{"id":36575,"date":"2016-12-20T13:07:46","date_gmt":"2016-12-20T19:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=36575"},"modified":"2016-12-20T13:07:46","modified_gmt":"2016-12-20T19:07:46","slug":"1216-njpw-axs-tv-review-okada-vs-sanada-omega-young-bucks-vs-yoshitatsu-elgin-takahashi-ishii-vs-naito","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2016\/12\/20\/1216-njpw-axs-tv-review-okada-vs-sanada-omega-young-bucks-vs-yoshitatsu-elgin-takahashi-ishii-vs-naito\/","title":{"rendered":"12\/16 NJPW on AXS TV Review: Okada vs. Sanada, Omega &#038; Young Bucks vs. Yoshitatsu &#038; Elgin &#038; Takahashi, Ishii vs. Naito"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1588244861\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>NJPW on AXS TV Report<br \/>\nDecember 16, 2016<br \/>\nRyogoku Kokugikan Part 3 &amp; Hakata Starlanes<br \/>\nBy R.W. Andrews, PWTorch contributor<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Wrap yourselves up in a blanket and cozy up.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got three shows in one night, which is fine by me.\u00a0 Put J.R. and Barnett\u2019s asses to work.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#1 \u2013 Hiroki Goto vs. EVIL<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>The shows kicks off right away with our first match.\u00a0 Ahh, the trickle down economic of wrestling.\u00a0 EVIL, of Los Ingobernables de Japon fame, gets a payday because he\u2019s in the same stable as the champ.\u00a0 He comes out cosplaying as Maleficent.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure whether to take away or add points for the B-movie prop sickle he\u2019s dragging along with him.\u00a0 Never mind, he earns all the points because of a green laser pointer that he beams to the ceiling as the lights dim.\u00a0 JR calls Los Ingobernables a \u201cNWO like entity\u201d.\u00a0 The hell they are.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, I think they\u2019re great as a group, but something tells me that Naito isn\u2019t going to hold the title hostage for years upon years while the group splits into Los Ingobernables Tokyo, Wolfpac, and every other lazy incarnation.\u00a0 JR asks Barnett if Goto is a part of CHAOS, and Barnett says that he thinks he is because Goto and Okada have shaken hands before.\u00a0 Let\u2019s not question that logic.\u00a0 Goto is out next as JR says that he has been referred to as the \u201cBret the Hitman Hart of New Japan Pro Wrestling\u201d.\u00a0 I immediately NEED to go back and watch a ton of Goto matches to confirm this.<\/p>\n<p>EVIL is waiting for Goto in the aisle and the two collide with clotheslines and forearms.\u00a0 Goto smacks EVIL\u2019s head against the ring post, buying him enough time to disrobe before going back on the hunt and whipping EVIL against the railing.\u00a0 The two exchange Irish whips into the guardrails, with the later of the exchange putting EVIL on the offensive.\u00a0 EVIL snags a chair and jabs it into Goto\u2019s stomach before giving him a solid whack across the back.\u00a0 JR says something that has been on my mind since I started watching New Japan.\u00a0 JR: \u201cThese security railings which are used so frequently in these matches\u201d.\u00a0 They really are! EVIL horse collars Goto with a chair \u2013 oh s-, I\u2019ve seen this before \u2013 and grabs another to tee off, knocking Goto on his ass while the original chair flies out of camera view.\u00a0 Touch em\u2019 all EVIL.\u00a0 By the way, JR informs us that the match is officially under way and officially out of control.<\/p>\n<p>A super quick cut, which JR actually acknowledges, puts both men in the middle of the ring trading a few dozen reversals before Goto drops EVIL with a neck breaker to his knee, ala Okada.\u00a0 And another, this time with far more force than the first, covering for two.\u00a0 Goto gets a little payback for the horse collar homerun and punts EVIL in the chest, hard.\u00a0 EVIL surprises Goto with a \u201cfisherman\u2019s buster\u201d, per Barnett, which is a pretty nasty looking fisherman\u2019s suplex into a brainbuster.\u00a0 JR decides to break into a mini-rant about wrestlers naming moves and gimmicks\/gimmick tables while both men recover on the mat.\u00a0 A charging clothesline by EVIL doesn\u2019t move Goto.\u00a0 A second one leaves Goto unfazed.\u00a0 Goto tries for one, speckling the air with EVIL\u2019s sweat, but no dice.\u00a0 Goto goes for a spinning lariat, but EVIL bulldozes him with a straight-line clothesline.\u00a0 Hard, hard, hard hits during this exchange.\u00a0 JR questions the logic of trading shots, but ultimately admires their \u201cSpaldings\u201d.\u00a0 A discus forearm drops Goto.\u00a0 EVIL lands a fireman\u2019s pickup into a power bomb, which he holds for a pin, but Goto kicks out at two.\u00a0 EVIL\u2019s had enough of Goto and hits a space tornado ogawa for the win.\u00a0 And yes, that is a Barnett call.\u00a0 I was trying to figure out what it was, feverishly trying to run down my mental rolodex of all 5,018,076 of Chris Kanyon\u2019s moves to figure out the name.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: EVIL in 9:53<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: I knew what Goto brought to the table after seeing some of his tag matches with Shibata against Anderson and Gallows, but I was completely in the dark about EVIL.\u00a0 EVIL is Goto.\u00a0 Goto is EVIL.\u00a0 They are clones of one another, both equally game to smack the s- out of one another and get smacked back.\u00a0 The flurry of reversals after the quick-cut was impressive to watch considering that both men are built like Duplos blocks.\u00a0 On a quick side note, EVIL did do exactly what JR was going on about.\u00a0 His space tornado ogawa is called EVIL.\u00a0 Simple yet effective.\u00a0 To the gimmick tables!)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Fantastic!\u00a0 We get a commercial for the huge announcement that AXS TV is going to be showing Wrestle Kingdom 11 beginning January 13<sup>th<\/sup>, one week after the actual event.\u00a0 I have to be on my best behavior from here on out.\u00a0 I already got dressed down by the BSD of TORCH Tower over my comments about Bad Luck Fale.\u00a0 One false step and the J. Jonah Jameson of The Tower is going to send me an inter-office memo that I have been pulled from reviewing that and instead get assigned to some dumbass WWE thing.\u00a0 I can\u2019t let that happen.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#2 \u2013 Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Time for a little payback.\u00a0 After SANADA stormed the ring to help Naito capture the IWGP Heavyweight championship, we get a revenge match.\u00a0 First, are there no rematch clauses in NJPW?\u00a0 And second, there is no way Okada loses this one, right?\u00a0 Although this match is billed as CHAOS vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon, it\u2019s really \u201cI\u2019m going to f- you up\u201d vs. \u201cplease, not in the face\u201d.\u00a0 SANDA is out first, dressed like a Netherworld street tough.\u00a0 We\u2019re talking black skull mask, an open black jacket showing off nothing but breast meat, and black tights with Cold Skull written on the back.\u00a0 He looks like he should be forcing himself on Lt. Proctor at the Blue Oyster Bar.\u00a0 Oh, and he has a black baseball bat.\u00a0 That might come in handy.\u00a0 Here comes Okada with Gedo by his side.