NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI Review

January 4th 2012
Tokyo Dome

New Japan Pro Wrestling was entering a whole new era in 2012 marking it’s 40th Anniversary. The year is seen as a transition era for the company as we start to look to the future with Kazuchika Okada, returning after spending time in America on excursion with TNA, and future stars on this card such as the future Finn Balor (Prince Devitt here) and Tetsuya Naito.

The biggest change to New Japan in this year will of course be the sale of the company to BUSHIROAD that happens shortly after this Wrestle Kingdom which will trigger arguably the best years the company has ever seen leading a change in wrestling that is still present to this day (2024 as of writing).

Wrestle Kingdom VI has the reputation of being one of the less rated editions of New Japan’s Tokyo Dome spectacular. The main event will be IWGP champion Hiroshi Tanahashi taking on Minoru Suzuki in a match I really can’t wait for, Keji Mutoh taking on Tetsuya Naito is another match that really builds excitement in a show that will have stars from CMLL, AJPW and NOAH. I think this will be solid rather than spectacular. Lets find out and get into the show.

Dark Match – Tama Tonga & Captain New Japan Def Kyosuke Mikami & Tomoaki Honma. A quick traditional pre show match that gave match time to a big name in NJPW future Tama Tonga, as well as give the legendary Tomoaki Honma his traditional match. Not much to talk about here but a good showcase for, at the time, Young Lion Kyosuke Mikami who will later become El Desperado.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Championship Match
No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards & Rocky Romero) v Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi)

Summary: We begin with one of three title matches tonight as Apollo 55 look to reclaim their championships from NRC having lost them at Destruction 2011. Devitt is also Junior Heavyweight Singles Champion going into this too.

NRC start off quickly, launching fists at their opponent, Apollo reverse and their attempts at dives to the outside are blocked with NRC hitting dives of their own against the barriers. Devitt and Richards are legal in the ring as a backwards slam gets a two count for NRC. Romero comes in for the double team but Devitt manages to drop kick Romero who then accidentally gives Richards a DDT before Devitt makes the tag.

Taguchi is in and goes for the three amigos on Romero but is intercepted by Richards, he plants both with a DDT and gets a two count. Devitt tags in and Apollo takes out Romero with two double dropkicks, one to the knee and one to the head. Apollo exchange tags as they work on Romero’s arm culminating with two jumping axe handles.

Richards returns to take out both men, Taguchi is sent into Romero’s knee by Richards on the outside as NRC take control. Richards has a triangle submission locked in on Taguchi but Devitt makes the save, Taguchi is viciously worked on with kicks and strikes before hitting a cutter allowing Devitt to get the hot tag.

Devitt hits a double dropkick in the corner on both Richards and Romero before going for a suicide dive which is prevented by Richards with a kick on the apron. Devitt punches Richards to the outside before throwing an incoming Romero into his partner. The double sunset dives from Apollo take out both members of NRC as the match momentum swings again.

A double stomp from the top rope from Devitt on Romero gets a two count before Apollo go close again with a codebreaker. The match breaks down as all four men are down following an exchange of kicks and punches (Devitt hitting his trademark Pele Kick). Both teams make the tag as Taguchi and Richards take turns trying to kick each others head off, a clothesline from Richards nearly gets the two but Taguchi kicks out.

NRC think they’ve won it as Romero hits a flying knee onto Taguchi (who is on Richards shoulders) but Deviitt saves the match with the Coup De Grace from up high. Devitt hangs Romero up on the top ring post (ouch) before Taguchi hits the face buster on Richards. Devitt and Taguchi go up top but NRC try to cut them off, this results in Romero giving Devitt a huricanrana off the top rope and Taguchi being suplexed by Richards off the top rope and then again but Richards can only get two. The powerbomb follows but Devitt once again makes the save for Apollo 55.

Two brutal kicks from Richards to Taguchi set up the powerbomb once more but Taguchi manages to roll him up for the three.

Winners and New Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Apollo 55

Stitch’s Rating: 7/10. A really solid opener that was a real showcase of the talents for all four men involved. The match started slower before roaring into life with some truly brilliant spots such as the top rope hurricanrana and suplex as well as Taguchi and Richards just annihilating each other. I loved Taguchi here and his pairing with Richards as opponents was nothing short of brilliant, a really good start here.

