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Writer's pictureCarlos Astorga

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Results (01/04/2023)


New Japan Pro-Wrestling's biggest show of the year, Wrestle Kingdom, is here. The show will be headlined by a double main event. First IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay defends his title against All Elite Wrestling's Kenny Omega. The match will mark Kenny Omega's first match in NJPW since 2019.


In the final bout of the night, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White defends his title against G1 Climax winner Kazuchika Okada. Okada is looking to regain the title he lost to "King Switchblade" at Dominion in June.


Here is the full card:


Pre-Show I (1:20 am ET)


-Exhibition Match: Boltin Oleg vs. Ryohei Oiwa


-New Japan Rambo for the right to challenge for the KOPW 2023 Belt (Final Four advance to the KOPW 2023 Championship Match at New Year's Dash): Entrants TBA


Pre-Show II (2:20 am ET)


-Antonio Inoki Memorial 6-Man Tag Match: Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima vs. Tiger Mask, Minoru Suzuki & Tatsumi Fujinami


Main Card (3 am ET)


-IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: United Empire (TJP & Francesco Akira) (c) vs. CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)


-IWGP Women's Championship Match: KAIRI (c) vs. Tam Nakano


-IWGP Tag Team Championship Match: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)


-NJPW World TV Championship Tournament Final: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita


-NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga


-Keiji Muto's Last Match In NJPW: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)


-IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado vs. Master Wato


-IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega


-IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada


Wrestle Kingdom Kicks Off With Young Lions


OPENING MATCH 1: Ryohei Oiwa vs. Boltin Oleg


The two waste no time, as this is a three-minute exhibition. Oleg immediately picks up Oiwa and slams him. Oiwa grapples Boltin to little effect. Boltin takes Oiwa over numerous times with a combination of judo throws. They trade waistlocks but Oleg gets the best of it and slams Oiwa to the mat once again. Oiwa manipulates the arm and takes Boltin to the mat with an Armbar. Oleg gets to the ropes. Oiwa hits a big shoulder tackle. Oleg comes back with a big hip toss and a body slam for a nearfall. Time expires at 3:00.


TIME LIMIT DRAW


OPENING MATCH 2: New Japan Rambo for the right to challenge for the KOPW 2023 Belt (Final Four advance to the KOPW 2023 Championship Match at New Year's Dash)


SHO is the first entrant. The second entrant is Hikuleo. SHO is hesitant to lock up and ambushes Hikuleo with ineffective strikes. SHO escapes an elimination attempt and retreats from the ring. Hikuleo chases SHO around the ring. They get back in the ring as EVIL enters as the third man, with Dick Togo trailing behind. EVIL and SHO double team Hikuleo. Hikuleo fights off the House of Torture members and holds them at bay.


EVIL and Hikuleo trade finisher attempts but neither can connect. Hikuleo slams EVIL. Tomohiro Ishii comes out as the fourth entrant. Ishii decides to align with Hikuleo and the two men double team SHO. Ishii soon betrays Hikuleo and attacks both men. Great-O-Khan enters as number five. Ishii and Hikuleo are fighting each other, so O-Khan opts to not get in the ring just yet, and instead poses with his RevPro British Heavyweight Championship. Hikuleo chokes Ishii. DOUKI enters as number six.


DOUKI and O-Khan battle with DOUKI getting the better of the exchange. Ishii almost eliminates EVIL but Dick Togo keeps EVIL from falling off the apron. Both men fight to the apron. Dick Togo pulls on Ishii's leg. Rocky Romero enters at number seven. Rocky pulls on EVIL's leg. Rocky stops DIck from eliminating Ishii. Rocky gets back in the ring and after a flurry of offense, sends EVIL to the floor for the first elimination.


Rocky hits SHO with Forever Lariats. KENTA power walks to the ring at number eight. KENTA and Ishii scuffle. Yoshinobu Kanemaru enters at number nine. KENTA opens up on many people. Some near-eliminations of Ishii and others. Aaron Henare enters at number ten. Ishii and Henare trade shoulder tackles and elbows. Henare gets a nearfall on Ishii that is surprisingly broken up by O-Khan. Ryusuke Taguchi enters at number eleven.