\u00a0 There\u2019s no cash cascading through the air tonight.\u00a0 Without the title that disposable income has been tightened up a little.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1796308195\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The crowd is chanting for Okada as the two eye one another up.\u00a0 They start out by reversing waistlocks and wristlocks.\u00a0 JR: \u201cAnd if you\u2019d like a pair of Cold Skull tights with cold skull written on the ass, I\u2019m sure we can work up something.\u201d\u00a0 Okada backs SANADA into the ropes and tries to pat him on the chest, but SANADA lunges forward and begins to attack.\u00a0 SANADA\u2019s offense is cut off by a snapmare by Okada and sliding dropkick to the side of SANADA\u2019s head.\u00a0 Okada slams SANADA to the mat, pops outside for a second, and sentons over the top for a one-count.\u00a0 Okada hits the ropes, but is caught by a dropkick from SANADA, who tosses Okada to the outside.\u00a0 Hey, we get a twenty count from Red Shoes.\u00a0 Excellent, Buddy!\u00a0 As the ominous voice from above counts, SANADA whips Okada into the guardrail.\u00a0 He grabs his bat, chokes Okada for a second, then piledrives him.\u00a0 Back to back weeks of piledrivers?\u00a0 At this rate I\u2019ll be desensitized to it by the time Wrestle Kingdom 11 rolls around.\u00a0 Ah, there it is.\u00a0 This move doesn\u2019t mean as much in Japan.\u00a0 Okada is up and inside the ring at 19.\u00a0 I just rechecked what I typed earlier, and yes, he DID get a piledriver on the outside and got back in by 19.\u00a0 Ok, I\u2019m desensitized.\u00a0 And in record time.<\/p>\n<p>SANADA with a really nice springboard dropkick sends Okada back outside.\u00a0 SANADA clears the top rope and dives onto Okada, but the landing has both men worn out on the floor.\u00a0 SANADA is waaaay more athletic than I initially thought.\u00a0 SANADA rolls Okada back in and lifts the former champ skyward for a driving back suplex.\u00a0 The men trade reversals, in and out of holds, before Okada scoops up SANADA for a neckbreaker.\u00a0 \u201cLove it,\u201d remarks Barnett.\u00a0 Three forearms to SANADA\u2019s face is greeted by two European uppercuts from SANADA.\u00a0 Okada slips in a DDT and kips up as the fans applaud.\u00a0 Okada launches three sliding dropkicks at SANADA, back laid out flat with both feet up like a pro.\u00a0 This is also the second week in a row of great camera angles as the first two dropkicks were from Okada\u2019s perspective and you could see SANADA\u2019s face contort upon impact.\u00a0 A scoop slam by Okada sets up SANADA for that beautiful top rope elbow.\u00a0 Okada signals for the Rainmaker as the hard camera pulls back to show the crowd explode.\u00a0 The Rainmaker is countered into a dragon sleeper, which is countered into a rainmaker, which is countered to a fireman\u2019s carry pickup, which is countered to a rainmaker, which is countered into a dragon sleeper.\u00a0 God\u2026al\u2026mighty.\u00a0 SANADA has the dragon sleeper locked in with a body scissors, trapping Okada in tight.\u00a0 Red Shoes lifts the arm twice, but Okada fights to the ropes before the third could drop.\u00a0 Tiger suplex in the middle of the ring by SANADA for two.\u00a0 Fireman\u2019s carry pickup and SANADA hits a TKO.\u00a0 But instead of going for a cover he goes up top and whiffs on a moonsault attempt.\u00a0 Did Jeff Fisher call that play in?\u00a0 Glad to see the ol\u2019 ball coach landed on his feet so quickly.\u00a0 SANADA rushes Okada in the corner but eats a big boot.\u00a0 Tombstone piledriver is reversed into a dragon sleeper, which is reversed into a tombstone piledriver, which is reversed into two stiff forearms that back Okada into the ropes.\u00a0 An Irish whip by SANADA is reversed, sending SANADA into the ropes.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 Picture perfect standard dropkick by Okada even makes Red Shoes hop up and down.\u00a0 A rainmaker is reversed into a dragon sleeper, with SANADA pouncing on the mat to try and lock in the body scissors.\u00a0 But Okada rolls out, bringing SANADA back up with him for a tombstone!\u00a0 Then a Rainmaker!\u00a0 That\u2019s a f***ing wrap!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Kazuchika Okada in 15:11<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 First of all, I don\u2019t know why all you people were so down on SANADA.\u00a0 He\u2019s pretty damn good!\u00a0 Seriously!\u00a0 When I first saw him he hit a sloppy moonsault on Okada to help Naito capture the title.\u00a0 You know what they say about first impressions.\u00a0 Well I was wrong.\u00a0 As were all of you coincidentally!\u00a0 He can wrestle his ass off and looks technically sound while doing it.\u00a0 The match itself was really fun to watch.\u00a0 Reversal, reversal, reversal.\u00a0 I love that style of wrestling as long as it\u2019s not in a video game.\u00a0 And just when I thought they were out of reversals, they ended the match with the very same thing that made this match so much fun to watch in the first place.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA vs. Liger is next!\u00a0 We get a present day interview with KUSHIDA about the match.\u00a0 KUSHIDA says that he wanted to be the sort of champion that Liger would want to challenge.\u00a0 He said that he was happy to see Liger challenge him.\u00a0 To him it felt like the time had finally come.\u00a0 He said that being challenged by Liger was very moving and his goal since he started wrestling was to be the type of wrestler who could fight all over the world, which Liger is the perfect example of said goal.\u00a0 He mentions that Liger can get a crowd excited anywhere \u2013 be it the U.S., Canada, or Europe \u2013 and that Liger doesn\u2019t need to rely on New Japan as a brand because Jyushin Thunder Liger is himself a strong brand.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#3 \u2013 KUSHIDA (C) vs Jushin Thunder Liger &#8211;<\/b><b>IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>I can\u2019t add anything after KUSHIDA\u2019s interview.\u00a0 What more do you need!?\u00a0 And what a treat for me after ripping Bad Luck Fale from neck to nuts last week.\u00a0 Liger and KUSHIDA come to the ring to a ton of fanfare.\u00a0 Unlike last time we saw the champ, KUSHIDA skipped the powdered vests for a more stated color befitting a championship match of this caliber.\u00a0 It\u2019s the McFly, which means war.\u00a0 KUSHIDA polishes the belt and raises it in front of Liger.\u00a0 Oh this is a pleasure to watch already.\u00a0 JR calls Liger the best Junior Heavyweight in the history of Japan.\u00a0 Barnett tells us that he\u2019s actually had the privilege to wrestle Liger.\u00a0 There is love all over this match.\u00a0 JR isn\u2019t expecting \u201cflipping and flopping\u201d but submission attempts.\u00a0 Also, Liger\u2019s son is in the audience and the young Liger is a big KUSHIDA fan.<\/p>\n<p>The moment the bell rings the crowd gets rowdy as hell.\u00a0 I love when the NJPW crowd gets loud early.\u00a0 Tie-up to start, into a headlock by Liger that he transitions to a leg takedown, step-over, pick-up, arm drag, head scissors, kip out by KUSHIDA, roll, applause break.\u00a0 God damn!\u00a0 KUSHIDA feigns a test of strength to dash behind Liger, but is reversed into a takedown transitioned into a surfboard.\u00a0 After Liger puts KUSHIDA back to the mat, he continues to work in another submission, digging his knee into KUSHIDA\u2019s back while peeling KUSHIDA\u2019s arms back like he\u2019s trying to snap a wishbone.