Atlantis, Valiente & Suzuki Gun (Taichi & Taka Michinoku) v Jushin Thunder Liger, Kushida, Mascara Dorada & Tiger Mask

Summary: Next up is an 8 man tag match featuring NJPW legend Jushin Liger making his return to New Japan. The appearance of CMLL legends Atlantis and Valiente and the first members of, the still new to NJPW, Suzuki-Gun in action tonight.

Dorada and Valiente begin the match, the two trade big right hands and chops before Dorada is hit with a monkey flip that sends him half way across the ring. The two exchange flips before Valiente hits a suicide dive on Dorada on the outside. Tiger Mask and Atlantis are next in and Mask gets the advantage with a kick to the face that sends Atlantis to the outside.

Liger and Kushida team up clearing house before the heels rally with Michinoku leading a team wide stomp-a-thon on the grounded Liger. Taichi takes Liger to the top rope attempting to remove his mask but he is prevented by Kushida. Taichi follows this up by trying the exact same thing on Tiger Mask but this time being prevented by the ref. Taichi then comes up with another idea and tries to take off Dorada’s mask but once again is prevented by the ref under Lucha Libre rules.

Kushida and Taichi are legal but Kushida is quickly thrown to the outside by both Suzuki-Gun members, Kushida tags in hitting flying elbows and a double kick to eliminate the entirety of his opposition. He focuses on Taka but is super kicked by Taichi who rips off his trousers proudly.

Liger now goes high to take out the trouserless Taichi before being hit by Atlantis with a tope suicida. Tiger Mask joins in, hitting a splash on all four men before both Taka and Kushida do the same – kushida hits a flying cannonball which was very impressive. Not to be left out Dorada goes over the rope with a corkscrew before Atlantis throws Valiente over the rope taking everyone out once again.

Valiente hits a flying cross body on Liger but can only get a two count, so he goes for a moonsault but Liger literally kicks him out the air before hitting a Liger bomb that only gets two. Liger signals for the end, hitting the brain buster for the three.

Winners Jushin Thunder Liger, Kushida, Mascara Dorada & Tiger Mask

Stitch’s Rating: 5/10. This was a fun quick paced match that had some really good Lucha Libre in there, I think where it fell down was it’s lack of story as to my knowledge this seemed like a quickly put together match now that Liger was back from Mexico. That being said I really enjoyed this, it was just a spotfest but for a second on the card match, it entertained. I always love to watch Liger too so this ticked many boxes.

Kazuchika Okada v Yoshi-Hashi

Summary: This is Okada’s return match after a very difficult time for him at TNA, I believe this is the debut of his rainmaker gimmick and attire which will be interesting to see how the legend begins.

Hashi attacks first with a big clothesline before stamping Okada’s head. The forearms continue to ground Okada before a lariat is reversed into a dropkick for Okada on Hashi. Okada gets in some big uppercuts before getting hung up on the rope, the suicide dive from Hashi follows as he returns Okada to the ring.

Yoshi-Hashi continues to do the same moves as mentioned above to Okada at quite a slow pace before biting the ear; more uppercuts from Okada only lead to Hashi hitting a powerslam and neck breaker on the rainmaker. Yoshi-Hashi misses a moonsault before Okada hits two more dropkicks and a side slam. The rainmaker lariat hits next getting Okada the three and the win.

Winner Kazuchika Okada

Stitch’s Rating: 3/10. Wow was this bad, slow and ponderous where each wrestler hit usually the same moves on each other with little urgency. The match was only six minutes but they didn’t even use that time well and it’s such a shame. Luckily we all know the calibre of matches Okada will bring to future Wrestle Kingdom’s (and Yoshi-Hashi too!).

Seiggun (Wataru Inoue & Yuji Nagata) v Stack of Arms (Masakatsu Funaki & Masayuki Kono)

Summary: A stiff brawl here that begins with Nagata’s brutal kicks and clubbing forearms before Funaki and Kono get an armbreaker leg lock combination submission that is broke up by the referee. Nagata fights back with a big boot to Kono before tagging in Inoue, the double shoulder tackle drops Kono but Inoue’s pin only gets a two count. Kono fights back with a big knee to the face before Funaki unleashes some brutal kicks to Inoue in the corner followed by a hiptoss.

Another kick drops Inoue before the armbreaker which is broken up by Nagata, who returns to the ring hitting a big knee in the corner which seems to really hurt Funaki, Nagata then locks in the arm bar which is broken up by Kono. Inoue and Funaki legal now as Inour hits a splash in the corner, a musclebuster follows but Kono makes the save; a kick from Nagata floors Kono as Inoue gets a very near three count with a suplex. Nagata breaks up another pin but is taken outside by Kono, in the ring a big kick to Inoue’s head gets the three count and the win.

