and tries for the Rainmaker, and Naito slips out and slaps him. He runs the ropes, and Okada catches him with a beautiful dropkick! Rainmaker again, and Naito turns it into a pin attempt for 2.
Back to their feet, Okada dropkicks Naito in the back of the head. He lifts Naito up and connects with the Tombstone. He brings Naito back to his feet, and goes for the Rainmaker again, and Naito counters it again! But Okada is one step ahead, and hits another Tombstone! Okada finally drills Naito with the Rainmaker, and that’s the win for the champion to retain.
This was a really great match that will unfortunately be overshadowed by the context surrounding it. I think Naito come off really well here. He looked like he belonged in this spot with Okada, and Okada looked like he was ready to be the Ace without Tanahashi at his hip. They had great chemistry, and Naito had a great strategy in picking apart multiple limbs of Okada. The champion, to his credit, never wavered from his tried and true strategy that brought him to the dance, and his experience under the bright lights helped take him to the finish line.
All that said, and even though Naito performed well enough, he just wasn’t ready for this spotlight. The fans could tell, I could tell, and even Naito probably knew it. His facials throughout this are of a man very much in doubt about his place in the world. He came in with so much on the line, and in the end, he was crushed under the weight of expectation.
Okada wasn’t the issue here, though you have to feel for him in this situation. The fan vote cost him a chance to main event the Dome without Tanahashi. But quite simply, Naito was put in a position he wasn’t ready for. He performed well enough, but the live reaction throughout this was tepid, in comparison to Dome main events of the past.
- IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura © vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi.
The two most popular stars in New Japan squaring off under the bright lights of the Big Egg. Dojo mates, members of the new Three Musketeers, long time friends and enemies. In terms of pure star power, it doesn’t get bigger than this.
Tanahashi enters to his theme music being played by Marty Friedman, legendary guitarist from Megadeth. Nakamura enters to a parade of beautiful dancers.
Japanese legend Stan Hansen is here to showcase the championship that both men are fighting for tonight.
The bell sounds, and both men are hesitant to lock up right away. They finally lock up, and Nakamura gets Tanahashi into the ropes. We get a clean break, and now both meet back in the middle. Nakamura takes the back, but Tana is quick to avoid any kind of offense. Nakamura gets Tana against the ropes again, and after a clean break, asks for more. They have a quick exchange of counters, before backing away from each other. Another stalemate early.
They lock up again, and Nakamura quickly drives his knee into Tana’s midsection. Tana drops Nakamura’s knee across his own, then dropkicks it from behind. Tana with a back elbow out of the corner, and he goes for a middle rope splash, but Nakamura has it scouted and drops Tana across his knee. Snap mare, followed by a diving knee to the head for a 2 count. Nakamura hits Tana in the chest with his knee, and both men end up on the floor.
He lifts Tana up and drops him chest first across the steel ringside barricade. Back in the ring, Nakamura places all his body weight on Tana’s chest. Nakamura with light strikes to taunt Tana, and then another hard knee to the midsection. Tana kicks Nakamura out of the corner, and walks into a hard kick to the chest. Nakamura places his foot on the chest, and connects with Good Vibrations. He goes to kick Tana again, who’s able to catch it and connect with a Dragon Screw Legwhip.
Good strike to the ribs of Nakamura, followed by a flying forearm. Tana with his trademark middle rope senton for a 2 count. Nakamura attempts to rush at Tana, and the Ace is able to hit a dropkick to the injured leg. He chop blocks the champion next. Tana looks for the Texas Cloverleaf, but Nakamura is quickly able to get to the ropes. Tana avoids more kicks to the head, and continues to stomp on the leg. Nakamura is able to drop Tana with a swinging kick.
Tana rushes Nakamura, and eats a knee to the ribs. Nakamura looks for a front facelock next. Multiple knees to the head next, followed by an inverted suplex for a nearfall. More hard kicks from Nakamura in the corner, followed by another variation of Good Vibrations. Nakamura goes to run into the corner, and Tana avoids it. Tana looks for a splash, and Nakamura escapes, and drives his knee into the midsection again. Tana is able to grab the leg through the ropes, and Nakamura responds with a kick to the head.