\u00a0 KUSHIDA works his way back up to his feet, but eats a shoulder block that puts him on his back.\u00a0 Liger hits the ropes, but is caught by KUSHIDA for an atomic drop.\u00a0 KUSHIDA is on the move.\u00a0 A low dropkick puts Liger down, followed by a running punt that tattoos Liger\u2019s arm.\u00a0 It gets an \u201cOoooh\u201d from the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA locks in an arm bar, then transitions to a short arm scissor, before slamming Liger\u2019s arm to the mat.\u00a0 Liger gets up and tries to rush KUSHIDA in the corner, but is cut short by a boot to the chin.\u00a0 KUSHIDA is scooped up and twirled by Liger.\u00a0 As KUSHIDA flips out of it, his left leg buckles.\u00a0 Liger is a world traveled veteran, so if you grab at a body part he will attack it.\u00a0 A low dropkick smacks into KUSHIDA\u2019s knee and the champion rolls outside to get away.\u00a0 Liger prowls after KUSHIDA, picking him up for a shin breaker on the guardrail!\u00a0 Ow!\u00a0 The ref comes out and tells Liger to get back in.\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 Another pickup, this time using the ringside post!\u00a0 Ow!\u00a0 Oh hell, the ref isn\u2019t counting and Liger has opened up the swinging gate to the first railing, bringing KUSHIDA to the aisle.\u00a0 Liger drives KUSHIDA to the floor with a \u201cbrainbuster-like drop\u201d onto the concrete, which drops KUSHIDA on the back of his neck.\u00a0 Straight from the Red Shoes school of reffing, the ref checks on KUSHIDA, walks back into the ring, and THEN begins to count.\u00a0 KUSHIDA struggles back to the ring as the count gets to 18.\u00a0 At 19 he reaches for the ropes, but can\u2019t get ahold of it and falls.\u00a0 Oops!\u00a0 I looked away and KUSHIDA is back in before twenty.\u00a0 What?\u00a0 No favoritism here.\u00a0 I genuinely looked away.\u00a0 REGARDLESS of the validity of the count, he\u2019s in before twenty.\u00a0 Apparently.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-128367410\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Liger charges KUSHIDA in the corner and hits a wicked palm strike that pops KUSHIDA into the air like it\u2019s a juggle-combo starter.\u00a0 KUSHIDA crashes to the mat.\u00a0 Liger nails a Liger-bomb!\u00a0 Beautiful!\u00a0 He\u2019s putting on a masterclass in wrestling!\u00a0 Liger props KUSHIDA on the top rope and hits a hurricanranna that KUSHIDA rolls into a sunset flip pin for two!\u00a0 KUSHIDA lays some stiff kicks into Liger\u2019s side, booting him hard on the third strike.\u00a0 Irish whip by KUSHIDA is reversed by Liger, who flips KUSHIDA into the ropes for a back spring elbow.\u00a0 KUSHIDA pops up and scores a standing moonsault for two.\u00a0 KUSHIDA goes up top for a bigger moonsault, but Liger gets the knees up.\u00a0 Jeff Fisher is getting a lot of work tonight after getting run out of Los Angeles.\u00a0 Hoverboard lock by Liger!\u00a0 Unbelievable!\u00a0 KUSHIDA fights out and gets to his feet, but Liger drops down and extends KUSHIDA\u2019s arm.\u00a0 KUSHIDA spins out and transitions into an armbar, punching desperately at Liger\u2019s hand.\u00a0 KUSHIDA gets it, extending Liger\u2019s arm as Liger frantically fights.\u00a0 It looks like KUSHIDA is fighting a fish on the other end of a line as he struggles to hold onto Liger\u2019s arm and keep it extended.\u00a0 It looks great!\u00a0 After contemplating a tap, Liger uses KUSHIDA\u2019s momentum during the fight to roll towards the ropes and break the hold.<\/p>\n<p>As Liger works his way back to his feet, KUSHIDA dropkicks Liger\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Both men have figured out the body part they want to work.\u00a0 KUSHIDA with a cross arm breaker.\u00a0 Liger lands one of his own to show KUSHIDA how it feels.\u00a0 KUSHIDA gets fired up about it and drills Liger in the side of the head with four forearms.\u00a0 Liger opts out of a Batsu and dropkicks KUSHIDA\u2019s knee.\u00a0 Dragon screw leg whip into a knee bar by Liger!\u00a0 The transition is so smooth.\u00a0 KUSHIDA flips onto his stomach and lunges for the ropes, giving Liger the positioning to sink in an ankle lock!\u00a0 KUSHIDA tries to reach the ropes, but Liger drops down and grapevines the leg.\u00a0 KUSHIDA tries to slither away, getting his body twisted up more as he claws Liger\u2019s collar and screams at him before yelping in pain.\u00a0 Great stuff!\u00a0 KUSHIDA has to drag his AND Liger\u2019s weight along the mat to finally reach the ropes.\u00a0 The crowd applauds everything they have just taken in.<\/p>\n<p>Shin breaker by Liger, followed by a capo kick, or in non-Barnett terms, a rolling heel kick.\u00a0 BIG right hand by KUSHIDA to earn some breathing room.\u00a0 I forgot that this is KUSHIDA we\u2019re talking about, so there will be no breaths.\u00a0 He charges the ropes, boots Liger in the gut, and hits the ropes again but is Lou Thesz pressed on the rebound for two.\u00a0 KUSHIDA gets a running start and kicks Liger\u2019s face, laces out.\u00a0 He charges Liger a second time, but is caught by a clothesline that sends him sailing through the air.\u00a0 The hang time probably felt good on his knee while it lasted.\u00a0 Liger gets a two and signals to the crowd that he\u2019s ready to finish up.\u00a0 A brainbuster by Liger gets a huge reaction!\u00a0 1, 2, no sir!\u00a0 \u201cHow the hell does a kid kick out of the brainbuster,\u201d laments JR.\u00a0 Liger goes for a clothesline but a spinning forearm by KUSHIDA knocks him back.\u00a0 KUSHIDA jumps into Liger\u2019s backswing and spins around to take them both to the mat for the Hoverboard Lock!\u00a0 The reason I love this move is because of exactly what I\u2019m seeing right now.\u00a0 He\u2019s tirelessly working to get that arm back and lock in the hold.\u00a0 Liger reaches for the ropes, but KUSHIDA rolls him up, contorting Liger\u2019s hand with complete control for the tapout!\u00a0 Holy s-!\u00a0 Comments below!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: KUSHIDA in 14:37 to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship<\/p>\n<p>After the match, both men are receiving treatment &#8211; Liger for his arm and KUSHIDA for his knee.\u00a0 I love NJPW for stuff like this.\u00a0 It\u2019s the cherry on top of a match that is treated as a sport and not just entertainment (I\u2019ll eventually get around to giving my thoughts on WWE).\u00a0 KUSHIDA gets his title, limps towards Liger and places it on the mat.\u00a0 He drops down to Liger-level as the two take a knee and say something to one another.\u00a0 Classy move as KUSHIDA shows respect to a wrestler who deserves all the respect in the world.\u00a0 KUSHIDA bows, both palms and forehead pressed to the mat.\u00a0 Liger taps him on the shoulder and shows the same respect to KUSHIDA.\u00a0 KUSHIDA gives Liger another, which he should.\u00a0 Liger and KUSHIDA shake hands and hug as KUSHIDA limps around for the mic.\u00a0 He tells Liger that he just stopped the time on his last chapter.\u00a0 He tells Liger that for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, to please keep being himself.\u00a0 Liger gets the mic as the crowd erupts.\u00a0 He tells KUSHIDA that if he, the strongest wrestler in the junior class, means what he says then he should grant him another chance.\u00a0 Liger tells the crowd that if he gets another chance the belt will be wrapped around his waist.\u00a0 KUSHIDA polishes the belt and they shake hands.