Winner Masakatsu Funaki & Masayuki Kono

After that match Nagata and Funaki go at it with some real stiff punches teasing a potential one on one match maybe? Funaki emerges with a bloody nose as Nagata is restrained.

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. A big brawl where these four guys just destroyed each other, this is the kind of Strong Style New Japan does so well, there just wasn’t much memorable about the fight for me. Watchable but not mind blowing.

MVP & Shelton Benjamin v Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi

Summary: A nice surprise to see MVP & Shelton Benjamin teaming together here, both hugely underrated in WWE with a really good rivalry in there too. This match is continuing a storyline where Takahashi and Tanaka have been delivering some beatings to MVP so he has called for back up in the way of Benjamin.

MVP & Benjamin take it to their opposition before they even finish their entrance. The ballin’ elbow hit both Takahashi and Tanaka early on, giving the faces time to soak in the crowd as Tanaka and Takahashi regroup on the outside.

Takahashi and Benjamin face off with Benjamin getting an early advantage with a hip check, he follows this up with a neckbreaker before tagging in MVP. Tanaka tags in as he and MVP exchange right hands, MVP is grounded by the heels as Tanaka goes for a table on the outside; he lays MVP on the table before hitting a splash from the top rope. Tanaka tee’s off on Benjamin with a Kendo stick before we return to the ring.

A flying forearm in the corner from Tanaka to MVP gets a two count as the heels are in full control here, Takahashi delivers kicks and stomps to MVP’s head before following up with a clothesline for the two. Tanaka is in and his hip toss is reversed into a DDT by MVP. Shelton gets the hot tag and unloads on Tanaka hitting a big splash in the corner, a Samoan drop on Takahashi and a spinning wheel kick on Tanaka but his pin attempt is broken up by Takahashi.

Benjamin gets to show his athleticism with a dive to the outside taking out Tanaka as it’s MVP and Takahashi in the ring. A brain buster on MVP nearly gets a three for the heels but Shelton makes the save. MVP then hits the playmaker and a cross face but is interrupted by Tanaka and Takahashi’s CHAOS stablemates. Tanaka goes high but is met by Benjamin who jumps onto the top rope and DDT’s Tanaka across the ring.

MVP once again locks in the crossface on Takahashi who submits.

Winners MVP & Shelton Benjamin

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. A standard tag team match that delivered on it’s simple stories and had some really nice moments. Another solid match here where the stars for me were Tanaka and Benjamin. Benjamin especially was at his best here and it showed, good stuff here.

IWGP Tag Team Championships
Bad Intentions (Karl Anderson & Giant Bernard) v TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima)

Summary: Our champions are Bad Intentions who have been champions since Dominion way back in June. The CHAOS members consist of the former A-Train from WWE Giant Bernard and the future bullet club and OC member Karl Anderson. They take on former IGWP Heavyweight Champions Tenzan and Koji who have had some wars themselves, looking forward to this one.

Kojima and Anderson get us underway exchanging rest holds following the lock up. The first stiff strike comes in the form of Satoshi hitting a shoulder block, to which Anderson responds with a spinning kick as both wrestlers have a peck flex off. Satoshi gets in some brutal kicks on a grounded Anderson before tagging in Tenzan and hitting a splash leg drop combo for a two count.

Tenzan’s momentum is halted by Giant Bernard who sweeps the legs on the outside as Tenzan tries to run the ropes. Bad Intentions hit an elbow drop/backbreaker combo on Kojima as their attention turns back to Tenzan. Stiff shoulders from Bernard in the corner are followed by headbutts and a knee that completely floors Tenzan. Bernard then slingshots Tenzan into the middle rope.

Kojima is attacked on the apron as Bad Intentions continue to dominate Tenzan with several knee and elbow drops but that can only get a two count. Anderson tries to keep Tenzan grounded with a head lock but his suplex is blocked by Tenzan who manages to reverse into a suplex of his own.

Kojima tags in, unloading on Anderson with a… (Trumpets) CHOPFEST!!!!!!!!! Bernard ends up splashing his partner by accident and we get a DOUBLE CHOPFEST!!! Oh my, I could cry.