O-Khan and Henare eliminate Ishii. Taguchi takes out O-Khan and Henare with hip attacks. Jeff Cobb enters at number twelve. Rocky Romero and Ryusuke Taguchi begin fighting each other. SHO tries to help Rocky eliminate Taguchi. DOUKI keeps Hikuleo from chokeslamming Kanemaru. Hikuleo hits a double suplex on DOUKI and Kanemaru. Hikuleo tosses DOUKI out of the ring. Hikuleo tosses Kanemaru out of the ring. Shane Haste enters at number thirteen.


Haste immediately goes after Romero. Romero counters Dynamic Bomb with a headscissors. Mikey Nichols enters at fourteen. Romero gets dumped out of the ring. Haste gets a pinfall on Taguchi. Yujiro Takahashi enters at number fifteen. Cobb and Hikuleo trade blows but O-Khan comes in to help his United Empire teammate. Great-O-Khan eliminates Hikuleo over the top rope. Toru Yano enters at number sixteen.


Nichols and Haste eliminate Jeff Cobb. Henare counters a double team, sending Nichols into Haste, Haste tumbles out of the ring. Henare and O-Khan eliminate Mikey Nichols. El Phantasmo enters at number seventeen. Back rakes all around from ELP. ELP sends Henare to the apron. They trade blows. ELP twists Henare's nipples and Henare falls to the floor. Taichi enters number eighteen.


O-Khan and Taichi square off, sumo-style. Taichi takes O-Khan over. Shingo Takagi enters at number nineteen. ELP says "no one knows what's going on" on commentary while addressing who is still in the match. Taichi and Shingo batter each other. Taichi takes Takagi over with a sumo-style slam. Taichi faces off with House of Torture and Bullet Club. Shingo joins in and they all eliminate Taichi. Yujiro Takahashi gets thrown from the ring. KENTA gets tossed from the ring. Takagi and ELP battle, which leads to ELP being sent from the apron to the barricade. KENTA and Yujiro carry ELP back to the apron. SHO almost eliminates ELP by accident. Shingo ends up on the apron with ELP. Shingo counters a double team and SHO accidentally eliminates ELP, leaving the final four at 30:37.


WINNERS ADVANCING TO NEW YEAR'S DASH FOUR-WAY: Great-O-Khan, SHO, Toru Yano and Shingo Takagi


Great-O-Khan steals the KOPW 2023 Championship Belt and exits the arena with it.


Antonio Inoki Memorial Match


Antonio Inoki Memorial Match: Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima vs. Tiger Mask, Minoru Suzuki & Tatsumi Fujinami


All six men carried red towels to honor Inoki.


Fujinami and Nagata start the match. They grapple and Nagata gets Fujinami on the ropes. Fujinami takes Nagata to the corner. Suzuki tags in and gets some blows in on Nagata. Tiger Mask tags in and kicks away at Nagata. Fujinami tags back in and trades strikes with Nagata. Suzuki tags in and dominates Nagata some more. They trade blows and Nagata hits a huge Exploder Suplex on Suzuki. Kojima tags in.


Kojima unloads Machine Gun Chops on Suzuki and then again at the insistence of Suzuki. Kojima hits a huge corner strike and Suzuki comes back with a Yakuza Kick. Kojima blocks a Penalty Kick. Both men trade blows. Suzuki laughs off the assault and floors Kojima with a forearm. Tiger Mask tags in and double teams Kojima with Suzuki.


Tiger Mask hits a Tiger Driver for a nearfall. Tiger Mask maintains dominance on Kojima. Kojima fights back and tags in Makabe. Makabe hits a series of strikes in the corner but Tiger Mask fights back. Fujinami comes in and hits. Dragon Screw on Makabe, then on Nagata, then on Kojima. Tiger Mask locks Makabe in Octopus Hold. Suzuki locks Kojima in a Rear Naked Choke. Fujinami locks Nagata in a Dragon Sleeper. Everyone makes it to the ropes. Tiger Mask gets a nearfall on Makabe from a Crucifix.


Makabe hits a huge powerslam for a nearfall. Makabe hits a huge clothesline. Makabe climbs to the top rope but Suzuki meets him there with a headbutt and pulls Makabe off the top rope. Tiger Mask attempts a Victory Roll but it doesn't work and Tiger Mask just falls to the canvas. Makabe tries to cover by hitting a slam and covering Tiger Mask for the pinfall in 9:10.


