New Japan delivers another stellar iPPV.
In my month long hiatus from writing I came very close to losing interest in pro graps for the time being. As a huge WWE fan, the lack of any real compelling storylines had left me feeling a bit let down & burnt out. Thank the Lord for New Japan Pro Wrestling! With their latest iPPV outing, they've re-ignited my interest in the sport and continue their run as the undisputed king of the wrestling landscape. That being said, I'm sure many of you would like to see how Dominion ranks amongst some of 2013's all-time shows like Wrestle Kingdom & Invasion Attack. The wait is over G9Z Wrestling fans because my full review of NJPW Dominion 2013 is waiting for you after the jump!
Match 1:: IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship match: Time Splitters (KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley) vs. Forever Hooligans(c) (Kozlov & Rocky Romero)
I have to admit that I came into this match with half the level of excitement that I normally do for a New Japan opener. We've seen these two teams tangle for months now and naturally, it's easy to assume that this match would be good, but essentially the same thing we've seen on a wide variety of occasions. I'm not above admitting that I haven't been more wrong all year. This match was absolutely amazing. It's far and away, the best these two teams have ever thrown together and arguably, the best tag title match of the year thus far in any promotion. The crowd was into everything they did and it made the action that much more outstanding. I loved every minute of this one and I can't recommend this match enough. If you're a fan of either team, this is required viewing.
Forever Hooligans def. Time Splitters after 13:08 via. pinfall following a flying Knee Drop from Romero to KUSHIDA
Match Rating: ****1/4
At this point, it's hard to argue against FH being the best team in the world.
Match 2:: Bullet Club (Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale) vs. Yuji Nagata, Tomoaki Honma & Captain New Japan
Captain New Japan debuted some brand new blue attire tonight and I actually prefer it to his normal Flash-lite attire. This match served one real purpose and it was to showcase the meat of what is arguably, the best stable going right now, the Prince Devitt-led Bullet Club. Everything about these guys from their look, to their entrance to their swagger in the ring is one of the best spectacles in wrestling today. The action was decent enough, but it seemingly ended before it even got going. It was an exhibition style matchup that established Bullet Club as the group to beat. Though, as a fan, it's hard to root against them. I wonder if they're still accepting applications at this point?
Bullet Club def. Team Nagata after 8:20 following a Samoan Spike from Fale to Captain New Japan
Match Rating: **
Bullet Club may be an elite faction, but professional etiquette isn't really their thing.
Match 3:: IWGP Tag Team Championship match: Ten-Koji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima)(c) vs. Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) vs. Toru Yano and Takashi Iizuka
It's worth noting that every team involved in this match are champions. With K.E.S. holding the NWA tag titles and Iizuka & Yano reigning as NOAH's GHC tag champs, their more than worthy as challengers to Ten-Koji's prestigious IWGP gold. That being said, it was a bit surprising that here was some comedy in the opening minutes of this one when Archer & Davey Boy were taped to the guardrail and began selling the tape as if it were made of Kryptonian superglue. They would eventually free themselves and the resulting brawl culminated with Archer being damn near decapitated by Kojima, who subsequently earns the win for his team. Afterwards, Yano would steal the IWGP titles and run away in typical Yano fashion.
Ten-Koji def. Yano & Iizuka and K.E.S. after 12:20 following a Lariat from Kojima to Archer
Match Rating: ***
Ten-Koji celebrates their victory along with Bill Gates' Japanese doppelganger.
Match 4:: NWA World Heavyweight Championship match: Rob Conway(c) vs. Manabu Nakanishi
It's a bit of a weird feeling when you're more interested in a wrestler's manager than the talent themselves, but such is the case with Conway and his Heyman-esque associate, NWA President Bruce Tharpe. A lot of people are already down on Conway given his limited abilities in the ring and overall dickhead persona, but there is something there. I have no idea what it is, but I find him interesting enough to keep me from skipping his matches even though I rarely find the action to be satisfactory. Not saying this match is worth viewing (it's not), but I'm still partly curious to see where things are going with Conway. Even if it's mainly due to his partnership with Tharpe.
Rob Conway def. Manabu Nakanishi after 8:31 via. pinfall following the Ego Trip
Match Rating: *3/4
Conway steals another victory over another established New Japan talent.
Match 5: CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Suzukigun (Minoru Suzuki & Shelton “X” Benjamin)
Shinsuke Nakamura is the fucking man. I know that's been properly stated on this blog many times, but seriously, the guy makes every event worthwhile just by making an appearance. It's worth noting that Shelton Benjamin has shown a huge overhaul in the charisma department as well. The real stars here however were Ishii and Suzuki who both seem to be set to collide at the next iPPV event. And from what we got here, it looks to be damn well worth the money. Some very exciting action and Shelton continues his rise to superstar status with the surprising pinfall victory over Nakamura. Don't cry for Shinskay though, if all else fails, he's got a very bright career as an Instagram model in the works.
That's right, even his barber has more swag than you.
Post match, Ishii and Suzuki continued brawling all the way backstage and it was equal parts exciting and comical in execution. Looking forward to seeing where this feud is going to go.
Suzukigun def. CHAOS after 12:39 via. pinfall following a Paydirt from Benjamin to Nakamura
Match Rating: ***3/4
Shelton has somehow finally found his "X" factor.
There was a quick segment in which the injured Kazushi Sakuraba (who put in some of the year's finest performances prior to being put on IR) came out and cut a promo. He was then approached by the man who took him out earlier in the year, Yuji Nagata. Both men shake hands and it's safe to assume that they're looking forward to continuing where they left off once Sakuraba is healthy.