Kojima hits an elbow drop on Anderson from the top rope but it only gets a two. The two men now enter a (Even more trumpets!) CHOP OFF as the Stitch goes wild!! Bernard is back in and hits a big splash in the corner with his second attempt being blocked by Kojima’s knees. Kojima hits a cutter on Bernard getting the tag to Tenzan who unloads on Bernard but runs into a neckbreaker from Anderson following the double team. Both Bernard and Anderson hit splashes but Tenzan just won’t quit kicking out at two.

A spinning kick from Tenzan rocks Bernard following an exchange of right hands and a DDT from Kojima who gets a near fall broken up by Anderson. Anderson hits a cutter on Tenzan but that only gets a two count to Bad Intentions shock. They hit the shatter machine on Tenzan but Kojima makes the save!!! Bernard next hits a powerbomb for surely the three but no! Tenzan kicks out again, Kojima returns with an elbow to the back of Bernard before hitting a clothesline followed by a Tenzan moonsault for the three and the titles!!

Winners and New IWGP Tag Team Champions Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Stitch’s Rating: 7.5/10. This was brilliant, four guys just throwing absolutely everything at each other here, Kojima and Tenzan were out of this world good and their chemistry was undeniable. Bad Intentions were the unbeatable tag team going into this and the story was really built around it, a really really good match and match of the night so far for me.

Hirooki Goto v Takashi Sugiura

Summary: This is a NJPW v NOAH match and what I’m expecting to be a full on fight here between two very talented wrestlers. Goto makes his entrance in what I’m told is a kabuki lion costume(?), it’s very cool check it out.

The match begins with the two exchanging brutal looking elbow strikes, Goto manages to floor Sugiura with a shoulder tackle before the two lock up once more. Goto works on the leg with elbows and holds before Sugiara gets stuck in a headlock. A slower start here with Goto in control on the mat as Sugiura can’t even get a shot in until a slap to Goto against the ropes. Goto responds with a kick to the back but he is caught with a knee to the sternum as he runs the ropes, this is followed up by a gut buster on the ropes.

After more mat wrestling this time in favour of Sugiura the two exchange slaps and elbows, Goto fires some quick elbows into the head and Sugiura responds with elbows to the sternum. Both men go for clotheslines, with Goto eventually hitting a beautiful spinning clothesline to floor Sugiura. A spinning kick in the corner proceeds a sideslam but Sugiura kicks out at two. Goto hits a German suplex despite elbows to the head but once more only gets a two.

Sugiura hits two high kicks in the corner before Goto responds with a clothesline, Sugiura manages to cut off his momentum with a spear and a German suplex right into the corner. This is followed up by a running knee in the corner followed by some fierce punches to the face. Another German is followed by the running knee but Goto manages to kick out at two! Sugiara then hits a full nelson suplex with Goto kicking out at the very, very last second.

Goto can’t even get to his feet now as Sugiura goes for another suplex Goto, however, reverses with a hip toss but he is just ground with stiff punches to the face, and slaps follow as Goto looks beaten. Goto rallies with a headbutt and double backwards slam; a clothesline off the rope follows but Sugiura kicks out at two! Wow this is amazing. Both men to their feet as Goto hits a headbutt followed by a clothesline, he manages to hit the Shouten Kai to finally get the three and end a brilliant match.

Winner Hirooki Goto

Stitch’s Rating. 8.5/10. This match was brilliant, both men just destroyed each other and the storytelling here was just out of this world. Goto looked like a true warrior and even in loss Sugiura looked like a monster. The match was well paced throughout with some seriously good wrestling, a real sleeper hit I think and a must watch for anyone trying to get into NJPW or just wanting a great match to watch.

Togi Makabe v Yoshiro Takayama

Summary: The giant Takayama takes on his former tag team partner Togi Makabe in a bit of a blood feud storyline.

The match begins with Takayama flooring Makabe with a side slam, from here he beats down Makabe with kicks before going to the outside. Makabe is lain on the apron as Takayama connects with knees and right hands both straight to the head. Takayama delivers kicks to the chest which Makabe no sells, Makabe is then drop kicked by the big man into the corner as the giant regains control.

Everytime Makabe tries to fight back he is slowed with a big punch or kick (usually to the face). Makabe is further beat down in the tree of woe as he takes kicks and a splash but still manages to kick out at two.

Makabe finally manages to take down the giant with a clothesline after some quick right hands, he follows up with a splash in the corner and right hands from the middle rope before running straight into a big kick. Takayama lowers the knee pad hitting a brutal running knee to Makabe’s head but once more Makabe kicks out.