WINNERS: Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima


Fujinami gets on the mic after the match and wishes everyone a happy new year and tells the crowd the show will be great. After he speaks, a graphic on the screen announced an upcoming movie about Antonio Inoki according to Chris Charlton on English commentary.


Junior Tag Titles Kickoff Wrestle Kingdom 17 Main Card


FIRST MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: United Empire (TJP & Francesco Akira) (c) vs. CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)


YOH and Rush dive on TJP and Akira during their entrances and unleash a flurry of double team moves. Everyone brawls on the outside. TJP and Akira hit a double team on Rush, driving his face into the entrance ramp.


Back in the ring, Akira and TJP attack YOH with a series of lightning-fast kicks. TJP almost gets a pinfall. Akira tags in and maintains dominance. Akira hits a corner lariat and ties YOH up in a Tree of Woe. TJP tags in. TJP helps Akira perform a ropewalk dropkick to YOH. YOH is sent to the outside. Akira dives off of TJP's shoulders and takes out YOH with a senton. Back in the ring, TJP dominates YOH in the corner. TJP hits a vicious facewash. Akira sends Rush into the ring. TJP puts Rush on top of YOH but Rush fights back. Rush is busted open from the attack on the entrance. YOH hits a huge dropkick on TJP and tags in Rush. Akira tags in as well.


Rush hits a School Boy Enzuigiri. Rush hits a series of kicks. Rush fights off the double team and hits a double springboard back elbow. TJP slides out of the ring. Akira slides out of the ring. Rush hits a tope on TJP, runs back in the ring, and hits a tope on Akira. Rush gets Akira back in the ring and hits a Spinning Killswitch for a nearfall. YOH tags in.


TJP stops YOH from hitting Sweet Chin Music but YOH and Rush fight back. YOH takes out Akira with a superkick. Everyone is down. YOH puts Akira on the top rope. TJP counters the Avalanche move, but Rush sends TJP and YOH back into the corner for a Superplex on Akira. YOH hits a Brainbuster onto Knee, Rush hits a Final Hour but the pin gets broken up. Frog Splashes all around. TJP hits YOH with Detonation Kick for a nearfall.


Rush counters Leaning Tower with a Poison Rana and hits a Spanish Fly. YOH and Rush hit 3K for a nearfall. Rush and Akira trade strikes and Rush hits the Springboard Stunner. TJP counters Direct Drive with a Small Package for the pinfall in 10:29.


WINNERS AND STILL IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: United Empire (TJP & Francesco Akira)


Mercedes Mone' Debuts!


SECOND MATCH: IWGP Women's Championship Match: KAIRI (c) vs. Tam Nakano


They lock up. KAIRI gets Tam on the ropes and hits her in the torso. They trade holds. KAIRI fights out of a headlock and hits an armdrag. Tam uses her flexibility to counter KAIRI. The two women stare down while laying on their stomachs. KAIRI smacks Tam. Both women fight to their feet, exchanging blows. KAIRI hits a spear.


KAIRI maintains dominance and climbs to the top rope. KAIRI hits a diving forearm for a nearfall. They trade blows. Tam hits a spinning heel kick. KAIRI rolls out of the ring. Tam climbs the top rope. Tam hits a diving crossbody to the floor. Tam rolls KAIRI back in the ring. Tam hits a Bridging German Suplex for a nearfall.


KAIRI counters a suplex and staggers Tam. Nakano blocks a spinning backfist. Nakano hits a Violet Screwdriver for a nearfall. A frustrated Nakano pummels KAIRI. KAIRI comes back with a Spinning Backfist for a nearfall.


KAIRI hits another Spinning Backfist and climbs the top rope. KAIRI hits Insane Elbow for the pinfall in 5:57.


WINNER AND STILL IWGP WOMEN'S CHAMPION: KAIRI


After the match, the lights go out and a video shows on the screen introducing "The CEO" Mercedes Mone'. Mercedes hits KAIRI with a weird armbreaker. "I'm the standard, the conversation, the blueprint, and the CEO of the women's division." Mone' says she will face KAIRI at NJPW Battle In The Valley in San Jose, CA on Feburary 18.


IWGP Tag Team Championship Match


THIRD MATCH: IWGP Tag Team Championship Match: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)


Cash starts against YOSHI-HASHI and immediately takes him to the canvas. YOSHI-HASHI fights out and hits a shoulder tackle. Dax tags in. Goto tags in.