Match 6: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi
This was the immensely popular Naito's first match back from an injury at the hands of Takahashi that kept him on the shelf for nearly seven months. A lot of excitement for this one going in. In the world of pro wrestling, there are few storylines that always earn the level of megahype that "injury return" builds can elicit. When one of a promotion's brightest stars gets hurt, the product can sometimes feel lacking in their absence. And since absence makes the heart grow fonder, crowds salivate at the first chance to see their fallen heroes climb the ladder back to title contention. The first step is always the same. Kick the shit out of the guy that put you on the shelf and send a message to the rest of the roster that the time you've spent away has only made you better. Easy enough right? Well not when the guy across from you shows absolutely no remorse for his actions. And being the eternal dickhead Takahashi is, he arrived with two sexy nurses & made it immediately clear that there are no less fucks to be given at the moment.
Hell, Naito would have stayed out until 2014 had he been sent to that hospital.
Naturally, Takahashi would immediately go in for the kill by grabbing a chair & going after Naito's surgically repaired knee. The ref was able to fend him off, but then he comes in with a flurry of suplexes and slams. After a failed Moonsault attemptby Takahashi, Naito begins to fight back and eventually is able to put Takahashi down for the count. I was actually a bit disappointed with what I got here, but I was OK with that since not everyone is able to come back after such a great amount of time and deliver in their first matchup. Look for Naito to return to form over the next three or four events instead.
Tetsuya Naito def. Yujiro Takahashi after 15:00 via. pinfall following the Stardust Press
Match Rating: ***
Naito's triumphant return wasn't so triumphant after all.
Match 7: Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuyori Shibata
After a wide variety of matches between the two throughout the first half of the year, longtime rivals Goto and Shibata would see the climax of their feud become a bit of a magnum opus performance for both of them. This match is on the sort list for Match Of The Year and if we were to base the award on the stiffness of the matches alone, this would take the cake and the fucking ice cream. This is the type of spit releasing palm swatter that will make "back in my day" puro fans shed tears of joy. I do not exaggerate. I'm thoroughly convinced that to this day, there are remnants of Goto's trademark stache still stuck to Shibata's boot. These guys were not playing around. They continuously strike each other so hard you can feel it through your damn monitor. At one point, Shibata kicks Goto directly in the throat so viciously he almost appears to second guess the brutal nature of his own damn assault.
Ok....mayyyybe that was a bit much.
I don't think I have to spell this one out for you. Seek this match out at all costs. There's absolutely nothing so far this year that rivals it in terms of realism and sheer ferocity. An instant classic born through a level of unbelievable animosity mirrored only by an intense amount of respect. Only in New Japan Pro Wrestling. You've got to love that shit.
Katsuyori Shibata def. Hirooki Goto after 13:14 via. pinfall following a stiff Penalty Kick
Match Rating: ****1/2
Shibata: "Dude, we're going to need a safety word next time". Goto: "Was 'Fuck! That fucking hurt! I can't feel my fucking face!' Not enough?"
Match 8: Prince Devitt vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
This match was a tad below the level of quality we got from these two earlier in the year, but it's still a strong contender for the best of the evening. Devitt and his Bullet Club squadmates are officially the best thing going in NJPW right now and thrown in with Tanahashi, Okada, Nakamura and Suzuki, he composes what I believe to be the best overall collection of main event talent in the world today. Tanahashi arguably turns in his
Prince Devitt def. Hiroshi Tanahashi after 15:34 via. pinfall following the Bloody Sunday
Match Rating: ****
Devitt continues to impress.
The legendary Stan Hansen is at ringside with an intrigued look on his face as The Rainmaker is set to clash with one of the best brawlers in the sport. This must mean that it is now time for our...
MAIN EVENT
Match 9:: IWGP Heavyweight Championship match: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs. Togi Makabe
I know fairly well just how popular Togi Makabe is, but I have to admit that I was surprised at just how much the crowd was behind him here. Okada's journey from obscure challenger to Ace of the promotion has been damn near iconic and for me, there isn't anyone else in pro wrestling who I root for with more enthusiasm. His title win over Hiroshi Tanhashi and follow up match with Minoru Suzuki both delivered beyond expectations, but it's here against Makabe that he is presented with his first true challenge. And it's in these sort of lesser hyped matches that any champion proves their worth at the top of the heap. Both men gave a fantastic performance here that was one of the better matches Makabe has had in a long while and with the amazing crowd heat (they were 100% convinced Makabe was winning near the end), this ended up being a surprisingly epic main event to cap off a brilliant show. Okada's stock continues to rise as Makabe shows the world he's more than capable of spectacular main events at this stage of his career.
Kazuchika Okada def. Togi Makabe after 25:05 via. pinfall following The Rainmaker
Match Rating: ****1/4
Okada shows his growth with a thriller of a title defense.
After the match, Okada is given the traditional celebration highlighted by Stan Hansen coming in to hand the belt over. Bullet Club arrives with Devitt riding high on Fale's shoulders. Devitt makes the mouth watering challenge and one of the most exciting matchups of 2013 is now on the horizon. But to get there Devitt will have to defeat Gedo which shouldn't present itself as much of a challenge for him at this point.
Final Thoughts
What more can I say about New Japan Pro Wrestling's iPPV quality at this point? With another tremendous show under their belts, they continue on as the best wrestling promotion in the world. It's scary how consistently great the company has been these past two years or so and it's even more terrifying that it seems as if we're just getting started. This isn't on the level of WK7 or Invasion Attack, but it really isn't far behind. Get on the bandwagon folks. This is one of those moments in time we're going to talk about decades from now as one of the best eras of brilliance any promotion has ever produced.
Overall PPV Score: 9/10
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