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 What the hell do you want me to say here?\u00a0 I can gush all I want, but if you haven\u2019t seen this match then it may very well mean nothing to you.\u00a0 I\u2019m a sucker for matches that involve taking a body part, dissecting that body part, and using that body part to get a submission victory.\u00a0 It probably comes from watching Ric Flair as a kid, but it\u2019s always been the type of match that I like the most.\u00a0 The only negative I can say for this match was the \u201cbrainbuster\u201d on the floor.\u00a0 Hey, I\u2019m all for the move.\u00a0 It looks great!\u00a0 But when it happens on the outside it doesn\u2019t look right because the guy taking the move is not going to be able to land where it looks the most effective.\u00a0 And anyways, that same guy would be in the concussion protocol for a year.\u00a0 Other than that, this exceeded my expectations and I really want to start watching as much Liger that I can find on the web or on that thing I spend $9.99\/mo on that just collects dust until I want to watch Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Kurt Angle matches.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Back to KUSHIDA in the present day.\u00a0 He talks about the match being in Liger\u2019s hometown and that the match took place not long after the earthquake that hit that area.\u00a0 He called the match unforgettable, including the factors other than the match itself.\u00a0 KUSHIDA talks about those who had the championship before him, and how they fought to break their opponent\u2019s bones.\u00a0 He knew that he had to be willing to break Liger\u2019s bones or he would lose.\u00a0 He mentions Naito\u2019s championship match full of interference and how he wanted to show something that was greater than that match.\u00a0 He wanted to move people and he feels like he was able to accomplish that.\u00a0 KUSHIDA says that since Liger\u2019s chapter was coming to an end, he knew it was a match that he couldn\u2019t afford to lose.\u00a0 He\u2019s seen better than anyone how great Liger is, and there is a part of him that is purely a fan.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#4 \u2013 Yoshitatsu &amp; Hiroshi Tanahashi &amp; Michael Elgin (C) vs. Kenny Omega &amp; The Young Bucks (The Elite) &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Championship Match<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Here we go again.\u00a0 The rematch.\u00a0 As you are well aware at this point, I am not a fan of six-man tags, though I am a fan of all the participants involved.\u00a0 The Young Bucks are coming out with quite the uniform, which JR likens to their pajamas.\u00a0 They basically are, but are littered prints of the Young Bucks faces from top to bottom.\u00a0 The Elite have the prerequisite cleaning supplies AND a ladder.\u00a0 I wonder if that will come into play.\u00a0 Regarding The Young Bucks outfits, \u201cWell, we know that these young men are seamstresses as well\u201d.\u00a0 The champs are out next to Tanahashi\u2019s amazing music, so all is well.\u00a0 Elgin\u2019s neck is intact from his match with Omega, so all is doubly well.\u00a0 By the way, I\u2019d heard tale of it, but I have actually seen it now.\u00a0 Yes, Yoshitatsu is doing the HHH entrance.\u00a0 How very Shang Tsung of him.\u00a0 Also, the ref looks like the late Pat Morita.<\/p>\n<p>The match begins with the throwing of clothes, some well-placed bleeps, and a brawl between both teams.\u00a0 Elgin stacks all three members of The Elite in the corner and he and Tanahashi whip Yoshitatsu at them for a clothesline.\u00a0 There goes Tanahashi for a cross body.\u00a0 Elgin finishes up with a freight train rush that crushes the challengers.\u00a0 The Elite all get suplexed by the champs and they bail out of the ring.\u00a0 Yoshitatsu flies over the ropes and lands on Omega while Elgin press-tosses Tanahashi onto the Young Bucks. \u00a0 Barnett calls it the Speedball special, in reference to Colossus and Wolverine.\u00a0 Nice pull!<\/p>\n<p>JR: \u201cI\u2019m not sure who\u2019s legal, or does it matter.\u201d \u00a0Yoshitatsu hits a blue thunder bomb on Omega, followed by Elgin waist locking The Cleaner, carrying him in his arms around the ring like he\u2019s in a papoose before hitting a German suplex.\u00a0 I\u2019ll beat that dead horse for another whack and just say that Elgin is strong.\u00a0 Matt Jackson crotches Tanahashi on the top rope before a high fly flow can be delivered to Omega.\u00a0 Everyone spills back outside while Omega recovers, with the Young Bucks belting Elgin and Tanahashi with superkicks.\u00a0 Omega swivels his hips at the crowd before Terminator \u2013 nope.\u00a0 They skip the pomp and circumstance as all three guys hit suicide dives to the champions.<\/p>\n<p>They roll Yoshitatsu inside the ring and work him over with general stomps.\u00a0 Yoshitatsu fights back with forearms while Omega is bleeped.\u00a0 Tag to Nick Jackson, who whips Yoshitatsu in the corner for all three men to hit kicks and bleeps.\u00a0 Nick Jackson with a moonsault to Elgin on the outside, leaving Omega and Yoshitatsu inside as the legal men.\u00a0 I guess.\u00a0 Omega tags to Matt, who stomps Yoshitatsu in the corner.\u00a0 Lots of corner work, beating up Yoshitatsu with chokes and punches.\u00a0 Matt tags in Nick, but before he leaves he takes a running start at Yoshitatsu that Yoshitatsu ducks as Nick sweeps his leg over the top and boots his brother\u2019s skull.\u00a0 Nick hits the ropes, but Yoshitatsu lands a dropkick and tags in Elgin.\u00a0 A big forearm drops Nick.\u00a0 A suplex reversal by Nick sends Elgin into the ropes, but Elgin hangs on, boots Nick in the face, then spins around to catch Matt sneaking up and levels him with a clothesline.\u00a0 He gives Matt a crotch chop.\u00a0 Elgin catches Nick trying to creep up and dumps him next to his brother, delivering a crotch chop and a \u201csuck it\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cWell the crowd likes the suck it,\u201d JR sighs.\u00a0 As Elgin hits the ropes to fly\u2026wait, can he fly?\u00a0 Anyways, Omega jumps up on the apron, halting Elgin in his tracks.\u00a0 Elgin uses the ropes to catapult Omega in, catching him in the air to deliver a rough powerslam.<\/p>\n<p>Nick hits the top rope and tries to senton Elgin, but he\u2019s caught.\u00a0 Barely caught.\u00a0 Elgin is grabbing all types of fabric to keep him up, which he does with full control and spikes Nick with a falcon arrow.\u00a0 The count is broken up by Matt.\u00a0 Tanahashi and Yoshitatsu finally get in the ring and they destroy Nick with the same moves that befell all three challengers to begin the match.\u00a0 Tanahashi and Yoshitatsu lift Nick up top to an awaiting Elgin who hits a top rope powerslam.\u00a0 Tag to Tanahashi as the crowd cheers.\u00a0 Elgin lifts Tanahashi and positions him over Nick to slingshot him down for the pin, but Omega pastes Elgin\u2019s face with a knee.\u00a0 Matt snags Tanahashi from Elgin and gets him into the tombstone position.\u00a0 Meltzer Driver attempt is reversed by Tanahashi into a dragon screw leg whip.\u00a0 And one to Omega.\u00a0 Cloverleaf to Omega, but Nick reenters and tries to superkick him.\u00a0 Cloverleaf to Nick, who JR points out is wearing \u201cthe world\u2019s toughest headband\u201d.\u00a0 Omega breaks up the submission with cold spray to the face, leisurely waltzing up to Tanahashi while the ref\u2019s back is turned.