After a couple attempts Makabe hits a German but can only get the two count, the two exchange strikes with Makabe once again flooring Takayama with a forearm. He lifts Takayama up high before hitting a German from the top rope, the flying knee gets the three.

Winner Togi Makabe

Stitch’s Rating: 5.5/10 The last stretch pulled this match up a bit, it wasn’t a bad match it just struggled in the middle so much. Makabe did well to help an older Takayama through this match and the giant certainly did his part but it was just too slow in the middle where I felt like both men were waiting for the end so they could go for it again. A good start and ending but a truly hard to watch middle.

(CHAOS) Toru Yano & Shinsuke Nakamura v (NOAH) Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji

Summary: Go is the GHC World Champion for NOAH here representing the company with Marufuji against the always incredible Nakamura and extremely divisive Toru Yano. There’s some real class talent in this match so I’m expecting big things. This is the third from last match before our big main event singles matches.

Nakamura and Marufuji begin the match with a lock up. Nakamura wins the first strength test before both men unleash vicious elbows to head before Nakamura lands some big knees. Marufuji manages to dodge Nakamura’s kicks and both men make the tag. Yano plays mind games ruffling Go’s hair not once but twice before being floored by the GHC World champion with the knee.

It’s advantage Team NOAH as Marufuji literally stamps on Yano’s head in the corner. Marufuji has control until Yano sweeps the leg sending his competitor outside and throwing him into the railing.

Cue an all out brawl!!

Go gets sent into the railing by Yano as Nakamura works on Marufuji on the outside. Yano and Marufuji return to the ring with the NJPW team firmly in control, Nakamura tags in stamping on his competitors head before hitting a standing flying knee for a two count. More knee’s to the gut pushes Marufuji back into the corner before Yano returns hitting a standing suplex for a two count. A dropkick from Marufuji allows him to make the tag to Go, who enters with stinging chops to Toru Yano.

Yano and Go exchange forearms and chops before Go hits a muscle buster for the two count, Yano survives the double team before tagging in Nakamura. Marufuji is back in hitting a hip check to Nakamura in the corner; the double stomp is followed by a kick to the face that leads to the pin but Nakamura kicks out at two.

Another knee to the face from Nakamura is followed by Marufuji getting hung up in the corner before Nakamura delivers another knee to the gut. The Kinshasha is blocked and reversed into Shiranu Kai, and Marufuji is able to use this time to tag in Go who hits a sit down clothesline on Nakamura before the two exchange strikes.

Nakamura tags in Yano who hits a body slam but that can’t keep Go down as he kicks out at two. A strong clothesline from Go gets another near fall before Tano sends his competitor into an exposed turnbuckle then hits a powerbomb for 1…2… no! Go kicks out!

Yano rolls up Go after hitting a low blow behind the refs back. His roll up can’t keep Go down and Go responds with a big brain buster that Yano JUST kicks out of, the body slam follows to finally put Yano away.

Winners Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. This was an okay match that just didn’t do much for me, it wasn’t bad by any means but it just felt like another tag team match to me and not something I will remember going forward. I also wanted more Nakamura in this match, he and Go worked really well and they got some good spots in. Not a bad match but nothing special.

Keji Mutoh v Tetsuya Naito

Summary: Oh have I been looking forward to this match! Naito and Mutoh are two of my favourite wrestlers of all time so we’ll see what they bring us here. Mutoh is approaching 50 so that must be taken into account, that being said Mutoh can still go and Naito is really starting to shine in NJPW around this time.

The match begins with the feeling out process, Naito tries to take control of the body before Mutoh got on top. Naito switches it up with an arm bar leading to Mutoh rolling out and regrouping on the outside. The two lock up again with both men focusing on their mat wrestling to try and get the upper hand. The match continues at this pace with Mutoh targeting Naito’s leg with a leg lock which Naito nearly reverses into a sharpshooter. The two are pretty equal early on but Mutoh is favouring his knee.

The match speeds up here as Naito hits an arm drag followed by a dropkick before another arm drag leads to Naito taking control with a headlock. Mutoh tries to reverse into a pinfall but Naito kicks out maintaining his headlock. Mutoh pushes Naito back into the corner, breaking the hold with shoulders, he goes for an elbow drop but Naito avoids hitting a dropkick to the head on the mat as the action spills outside.