They trade blows and YOSHI-HASHI runs in to help double team the champions. They fight to the outside and Cash hits a huge suicide dive. Cash rolls Goto back in the ring. FTR hit Goto with a Power Plex for a nearfall. FTR hit a Dragon Suplex and bridge combo for a nearfall. FTR are all over Goto, but YOSHI-HASHI keeps saving his partner.


Goto counters Big Rig and then hits Dax with Ushiguroshi. YOSHI-HASHI tags in. Cash tags in. YOSHI-HASHI has chops for everyone. Dax tags in but YOSHI-HASHI maintains dominance. Goto tags in. Dax counters a Shoto attempt. Cash Wheeler breaks up another Shoto. FTR hit Big Rig on Goto but YOSHI-HASHI breaks up the pinfall.


YOSHI-HASHI and Cash Wheeler tumble to the outside due to a suplex. Goto counters two Piledriver attempts. Goto hits Dax with a huge headbutt. Goto hits a Vertical Suplex. YOSHI-HASHI tags in and eats a Piledriver from Dax for a nearfall. FTR hit YOSHI-HASHI with a Spike Piledriver but Goto breaks up the pin. Cashe gets sent out of the ring. Goto and YOSHI-HASHI hit Shoto on Dax for the pinfall in 10:13.


WINNERS AND NEW IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)


TMDK Gets A New Member And Champion


FOURTH MATCH: NJPW World TV Championship Tournament Final: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita


The match will have a 15-minute time limit. Sabre gets in Narita's face to start and tenderizes the former Young Lion with a series of stiff strikes. They lock up and Sabre ties up Narita in a straight jacket, but Narita counters with a straight jacket of his own. Test of Strength results in both men trading strikes. Narita drops Sabre. Both men continue their back-and-forth see-saw.


Both men retreat to their corners but Narita comes in hot with a back elbow to Sabre in the corner and a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Sabre fights out of an Octopus Stretch and counters with a hip toss and soccer kick to the back. They take turns kicking each other in the back. Both men seem to almost enjoy it. Zack and Narita trade Penalty Kicks. After another flurry of offense, both men are down.


They fight to their feet. They trade uppercuts. Sabre hits a series of strikes and elbows. Narita counters with a Bridging Exploder Suplex for a nearfall. Sabre twists Narita's ankle but Narita fights to the ropes. Sabre hits a series of kicks to a seated Narita. Narita battles back with kicks of his own for a nearfall. Narita hits a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Sabre goes for a Triangle Choke but Narita kicks his way out of it.


They trade blows. Sabre hits a Pele Kick to the arm. Narita floors Sabre with a slap. Narita locks in a choke. They trade rollup attempts. The nearfalls keep getting closer and closer to three. Sabre and Narita trade Cobra Twists. Sabre locks in an armbar for the submission in 10:32.


WINNER AND FIRST NJPW WORLD TV CHAMPION: Zack Sabre Jr.


After the match, TMDK's Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls congratulated Sabre and offered him a TMDK shirt. Sabre puts the shirt on and joins TMDK.


Karl Anderson Walks Through The Forbidden Door


FIFTH MATCH: NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga


Anderson levels Tama with the title belt before the bell and then sends Tama out of the ring. Anderson suplexes Tama, neck first, onto the barricade. Anderson gets back in the ring. Anderson takes Tama to the entrance ramp and hits a Fire Thunder Driver on the ramp. Anderson showboat on the ramp and signals for a Gun Stun. Tama counters and throws Anderson back-first into the ramp.


Both men are literally crawling to the ring. Both men get back to the ring. They immediately fight to the apron. They trade blows. Anderson counters a Gun Stun and hits a Rocket Kick to Tama on the apron.


Back in the ring and Anderson taunts Tama. Tama fights back to little avail. They trade strikes. Tama hits a huge lariat. Tama hits a Stinger Splash and unloads a series of punches on a cornered Anderson. Anderson fights back and hits a huge boot. Anderson hits a TKO and covers for a nearfall. Anderson climbs to the top rope and hits a Diving Neckbreaker for a nearfall. Anderson signals for the Gun Stun. Tama counters with SRC. Tama climbs to the top rope. Anderson recovers and joins Tama on the top rope. They trade strikes. Tama counters an Avalanche Brainbuster. Anderson goes crashing to the floor. Tama hits a diving attack. Tama climbs the top rope again. Tama hits Supreme Flow for a nearfall.