On the floor, Nakamura whips Tana into the barricade, then hits a flying knee to the back of the head. Nakamura drapes Tana on the barricade, then drills him with his knee. He goes to dive off the apron with another knee strike, but Tana moves out of the way, and Nakamura hits the floor! Tana goes to the top rope, and hits the High Fly Flow to the outside onto a standing Nakamura. Man, that never gets old! Tana brings Nakamura back into the ring, and quickly grabs the injured leg. Dragon Screw in the ropes!
Tana looks for the Cloverleaf again, but Nakamura is wise to it and traps Tana in a Triangle Choke! Tana fights through the hold, and transitions into the Cloverleaf. He has Nakamura tied up, and is adding so much pressure to his legs! Nakamura is able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Nakamura avoids the Dragon Suplex, but can’t avoid the Strait Jacket Suplex, which gets him a nearfall. Powerslam by Tanahashi, and he goes to the top rope. Nakamura cuts him off with a kick to the head.
Tana returns to the ring, and eats a Back Stabber for his troubles. They exchange forearms next. Nice combinations from both men, and Tana slaps the shit out of Nakamura a few times. Nakamura explodes with hard stiff kicks and stomps to the Ace. He’s pissed! He goes to kick Tana, but he gets caught in a Dragon Screw. He’s able to shift the momentum with a knee to the back of the head! Ushigoroshi by Nakamura next, and an inverted suplex.
Nakamura stands in the corner, and sets up for Boma Ye, and Tana avoids it. He walks into a Death Valley Driver, and is able to reverse it into a Sling Blade. Tana goes to the top rope, and Nakamura cuts him off with straight punches to the midsection. He looks for a Death Valley Driver, but Tana sunset flips out of it and looks for a powerbomb. Nakamura counters into a Code Breaker. Tana avoids a strike and hits the Dragon Suplex for 2.
He goes to the top rope, and hits the High Fly Flow! He covers, and Nakamura kicks out. Tana goes for Sling Blade, and Nakamura counters with a kick to the face. He goes to the middle rope, and hits a knee to the face! Boma Ye connects flush! He covers, and Tanahashi kicks out at 2! Nakamura prepares in the corner once again, and his Boma Ye is countered by a dropkick to the knee! Nakamura with a closed fist to Tana, and Tana with one to him!
Tana with another Dragon Screw on the mat. Tanahashi applies the Cloverleaf once again. Nakamura works for it, and Tana drags him back to the center and clenches the hold tighter! Nakamura tries to escape, and Tana quickly turns the submission into a variation of the Styles Clash! Tana goes to the top rope, and hits the High Fly Flow to Nakamura on his knees! Tana is back on top, and he hits the High Fly Flow proper! He covers, and that’s enough for the 3 and the win and the championship!
This was an exciting, fantastic main event between two guys who could do this in their sleep. It had a big match atmosphere from the entrances to the finish, which no other match on this card – including the semi main – came close to. Both guys felt like big deals, and they wrestled like the Intercontinental Title was the true top title of the promotion. I liked how both men stuck to the same strategy – Nakamura on the ribs, Tana on the leg – to further hinder the chances of their opponent hitting their finisher.
After some great sequences and back and forth action from both men, it was Tanahashi’s tried and true iron will that brought him the victory at the end, but Nakamura wrestled a perfect match here. The only thing he did wrong was that he lost. A match like this helped further elevate the Intercontinental Title to the status that it has today, and matches contested for the championship would be show stealers at the Tokyo Dome for years to come.
And that is the end of Wrestle Kingdom 8! All in all, I enjoyed this event way more than Wrestle Kingdom 7. This show was much more fun, more focused, and it had a more active crowd. The only bad match on the show was the Gracies match. That was just flat out boring. I also wasn’t super into the Muta match, either. Everything else was good, at the very least. I was blown away by the Kojima/Conway match, Goto/Shibata had all the violence, Ibushi/Devitt was Junior excellence, Okada/Naito was “right match, wrong time,” and the main event between Tanahashi and Nakamura was the big time match you expect from these New Japan events in the Tokyo Dome.
Elsewhere, you have a card that is littered with solid action. I came away from this show very entertained. New Japan was on the cusp of breaking through the international barriers, and by 2015, Wrestle Kingdom would become must see wrestling for years to come. They weren’t there yet in 2014, but you can see the sparks starting to show.