\u00a0 Tanahashi is whipped outside, but skins the cat as Omega sprays down his pit and crotch.\u00a0 He\u2019s classy like that.\u00a0 Lots of cold spray fake-outs before Tanahashi ducks and the ref is down by spray.\u00a0 F- it.\u00a0 While the ref is down Omega punts Tanahashi in the dangles.<\/p>\n<p>JR: \u201cThis has denigrated into hell.\u201d \u00a0The Young Bucks help the ref to his feet, only for Omega to give him a crotch uppercut.\u00a0 The best part of this is that while the ref is scrunched up on the mat, one of the ringside crew members bring him a drink of water.\u00a0 To what end?\u00a0 JR is perplexed as to why there has not been a DQ yet.\u00a0 The Young Bucks set up a table while Omega gets the ladder and gut checks Elgin.\u00a0 Tanahashi gets one as well.\u00a0 And one to Yoshitatsu just to be completist.\u00a0 Excellent work by Barnett, who points out that the full sized ladder is a massive upgrade to the tiny one Omega usually carries around that keeps falling apart.<\/p>\n<p>Omega sets the ladder in the corner and tries to lift up Elgin for a buckle bomb, but Elgin escapes, scoots Omega away, catches Matt\u2019s superkick and sweeps the leg around to hit Nick.\u00a0 Belly-to-back to Nick.\u00a0 Buckle bomb into the ladder to Matt.\u00a0 Elgin rolls outside and bangs on the table.\u00a0 He hits the turnbuckle and tries to suplex Matt, but inhales a plume of cold spray from Omega.\u00a0 Omega sunset flips over Elgin and tries to powerbomb him through the table but struggles.\u00a0 The Young Bucks help out, with Matt holding Elgin\u2019s head with his feet so Nick can superkick Elgin to assist Omega in breaking that table.\u00a0 The Young Bucks have the ladder and try to knock out Tanahashi, but Tanahashi ducks and dropkicks the ladder.\u00a0 Tag to Yoshitatsu as Omega rolls back in.\u00a0 He hits Omega with the tried and true HHH kneebuster.\u00a0 High knee to Matt by Yoshitatsu.\u00a0 And one to Nick while he\u2019s at it.\u00a0 Spinebuster to Omega. All that\u2019s left is the Pedigree, but based on the looks of that spinebuster I\u2019d rather not see it.\u00a0 He tries it anyways, and thank God, the Young Bucks superkick him.\u00a0 Triple superkick to Yoshitatsu by the challengers followed by a One Winged Angel for the three as the ref places a bag of ice next to Yoshitatsu\u2019s head.<\/p>\n<p>Winners: The Elite to regain the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Championship<\/p>\n<p>After the match, the Young Bucks set up the ladder and climb both sides.\u00a0 Omega picks up Yoshitatsu for a mega Meltzer Driver but Tanahashi makes the save.\u00a0 The bell keeps ringing but no one is listening.\u00a0 Scoop slam to Omega on the ladder, but before Tanahashi can hit a high fly flow, Omega slides out of the ring.\u00a0 Tanahashi grabs the mic and challenges Omega.\u00a0 Omega says no, much like last week\u2019s episode, though states that if Tanahashi wants a ladder match then the answer is yes.\u00a0 They shake hands on it as JR remarks that the shake is as \u201cdisingenuous as a mother-in-law\u2019s hug\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews Analysis:\u00a0 Well, it was a six-man.\u00a0 The usual Elite fun and games.\u00a0 Honestly, this wasn\u2019t as good as the first one and I had a problem with that match as it was.\u00a0 I wish I could just watch Omega in singles matches and The Young Bucks in standard tag matches.\u00a0 I get it though.\u00a0 They like working together and they are inventive, but two is enough.\u00a0 Please, AXS, no more six-man tags.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We go to a present day interview with Yuji Nagata.\u00a0 He talks about a tag match in Osaka where he and some fellow legends had a match.\u00a0 He wanted to show that they still had it.\u00a0 He says that in that match they showed that the Third Generation (Sorry.\u00a0 Will look into it.) can still fight and show something amazing.\u00a0 They cut to a clip where Shibata calls Nagata an old, immature man.\u00a0 Nagata says that he is not immature.\u00a0 He talks about the Tenzan match and that it was a huge clash of pride.\u00a0 He calls Shibata\u2019s reign as Never Openweight champion a shining presence, which is nice considering the boot to the face that Shibata laid into him.\u00a0 Nagata talks about the kick, saying that Shibata clearly targeted him, but he was expecting it.\u00a0 Nagata says that he had no choice but to go right up to Shibata because it was exactly what he wished for.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#5 \u2013 Katsuyori Shibata (C) vs. Yuji Nagata &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Championship Match<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Well, I know right off the bat that this one is going to be rough.\u00a0 Last we saw of Shibata he was feeling disrespected by the elders of NJPW, taking it out on Tenzan\u2019s head and leaving a trail of cheap shots in his wake.\u00a0 This is the next chapter in the Legend Killer run of OUR NEVER Openweight champion.\u00a0 Nagata is out first, to a song reminiscent of Night Court.\u00a0 It\u2019s weird.\u00a0 Also, now that I\u2019ve gotten a real long look at Nagata, I\u2019ve noticed that he has a touch of Shrek in his face.\u00a0 It\u2019s a little distracting at first.\u00a0 Holy sh- it\u2019s Shibata!\u00a0 He has an amazing set of music on him.\u00a0 It\u2019s so serene at first, including his tron video which is draped in blue velvety crush.\u00a0 But once those guitar licks kick in, Shibata comes hustling out, staring at the ground as he walks and holding the title like it\u2019s a briefcase.\u00a0 He enters the ring and just glares at Nagata, almost as if to say, \u201cThis won\u2019t last long.\u201d\u00a0 Nagata shakes the ref\u2019s hand.\u00a0 Classy.\u00a0 The ref by the way looks like he\u2019s twelve.\u00a0 That\u2019s a little distracting too.<\/p>\n<p>JR promises us some physicality.\u00a0 Really nice reversals and chain wrestling sees the challenger work for various holds before backing away as the crowd applauds the effort.\u00a0 Nagata backs Nagata into the ropes, and as the ref breaks them apart he smacks Nagata on the top of his head, treating the veteran like he\u2019s not even in his league.\u00a0 Nagata rushes Shibata, turns him into the ropes, and eats the first forearm of the contest.\u00a0 And the second, third, forth, and fifth.\u00a0 Shibata smacks him on the top of the head again.\u00a0 Shibata hits the ropes, but on the rebound gets the big boot from Nagata.\u00a0 Nagata sends a sweeping kick aimed for Shibata\u2019s head, but Shibata ducks out of the way.\u00a0 The fans applaud.<\/p>\n<p>Knee to the gut by Shibata is transitioned into a Russian leg sweep which is transition into a knee bar.\u00a0 Slick combo.\u00a0 Nagata isn\u2019t fighting this one.\u00a0 He rolls to the ropes and gets Shibata the hell off of him, for about two seconds.\u00a0 Shibata drags him back to the middle of the ring and slaps on a figure four.\u00a0 This is good stuff.\u00a0 Nagata and Shibata jaw back and forth as JR tells us that the referee\u2019s name is Marty.\u00a0 That isn\u2019t helping his cause.\u00a0 Nagata tries to roll Shibata over and reverse the hold.\u00a0 More jawing, but this time Nagata turns him over, but Shibata is right next to the ropes to break it.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata whips Nagata into the corner, but Nagata darts after him and sticks a knee to Shibata\u2019s gut.