Tama signals for a Gun Stun. Anderson counters. Tama counters TKO. Tama counters Gun Stun. They trade strikes. Tama hits a Springboard Gun Stun. Tama rips off his shirt and signals for another Gun Stun. Tama hits a Gun Stun for the pinfall in 9:36.


WINNER AND NEW NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION: Tama Tonga


Keiji Muto Takes His Final Bow In NJPW


SIXTH MATCH: Keiji Muto's Last Match In NJPW: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)


Muto starts off against SANADA, who insists on facing Muto. Muto and SANADA Too Sweet. SANADA goes for a knee dropkick but Muto counters. SANADA hits a springboard dropkick. SANADA hits a rib breaker. SANADA hits a Moonsault Press for a nearfall. Muto takes out SANADA at the knees and hits a Shining Wizard. Muto hits an Avalanche. Muto goes for the Moonsault but Tanahashi stops him, as Muto retired the move, giving SANADA time to recover. Tanahashi tags in.


SANADA gets the better of Tanahashi and LIJ rush the ring. LIJ clears the ring, leaving SANADA and Tanahashi in the ring. BUSHI tags in and maintains dominance over Tanahashi. Naito tags in and hammers Tanahashi with an elbow. Naito hits Combinacion Cabron. Tanahashi fights back and attacks Naito's knees. SANADA tags in. Umino tags in. Umino gets the better of SANADA. Naito tags in to little avail, as Umino hits him with a Fisherman's Suplex for a nearfall. Umino locks Naito in an STF.  Submissions all around. Naito gets to the ropes.


Naito gets the better of Umino and hits a big neckbreaker. BUSHI tags in and hits a dropkick on Umino, followed by a BUSHIroonie. Umino comes back and hits an inverted Twist and Shout. SANADA runs in and helps BUSHI break free of Umino's assault, and everyone else gets involved. Tanahashi hits a slingblade on BUSHI. Muto hits Shining Wizard on BUSHI. Umino hits Death Rider on BUSHI for the pinfall in 9:21.


WINNERS: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino


Four Junior Heavyweights, One Title


SEVENTH MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado vs. Master Wato


A flurry of offense to start, which leads to all four men battling their way to the outside and onto the entrance ramp. Everyone ends up down and almost ended in a three-way countout. The battle gets back in the ring.


Everyone shows some dominance in the early going of the match. Dual submission holds and other "anything you can do, I can do better" shenanigans. They fight back to the outside where Desperado hits a huge tope, followed by a suicide dive from Wato. Hiromu hits a Diving Senton to the floor on everyone. Back in the ring and Hiromu dominates Wato, driving him into the corner. Desperado and Ishimori break up the assault.


[Coverage interrupted by the announcement of a backstage altercation between Kongoh from NOAH and LIJ.]


All four men trade attacks. Wato hits a huge Crucifix Driver on Ishimori but breaks the pinfall early to climb the top rope. Desperado stops Wato from hitting RPP. Big Tower of Doom nearly sees Hiromu get a pin on Ishimori. Desperado and Hiromu trade blows. Desperado drops Hiromu with a big punch. Desperado hits Pinche Loco on Hiromu and then goes for a second but Hiromu counters with Time Bomb. Hiromu hits Time Bomb II for a nearfall. Wato hits Desperado with Recitimente but the referee is pulled out the ring before the three-count. 


Ishimori levels Wato with a chair and rolls the referee back in the ring. Wato counters Bloody Cross and hits Recitimente on Ishimori for a nearfall. Wato hits a big kick on Hiromu. Wato hits an Everest German Suplex for a nearfall. Hiromu hits Time Bomb II on Wato for the pinfall in 16:42.


WINNER AND NEW IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Hiromu Takahashi


Kenny Omega Returns To NJPW


DOUBLE MAIN EVENT I: IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega


Ospreay charges but Omega dodges. They frantically trade holds and headlock. Omega takes Ospreay to the canvas. Omega hits a shoulder tackle. The match devolves into a shoving match. Ospreay smacks Omega in the mouth. Ospreay sends Omega to the outside and hits a plancha. Omega goes into the barricade. Ospreay sends Omega back in the ring.