Naito goes to the top rope hitting a flying dropkick to Mutoh on the outside. He follows up with stiff elbows but his kick is blocked by Mutoh who sends his opposition into the railing. Mutoh targets Naito’s knee wrapping it round the railings before delivering a dropkick through a chair to the newly injured knee.

Naito is really selling his knee here as he attempts to return to the ring but runs straight into Mutoh’s knee on the apron. Mutoh further damages the knee by wrenching it round the rope with a dragon screw followed by a leg drop directly on the right knee . A dragon screw take down follows before Mutoh locks in a figure four leg lock but Naito refuses to quit, after a while Naito finally gets to the ropes.

The rope break only saves Naito for so long before Mutoh delivers another kick to the knee, Naito fires back with stiff elbows and a kick before his momentum is cut of by Mutoh with a dropkick to the knee off the apron. Mutoh’s dominance continues as he annihilates the knee before going for another figure four that Naito once again suffered through for quite a while before he gets to the rope.

Naito tries a fightback with a spin kick to the head following up with a neck breaker and a standing moon sault that Mutoh kicks out of at one. Naito goes back to the neck before going up high, he hits a double drop kick before hitting a flying knee off the ropes. Naito follows this with a top rope hurricanrana which Mutoh kicks out of at two! A brutal jumping kick to the back of the head follows leading into a German suplex that gets another near fall.

Naito goes high but misses a backward corkscrew taking a running knee to the face from Mutoh immediately afterwards. Another running knee to the face is followed by a knee to the back of the head. Naito manages to get a roll up before getting a near fall not once but twice until he gets hit by a shining wizard. Mutoh sets up and hits another shining wizard but Naito kicks out just at two for a very near fall, a backwards moonsault from Mutoh follows to get the three count and the win.

Winner Keji Mutoh

Stitch’s Rating: 7/10. A match I can really see splitting opinion, I’m not usually a fan of a slow paced match but I enjoyed this one mainly down to the storytelling. For me, I liked the story of Naito trying everything he can to survive against a legend like Mutoh who just kept picking him apart. Naito showed how good he is as the underdog and how well he can sell. I can understand that for some people this won’t hit, Mutoh’s offence became very repetitive with the shining wizard and Dragon screws and I think the match wasn’t built with it’s tagline in mind “Genius v Genius”. That being said I’ve gone for a seven because I really brought into the story of this match, I was rooting for Naito and loved how Mutoh just tore him apart and had to bring everything to finally keep Naito down. Personally, well worth a watch if you haven’t.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Hiroshi Tanahshi v Minoru Suzuki

Summary: Tanahashi comes into the match having held the title since last years Wrestle Kingdom, his title run has been incredible! He defends the title against Minoru Suzuki a man that has been reborn since launching his heel stable Suzuki-Gun, Suzuki has barely lost a match all year and is a huge challenger for the champ.

Suzuki makes an awesome entrance rising from beneath the stage amongst fire before hitting his trademark kick a young lion as he gets into the ring. The two lock up to begin as Tanahashi gets control of the arm before sinching in a headlock. Suzuki attempts to reverse out but Tanahashi stays strong. Suzuki eventually powers out getting a full nelson in before the takedown. The two break pretty even so far as they face off in the middle of the ring.

Lock up again before the two exchange vicious elbows to the head, Suzuki fires some shots to the gut before the two exchange shots to the head. Tanahashi goes up high with Suzuki intercepting and locking in an abdominal stretch. A big kick to the head in the corner sends Tanahashi to the outside.

Back in the ring, Suzuki is delivering strikes and knees to the champ who responds with a dropkick following the lariat; Suzuki goes outside and dodges Tanahashi’s jump to lock in a sleeper. The two brawl on the outside with Suzuki attempting a piledriver on the ramp but Tanahashi reverses it into a back body slam. Suzuki responds with a kick to the face before hammering down on the champ and returning to the ring.

Suzuki gets a two count on Tana before unleashing some vicious headbutts. Suzuki is in full control here cutting off Tana at every opportunity. Tana responds with stiff right hands but Suzuki just asks for more, Tana manages to hit a springboard cross body before launching elbows at Suzuki. The flying forearm floors the challenger as Tana hits a body slam and senton but Suzuki brings himself back in control with a double dropkick before Tana can build any more momentum.