\u00a0 As Shibata tries to get up, Nagata lays in three loud, thudding kicks to Shibata\u2019s chest that are so hard that they help Shibata back up to his feet.\u00a0 Shibata into the corner, chased by Nagata for a big boot.\u00a0 Big forearm by Shibata turns the tide as he tosses Nagata into the turnbuckles and lands a flying knee that catches Nagata right in the face the moment he turns into the buckles.\u00a0 Shibata whips Nagata into the opposite turnbuckle and beats him into a squat with a barrage of forearms.\u00a0 But Nagata pops up!\u00a0 And then he\u2019s down.\u00a0 A forearm by Shibata will do that.\u00a0 Shibata kicks Nagata as hard as he can until the ref comes in to break it up.\u00a0 Marty is tossed aside and Shibata gets back to kicking.\u00a0 With Nagata still seated in the corner, Shibata runs to the ropes and sprints back with a sliding kick that makes Nagata scream.\u00a0 It looked, and sounded, very painful.\u00a0 Shibata hits his beautiful floating dropkick next, leaving Nagata slumped in a heap.\u00a0 JR mentions that Kota Ibushi is on commentary at ringside, which is a good time for me to mention that the first NJPW match I ever saw was Ibushi vs. Nakamura.\u00a0 Was I spoiled or was I spoiled?<\/p>\n<p>Big suplex followed by a boot to Nagata\u2019s back.\u00a0 He\u2019s really laying these in.\u00a0 Nagata tries to surprise Shibata with a fujiwara armbar, but Shibata reverses out and locks in a sleeper.\u00a0 It takes Nagata a long while to fight out and reach the ropes.\u00a0 Once Shibata breaks the hold, he pivots and lands a hard kick to Nagata\u2019s chest that drops him.\u00a0 Well, on the bright side the sleeper was broken up.\u00a0 BIG breeze as Nagata ducks having his head detached.\u00a0 Nagata pops up and lands an exploder suplex.\u00a0 Batsu game!\u00a0 Forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, another round, and another, three forearms in a row by Shibata, big boot by Nagata, big boot by Shibata, exploder by Nagata, German suplex by Shibata, osoto gari by Shibata to end the game!\u00a0 That, my friends, was a f***ing Batsu!<\/p>\n<p>Shibata is up first, laying in kicks to Nagata\u2019s chest.\u00a0 He smacks the back of Nagata\u2019s head that really pisses Nagata up.\u00a0 He pops up and\u2026flash knockdown!\u00a0 Shibata is dropped by a sick forearm by Nagata!\u00a0 This is Foreman\/Moorer all over again!\u00a0 But Nagata isn\u2019t going for the cover.\u00a0 Moron!\u00a0 He just mean mugs to the crowd and drops to one knee.\u00a0 Oh you son of a bitch!\u00a0 He finally gets off his ass and pulls Shibata to his knees and \u2013 ow! \u2013 hits one of the loudest kicks I\u2019ve ever heard.\u00a0 And another, even louder, so scratch that last sentence.\u00a0 A big knee dumps Shibata in the corner.\u00a0 Nagata lays in knee after knee, making the padding on the corner dance with each strike.\u00a0 Shibata is curled in a ball, but Nagata isn\u2019t done.\u00a0 He pulls Shibata back up to his feet and hits a leaping knee that strikes the point of Shibata\u2019s chin.\u00a0 Nagata hits a brainbuster in the middle of the ring and covers, but Shibata kicks out as his eyes are glassed over.\u00a0 Nagata finally tries to finish Shibata, locking in a crossface, but Shibata shuffles back until he can hook the bottom rope with his foot.\u00a0 Nagata brings Shibata back to the middle of the ring, but Shibata gets in a dropkick.\u00a0 Shibata covers for two and transitions right into a sleeper. Shibata transitions into a perfect bridging backdrop suplex that gets a two.\u00a0 He sits Nagata up and hits the ropes for the PK\u2026but it\u2019s caught by Nagata!\u00a0 Shibata smacks him in the face and rushes in, but Nagata reverses into a back suplex.\u00a0 1, kickout!\u00a0 Shibata pops back up and Nagata stays on him, kicking and yelling until Shibata smacks him across the face again.\u00a0 Nagata smacks him back and hits an enzuigiri!\u00a0 Textbook Fighter Hayabusa!\u00a0 PK by Nagata!\u00a0 You read that right.\u00a0 Nagata picks Shibata up and hits an awesome backdrop suplex, twisting his body around for leverage on the cover.\u00a0 1, 2\u20263!\u00a0 Are you serious??\u00a0 Holy sh- it\u2019s Nagata!\u00a0 You\u2019re new NEVER Openweight champion!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Yuri Nagata in 11:53 to become the new NEVER Openweight champion.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 I was not expecting this.\u00a0 Not at all.\u00a0 I figured that Shibata was going to get tested to advance the story, but ultimately win for the next legend to come out.\u00a0 The hell with that.\u00a0 The veteran, the legend, the stalwart had enough of Shibata\u2019s bullsh- and dumped him on his head to get the strap.\u00a0 This was a physical, physical, PHYSICAL match that consisted of two guys laying in really hard shots on one another.\u00a0 The sounds that were coming out of my speakers were wide-receiver-across-the-middle smack sounds.\u00a0 Tough, tough, bastards.\u00a0 In fact, if there were ever two people I\u2019d want with me in the Roanoke House it would be these two.\u00a0 Well, that is until one of them inevitably has sex with the witch.\u00a0 It\u2019d probably by Nagata all hopped up on Yak Loin.\u00a0 You know he\u2019s coming there to hang brain all over that place.\u00a0 Now that I think of it, with Shibata\u2019s temperament he\u2019d race right out of the house for a fight at the first sight of The Butcher coming up the driveway and get overwhelmed by her goons before getting piked and burned at the stake.\u00a0 But I digress!\u00a0 Wonderful hard hitting match that you should really check out and have the volume up loud.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We go to a present day interview with your new NEVER Openweight champion, Yuji Nagata.\u00a0 He says that the match was really hard, that Shibata\u2019s attacks were tough and genuine.\u00a0 Nagata says that he fought back just as hard.\u00a0 He states that he has raised questions as to how matches are fought in New Japan.\u00a0 He talks about the moment the match was won and compares it to how happy he was to how his body wouldn\u2019t move afterwards.\u00a0 He says that he was surprised to see how many people in the stands were happy to see him win.\u00a0 They show a clip of him after the match literally shaking hands and kissing babies.<\/p>\n<p>We get a sit down interview with Naito, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.\u00a0 He repeats from last week that everyone laughed at him when he said that he was going after the belt.\u00a0 For him, winning the title was a dream.\u00a0 Naito then talks about Tomohiro Ishii and a match that they had in March, which he says was won fairly.\u00a0 Naito has no idea why he has to defend his title against Ishii and was perplexed that Ishii didn\u2019t even announce it.\u00a0 He just came up and got the right to challenge.\u00a0 Naito questions how accessible the title is to challengers and questions how New Japan runs their business.\u00a0 Naito makes mention that New Japan favors CHAOS.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#6 \u2013 Tetsuya Naito (C) vs. Tomohiro Ishii<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Ishii is out first, with a video package of nothing but him delivering and receiving forearms.\u00a0 If there was anything that says tough, it\u2019ll be that package.\u00a0 Okada and Gedo come to the ring with Ishii.\u00a0 And yes, Gedo still looks like Chavo Guerrero.