Ospreay tries to get back in the ring but Omega blocks and sends Ospreay into the barricade. Omega sends Ospreay back into the ring and attacks Ospreay's back. Omega maintains dominance against Ospreay. Omega dismantles Ospreay in the corner and then hammer-throws Ospreay across the ring to the other corner. Omega takes the pad off the turnbuckle. They trade blows and Omega kicks Ospreay into the exposed turnbuckle. Omega follows up with a backbreaker for a nearfall.


Omega continues pummeling Will Ospreay. Ospreay counters a hip toss with a cobra twist. Omega hip tosses Ospreay out of the move. Ospreay hangs Omega up on the ropes. Ospreay counters a Vertical Suplex with a Stunner. Ospreay kicks Omega in the heads and then climbs the ropes. Ospreay hits a Diving Forearm for a nearfall. Ospreay kicks Omega in the face and chops him in the chest. Omega fights back with a chop of his own. Ospreay sends Omega to the apron. Ospreay joins him. Ospreay chops Omega. Omega chops Ospreay. They continue like this. Ospreay hits a Super Kick. Ospreay goes for an apron Oscutter but Omega counters and Ospreay crashes into the apron.


Omega finds a table under the ring. Omega drapes the table on Ospreay and hits a double stomp through the table to Ospreay's back. Ospreay recovers and slams Omega into the table. Ospreay climbs to the top rope and hits a Corkscrew Moonsault to the floor. Omega back in the ring. Ospreay climbs to the top rope and hits a Diving Hidden Blade to the back of Omega's head for a nearfall.


Omega counters Oscutter. Omega hits V-Trigger to the back of Ospreay's head. Omega hits Poison Rana. Omega hits a Brainbuster onto his knee for a nearfall. Ospreay counters a Dragon Suplex. Omega puts Ospreay on the top rope. Omega goes for an Avalanche Dragon Suplex but Ospreay lands on his feet. Ospreay hits Robinson Special. Ospreay hits Osscutter for a nearfall.


Ospreay hits a Yakuza Kick. Ospreay hits Cheeky Nandos Kick, and another. Ospreay hits it a third time. Omega collapses to the apron. Both men end up on the top rope. They climb back down and Ospreay hits a brutal chop. They go back to the top rope. Omega fights out of a Spanish Fly. Omega hits a DDT onto the exposed top rope. Ospreay rolls out of the ring. Ospreay is bleeding profusely. Omega hits a baseball slide. Omega hits Rise of the Terminator. Omega sets up the broken table against the barricade. Omega smashes Ospreay's bloody head through the table. Omega gets Ospreay back in the ring for a nearfall.


Omega mounts and pummels Ospreay with open-hand strikes. Red Shoes breaks it up. Omega hits Snap Dragon Suplex. Omega hits a second Snap Dragon. Ospreay grabs Omega's leg to prevent V-Trigger. Omega batters Ospreay. Omega hits Tiger Driver '98 for a nearfall. Omega hits a V-Trigger, sending Ospreay tumbling out of the ring. Omega gives chase. Ospreay gets lucky and crotches Omega on the exposed turnbuckle. Omega sends Ospreay into the exposed turnbuckle. Omega hits V-Trigger to the back of Ospreay's head into the exposed turnbuckle. Omega puts Ospreay on the top rope. Omega hits Avalanche Kroyt's Wrath for a nearfall. Omega hits V-Trigger for a nearfall. Omega hits V-Trigger. Omega hits another V-Trigger. Ospreay counters the third. Omega staggers Ospreay with punches. Ospreay hits Kawada Kicks. Ospreay chops away at Omega. Omega hits V-Triggers. Ospreay hits a Liger Bomb for a nearfall.


Ospreay hits Chelsea Grin. Ospreay hits two Hidden Blades. Ospreay hits Super Oscutter. Ospreay covers for a nearfall. Omega counters Stormbreaker. Ospreay counters One Winged Angel. Ospreay hits Styles Clash on Omega. Ospreay pulls off his elbow pad and hits Hidden Blade to Omega's jaw for a nearfall. Omega counters V-Trigger. Ospreay hits Hidden Blade. Both men are down. They fight to their feet.


They trade blows. Ospreay gains the upperhand but Omega counters with a Straight Jacket German Suplex for a nearfall. Omega transitions into Kamigoye. Omega hits One Winged Angel for the pinfall in 34:38.