Suzuki hits a high boot in the corner before hitting two kicks to the chest with his third being caught by Tanahashi who responds with a kick to the knee. Suzuki rolls to the outside as Tana goes to the top rope hitting a flying cross body onto the ramp. Suzuki makes his way back into the ring, blocking a right hand and locking in an armbar against the ropes which the ref makes him break before he’s disqualified. Tanahashi blocks a kick but Suzuki reverses it into another arm breaker, Tana manages to get to the bottom rope after a fair while as Suzuki continues to deliver kicks and knees.

Suzuki stamps Tana in the corner before choking and then hitting brutal knees against the rope buckle, Suzuki licks the rope as he does this for added craziness. A running kick misses as Tana crossbodies Suzuki first into the corner then again before going for a frog splash but Suzuki gets the knees up. Suzuki with the right hands now as Tana just can’t get a strike in, he manages a roll up but Suzuki kicks out, Tana then hits a German Suplex which once again Suzuki kicks out off.

Tana runs the ropes but is caught in another sleeper. Tana is nearly out here when Suzuki decides to break the hold and go for a pin which Tana survives. A running knee gets Suzuki another two count as Tana is down bad here.

Tanahashi attempts some punches but he’s once again brought into the sleeper. He’s brought down to the mat before Suzuki transitions into the piledriver for One..Two.. NOO Tana kicks out right at the last second. Tanahashi continues to fight back as he dodges a clothesline before hitting a brain buster not once, not twice, but three times, the third of which Suzuki kicks out at two! Tana makes it to his feet and then to the top rope hitting a frog splash for surely the win but Suzuki kicks out!!!

Both men are on their knee’s here as they exchange elbows to the face, Suzuki is rocked but he gets to his feet alongside Tana as they start slapping each other ferociously. Tana hits the sling blade going up high hitting the Frog Splash to Suzuki’s back! He turns him around to hit another Frog Splash for the three count, the win and the title.

Winner and STILL IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi

Stitch’s Rating: 8.75/10. A good main event that was really entertaining but couldn’t really hit the heights it maybe could have. However, the wrestling was great, Tanahashi is just on another level in this era and Suzuki is possibly one of the most underrated and vicious performers possibly ever. The story was good and I liked the focus on making Suzuki seem like a complete beast that could easily be champion despite the loss. Tanahashi kicking out of the piledriver will divide fans but for me I think sold the story, Suzuki is a monster but Tanahashi won’t die, you have to die yourself to beat him.

This was definitely a great match but I think it suffers in hindsight because when you compare it to some of the following Wrestle Kingdom’s Main Events (you could say this about the show as a whole really) it just doesn’t compare but again those are some of the best matches in wrestling history.

The post match celebrations follow, Suzuki is helped out of the arena as Tanahashi is given different trophies and such before being given his title. Can I take a second to declare that the IWGP heavyweight title is possibly the best title design ever? (let me know your thoughts in the comments). As always in New Japan we have someone interrupt the title celebration to challenge the champion. The challenger happens to be no other than Kazuchika Okada! The crowd hates this and at the time I can see why, Okada’s match was so bad and Okada had only just returned from the USA (where he struggled) so I could see why people wouldn’t have been convinced.

Tanahashi is a bit baffled by Okada’s challenge but Okada tells him his time is done and he will be the man to take that title from him. A huge moment in wrestling history that I’m sure was just laughed off at the time.

Final Rating: 7.5/10. I can definitely see why this WK isn’t for everyone but I think for a show where there was eleven matches, five I rated seven or above with three more getting at least a six which for me provides an enjoyable and fun show. As mentioned before, this is a Wrestle Kingdom that really is a showcase of the future, Prince Devitt will change wrestling forever in a year or so, while wrestlers such as Tama Tanga, Karl Anderson, Hirooki Goto, Shinsuke Nakamura, Tetsuya Naito and Minoru Suzuki will all be NJPW legends over the next few years as well as, of course, the beginning of Okada’s rise. This is such a monumental WK for that alone.

As well as that this card was solid, I recommend checking out Apollo 55 v No Remorse Corps, Tenkoji v Bad Intentions, Hirooki Goto v Takashi Sugiura, Keji Mutoh v Tetsuya Naito and Hiroshi Tanashi v Minoru Suzuki for some really good wrestling matches. They’re not all timers but it’s such a good show that I think it’s held back by the success of future Wrestle Kingdom’s as well as being a product of such a changing time in NJPW. Overall a good show!

Join me next time as I review the next ppv NJPW The New Beginning 2012 when Okada will get his title match against Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event.