\u00a0 Next out is Naito with BUSHI and EVIL.\u00a0 This will not be a one-on-one match.\u00a0 JR and Barnett talk about Naito\u2019s lack of respect for New Japan, but how he\u2019s selling merchandise left and right.\u00a0 Lots of merchandising and branding talk tonight out of these two.\u00a0 As Naito enters the ring, he tosses the belt like it means nothing and he\u2019s tired of lugging it around.\u00a0 Lovely stuff.\u00a0 JR comments that he treats the belt like a prop.\u00a0 Red Shoes picks up the title and gives it a polish.\u00a0 He\u2019s a sweet guy.\u00a0 More merch talk!\u00a0 God dammit you guys!<\/p>\n<p>After a long wait, where Naito feigns locking up, the two finally make contact.\u00a0 JR: \u201cCollar and elbow.\u00a0 Tied em\u2019 up.\u201d\u00a0 They jockey for position against the ropes, where Naito taps Ishii on the chest, but as he walks away just lobs a wad of spit at the challenger.\u00a0 It covered quite the distance and was accurate as hell.\u00a0 That did it.\u00a0 Ishii is on the attack, landing forearms and head-butts.\u00a0 He hits the ropes and shoulder blocks Naito, who tries to escape but is thrown back in.\u00a0 Naito keeps rolling until he slips out on the other side of the ring.\u00a0 Then he rolls in at the corner, but keeps rolling outside.\u00a0 He\u2019s so awesome.\u00a0 Ishii lays in some boots when Naito finally gets back in.\u00a0 Four hard chops drop Naito in the corner.\u00a0 Ishii is game, patting Naito on the head before chopping and forearming Naito until the champ buckles.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii misses a clothesline in the corner and gets tripped up by BUSHI so Naito can hit a low dropkick.\u00a0 Naito pulls Ishii outside and whips him into the guardrail, twice.\u00a0 While Naito rolls back in, BUSHI horse collars Ishii with a chair and rams him into the ring post.\u00a0 Barnett wonders why Okada and Gedo are just sitting around letting it happen.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s because Ishii stole Okada\u2019s title shot.\u00a0 Just spit-balling there.\u00a0 Back inside, Naito hits Ishii with a deluge of back elbows in the corner and mudhole stomps him.\u00a0 Naito drops Ishii in the middle of the ring and hits a low dropkick for two.\u00a0 Naito slaps on the headscissors, twisting to add torque and pain.\u00a0 Barnett calls it the crooked headscissors.\u00a0 Ishii works for the ropes to break free.<\/p>\n<p>Naito stomps away at Ishii and boots him in the face.\u00a0 Naito begins toying with Ishii, disrespectfully brushing the back of Ishii\u2019s head with his boot until Ishii gets pissed and returns to his feet.\u00a0 Powerslam by Ishii.\u00a0 Naito is whipped corner to corner, receiving clotheslines until Ishii drops him with a shoulder block.\u00a0 Ishii gets a standing vertical suplex for two.\u00a0 Three hard chops by Ishii as Barnett calls him the \u201cworld\u2019s most pissed off bowling ball.\u201d\u00a0 Naito reverses a charge by Ishii to get a neckbreaker against the point on his knee.\u00a0 Naito follows up with a low dropkick to the back of Ishii\u2019s head.\u00a0 With Ishii in the corner, Naito charges in, catching Ishii\u2019s attempt at a boot by swinging his legs outside and dropping Ishii with another neckbreaker.\u00a0 It was pretty.\u00a0 Nonchalant cover by Naito for two where he kicks at Red Shoes, just because.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii catches Naito\u2019s kick and hits a dropkick to Naito\u2019s knee while clutching the other foot.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never seen that before.\u00a0 Ishii gets a dragon screw leg whip, continuing to work Naito\u2019s knee.\u00a0 Smart guy.\u00a0 Ishii stomps on Naito\u2019s knee and splashes it.\u00a0 Rolling kneebar by Ishii, sunk in deep!\u00a0 For a guy his size, Ishii can move swiftly in short spurts.\u00a0 Ishii wrenches and wrenches, but Naito manages to grasp the bottom rope and break the hold.\u00a0 Ishii places Naito up top, but Naito fights him off and hits a missile dropkick.\u00a0 Ishii pops back up, but a swinging neckbreaker puts him down.\u00a0 Naito bowls over Red Shoes with Ishii\u2019s body, creating a distraction to drop-toehold Ishii onto the bottom rope so EVIL can smack the EVER LOVING S- out of Ishii\u2019s head with a chair!\u00a0 It was loud.\u00a0 It was painful.\u00a0 It was unprotected.\u00a0 1 out of 3 of those could stay.\u00a0 Still nothing out of Okada and Gedo while all of this is going down.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii slumps in the corner.\u00a0 Naito rushes in, kicks Ishii\u2019s face as he goes outside, heel trip, back in with the swinging dropkick.\u00a0 Much like last week, JR touts the beauty of that sequence.\u00a0 Atomic drop by Naito into a Flatliner into a Koji Clutch.\u00a0 Another great combo!\u00a0 Ishii fades, but begins flopping around to find the ropes and get out as the crowd applauds.\u00a0 SKY HIGH German suplex by Naito, plowing Ishii\u2019s head into the mat.\u00a0 The two trade reversals, ending with Ishii kicking Naito\u2019s bad knee.\u00a0 He lands one of the sickest shinbreakers I\u2019ve ever seen at an angle I never thought the move could be hit at.\u00a0 Gedo is finally chipping in, banging on the mat to get the crowd going.\u00a0 It\u2019s not quite a chair to the face.\u00a0 The two trade punches and forearms, no Batsu, that leaves Ishii dazed before Naito smacks the back of Ishii\u2019s head.\u00a0 Now Ishii is spitting!\u00a0 Right in Naito\u2019s face!\u00a0 Ishii elbows Naito\u2019s knee and hits a dropping knee driver that sends the champion hobbling away.\u00a0 Naito fights out of a dragon screw, but gets smacked by an enzuigiri.\u00a0 Last Ride powerbomb transitioned into a knee bar by Ishii!\u00a0 BUSHI and EVIL try to get in, but Gedo and Okada literally hold them back with smothering embraces.\u00a0 Naito escapes for about two seconds before Ishii locks in a \u201creverse toehold variant\u201d or \u201cknee hip compression\u201d per Barnett.\u00a0 Naito nearly taps, but before his hand drops he grabs the back of Red Shoes\u2019 head and slams that noggin right into the mat.\u00a0 In come BUSHI and EVIL, stomping away at Ishii.\u00a0 I can\u2019t find Okada or Gedo anywhere on the screen, so God knows what BUSHI and EVIL did to get away.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii fights of BUSHI, but a spinning forearm by EVIL crumples Ishii to the mat.\u00a0 EVIL tries to hit EVIL (the move) on Ishii, but Ishii, slicked up in sweat, spins out and pushes EVIL into a beautiful Okada dropkick.\u00a0 Okada kicks EVIL out of the ring and they fight all the way to the exit.\u00a0 JR: \u201cAs Monsoon would say, turn on the shower!\u00a0 They\u2019ll be there momentarily!\u201d\u00a0 Big head-butt by Ishii to Naito followed up by a sweeping lariat for two.\u00a0 A sliding lariat gets two.\u00a0 Ishii picks up Naito for a standing vertical suplex, but Naito knees out.\u00a0 Naito goes for a spinning DDT using the second rope, but THAT\u2019s countered by Ishii into a vertical suplex which is countered by Naito with a spinning DDT!\u00a0 Naito, bad leg and all, goes up top and conks the back of Ishii\u2019s head with a missile dropkick.\u00a0 Naito quickly gets Ishii propped up on the top rope and nails a Frankensteiner for a close two.\u00a0 The crowd is applauding loudly.\u00a0 Gloria (hammerlock sit-out side slam) for two!