WINNER AND NEW IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Kenny Omega


The Rainmaker Seeks To Dethrone King Switchblade


DOUBLE MAIN EVENT II: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada


White toys with Okada to start. White unleashes on Okada in the corner. Okada comes back with a big boot. Okada levels White with a series of elbow strikes. Okada maintains dominance until Gedo drags Jay White out of the ring. Okada chases after Gedo and White attempts an ambush, but Okada fights them both off. Okada gets back in the ring where he eats a Saito Suplex from Jay. White stomps on Okada. White rakes the face.


White batters Okada's midsection and hits a bodyslam for a nearfall. White locks in a Sleeper. Okada fights out but White responds with a DDT for a nearfall. White takes Okada to the outside of the ring and slams him into the barricade and the apron. White continues mutilating Okada and rolls him back in the ring where the assault continues.


White hits an Exploder Suplex into the corner for a nearfall. White taunts and chops Okada. Okada fights back and back body drops White. Okada hits a DDT. Okada hits a speedy back elbow. Okada hits a Flapjack. White fights back and corners Okada, but Okada is able to turn the tables, prop Jay on the top rope, and dropkick him to the arena floor.


Okada takes Gedo and White to the entry ramp, where he drills both of them into the staging. Okada rolls White back in the ring and climbs the top rope. Okada hits a huge Missile Dropkick. Okada locks in Money Clip. White battles out. White hits a Complete Shot and a Deadlift German Suplex. White hits a Bladebuster for a nearfall.


Okada starts to get his footing but White fights out of a Tombstone Piledriver and hits a Fisherman Suplex for two. The two men go back-and-forth absorbing strikes. Okada hits a big dropkick. White counters a Tombstone Piledriver. Okada counters Sleeper Suplex. Okada counters Blade Runner with Money Clip. Okada transitions to a spinning Tombstone Piledriver. Okada hits a big strike and locks Money Clip back in. White escapes the ring and Gedo blocks Okada's dive. Okada knocks Gedo off the apron and climbs to the top rope. Okada hits a Flipping Senton onto White and Gedo on the floor.


Okada sends White back into the ring. Okada slams White and climbs to the top rope. Okada hits a diving elbow drop. Okada strikes the Rainmaker pose. White dodges a Rainmaker attempt. Okada kicks Jay in the face. Okada sends White to the canvas with a nasty strike. Okada hits another big elbow. White counters a lariat with a spinning Uranage. Okada fights out of a Sleeper Suplex but White dumps Okada to the floor. White gets Okada back in the ring. White hits a Sleeper Suplex. White hits a Regalplex for a nearfall.


Okada counters Blade Runner with a German Suplex. Okada hangs on but White breaks wrist control. Okada counters a backslide with a lariat.  Okada hits a second lariat. White counters Rainmaker but Okada counters again and hits Landslide. White counters Rainmaker with Blade Runner for a nearfall.


Okada fights out of a second Blade Runner. White hits a short-arm lariat, and a second. White does the Rainmaker pose. Okada counters ripcord Blade Runner with a Rainmaker for a nearfall.


They trade blows. Okada collapses from a series of chops. Okada staggers White with elbows and White goes crashing into the ropes. They trade more elbows. Okada counters Blade Runner with an Enzuigiri. Okada hits Blade Runner on White. Okada hits Cobra Flowsion. Okada hits Rainmaker for the pinfall in 33:03.


WINNER AND NEW IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Kazuchika Okada


A defeated Jay White refuses to give up his title belt, pleading with Red Shoes, but is forced to relinquish the title to Okada. White gets to his feet and shows a modicum of respect towards Okada before exiting the ring.


Shingo Takagi interrupts Okada's celebration. He congratulates Okada. Takagi says he hasn't forgotten losing the title to Okada, and thinks his KOPW 2022 reign qualifies him for a shot at Okada. Takagi challenges Okada and says he'll bring the KOPW 2023 to the match, and exits the ring.


Okada thanks the fans for coming to the Tokyo Dome and then asks the spirit of Antonio Inoki if he liked the fight and was watching. Okada asks the spirit of Inoki to keep a watchful eye on NJPW while they head into year 51.


Okada starts to exit the arena but then comes back to lead the crowd in Antonio Inoki's signature chant.

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