\u00a0 While Barnett is calling moves left and right, JR wonders what the hell Naito has gotten himself into.\u00a0 A Destino attempt by Naito is caught by Ishii who hits a neckbreaker, hold on, lifts Naito up, and drops him straight on his head with a modified brainbuster!\u00a0 Unreal!\u00a0 Even Tanahashi, who you can see on commentary in the background, jumps out of his chair and is screaming!\u00a0 Awesome, awesome, awesome, visual to go with the crowd losing their s-!\u00a0 1, 2, kickout!\u00a0 Ishii gets Naito up for a suplex, but Naito powers Ishii up for a brainbuster of his own!\u00a0 Ishii is holding his head, his mouth open to reveal blood streaked across his teeth.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii is up first, but gets a head-butt and a rolling kick by Naito.\u00a0 Dragon suplex by Naito for two.\u00a0 Back elbow by Naito followed up by forearms.\u00a0 Naito smacks Ishii across the face and lands an enzuigiri that drops Ishii face first.\u00a0 Big clotheslines by Ishii, who whips Naito into the ropes.\u00a0 Naito flies at Ishii, hitting him with a yard churning shoulder block that covers half the distance of the ring.\u00a0 Naito is up quick, hauling Ishii to his feet for the Destino and the three!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Tetsuya Naito in 30:33 to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: We are spoiled.\u00a0 Anyone who gets to watch these matches is spoiled.\u00a0 This was an incredible match from start to finish.\u00a0 Even the interference played into the match and wasn\u2019t just interference for the sake of giving everyone something to do.\u00a0 Ishii is so damn impressive with his move set.\u00a0 He\u2019s not just a forearm machine, he can mat wrestle and deliver power moves with incredible force.\u00a0 Now, maybe It\u2019s because I\u2019ve seen Naito rise to the top and defend in back to back weeks, but this guy has jumped into my list of favorites since I started watching New Japan, carving out a nice spot right below KUSHIDA and SHIBATA and tied with Okada.\u00a0 He\u2019s a hell of a wrestler with a hell of a character and I need to see more from his past.\u00a0 It is yet another reason that the $9.99\/mo I spend should be reallocated oversees.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>After the match, both men are getting medical attention, lying side by side as ice bags are applied to their bodies.\u00a0 JR: \u201cBoth men went through hell to get to the\u2026bell.\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019s exhausted too.\u00a0 Okada and Gedo come out to help Ishii out of the ring as Naito struggles back to his feet.\u00a0 Okada enters the ring, takes off his shirt, and hovers over Naito.\u00a0 Naito pries his eyelid apart and glares at Okada, which is enough to make Okada leave.\u00a0 Touch\u00e9.\u00a0 Red Shoes presents Naito with the belt, which is tossed into the air as Red Shoes follows its flight path.\u00a0 Naito sucker punches Red Shoes and BUSHI sprays poor Shoes with red mist.\u00a0 When will he learn?\u00a0 JR mentions that some in the audience are enjoying it.\u00a0 Naito grabs the mic and calls out the president of New Japan.\u00a0 He asks why the president isn\u2019t there, witnessing the atmosphere with his own eyes.\u00a0 Naito demands that the president show up live for his next title defense.\u00a0 He wants the president to see and hear the response that he gets.\u00a0 He thanks the president for watching and thanks the crowd.\u00a0 He also has some parting advice for Okada.\u00a0 Tranquilo.\u00a0 Don\u2019t rush it.\u00a0 Naito hits his Los Ingobernables de Japon as the crowd say it loudly with him.\u00a0 The ring gets glitter-bombed as JR screams, \u201cGo buy a shirt folks!\u00a0 Humor him!\u00a0 He\u2019s your champ!\u201d\u00a0 More god damn merchandise talk!\u00a0 I can\u2019t take it anymore!<\/p>\n<p>We go back to the present day interview with Naito.\u00a0 He says that Ishii didn\u2019t say anything about what he wanted to do to him in the match or what his thoughts were towards the belt.\u00a0 Naito thought that Ishii wasn\u2019t motivated, but Ishii showed him that he was pretty fired up.\u00a0 He says that he fooled everyone who thought that Ishii was close to beating him.\u00a0 He was in control the whole time.\u00a0 Naito feels that his presence has surpassed the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.<\/p>\n<p>As the credits roll, JR says, \u201cWell Josh, if controversy creates cash, Naito is going to be a rich man.\u201d\u00a0 Please, no more!\u00a0 I give up!<\/p>\n<p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS:<\/strong> This was a fast three hours, if you can imagine that.\u00a0 I enjoyed every match but the six-man, but maybe it\u2019s just because I\u2019d rather see literally everyone involved do their own thing.\u00a0 SANADA was impressive against Okada, EVIL was far better than I imagined, KUSHIDA\/Liger was a dream match that delivered, Nagata\/SHIBATA both hit like a ton of bricks and had a surprising ending, and the main event told an incredible story with gasp-inducing close calls and beautiful offense.\u00a0 And, yeah, I know I poke fun at JR and Barnett, but they make these matches that much better.\u00a0 They have quickly become my favorite announce team, passing the incredible Ranallo\/Bryan tandem during the CWC.\u00a0 And a special mention to the wonderful camera shot of Tanahashi jumping out of his seat during the brainbuster by Ishii as the crowd exploded.\u00a0 This show is a gem, Guys, and I\u2019m glad I get to cover it.\u00a0 I won\u2019t apologize for the length of this particular review either.\u00a0 You did it to yourselves.)<\/p>\n<p>As always, kick a little ass this week.\u00a0 Go after your goals and go after them hard.\u00a0 Make it a big week for yourself.\u00a0 I know I will.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK&#8217;S REPORT:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2016\/12\/11\/129-njpw-axs-tv-review-omega-vs-elgin-okada-vs-naito-two-standout-matches-plus-fale-vs-tanahashi\/\">12\/9 NJPW on AXS TV Review: Omega vs. Elgin and Okada vs. Naito in two standout matches, plus Fale vs. Tanahashi<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2382514592\"><div id=\"pwtor-707911955\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>NJPW on AXS TV Report December 16, 2016 Ryogoku Kokugikan Part 3 &amp; Hakata Starlanes By R.W. Andrews, PWTorch contributor &nbsp; Wrap yourselves up in a blanket and cozy up.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got three shows in <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2016\/12\/20\/1216-njpw-axs-tv-review-okada-vs-sanada-omega-young-bucks-vs-yoshitatsu-elgin-takahashi-ishii-vs-naito\/\" title=\"12\/16 NJPW on AXS TV Review: Okada vs. Sanada, Omega &#038; Young Bucks vs. Yoshitatsu &#038; Elgin &#038; Takahashi, Ishii vs. Naito\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,4345],"tags":[4416,334,87,404,4460,1755],"class_list":["post-36575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tvshowsandevents","category-njpw-on-axs","tag-axs","tag-jim-ross","tag-new-japan","tag-njpw","tag-tetsuya-nato","tag-tomohiro-ishii"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2016\/12\/NJPW_AXS_logo.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36575"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36579,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36575\/revisions\/36579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}