{"id":39781,"date":"2017-03-10T15:56:07","date_gmt":"2017-03-10T21:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=39781"},"modified":"2017-03-10T15:56:07","modified_gmt":"2017-03-10T21:56:07","slug":"njpw-axs-tv-dominion-16-including-briscoes-kushida-ospreay-okada-naito-shibata-nagata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/03\/10\/njpw-axs-tv-dominion-16-including-briscoes-kushida-ospreay-okada-naito-shibata-nagata\/","title":{"rendered":"NJPW ON AXS TV: Dominion &#8217;16 including Briscoes, KUSHIDA, Ospreay, Okada, Naito, Shibata, Nagata"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1923998580\" 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><b>NJPW on AXS TV<br \/>\n<\/b><b>Dominion &#8217;16 Edition<br \/>\n<\/b><b>Osaka, Japan at Jo Hall<br \/>\n<\/b><b>By R.W. Andrews, PWTorch Specialist<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>(1)\u00a0Tama Tonga &amp; Tanga Roa (Guerillas of Destiny) (c) vs. Jay &amp;\u00a0Mark Briscoe &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>IWGP Tag Team Championship Match<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The set-up for Osaka-Jo Hall is NJPW\u2019s fap-fest to crossbeams &#8211; this time with curved hooks swimming over a screen styled to resemble a mountain peak.\u00a0 An elevated rampway stretches towards the ring, putting the men who traverse it on a pedestal for the crowd to ogle.\u00a0 Spotlights litter the sides of the ramp, their heads swiveling left to right to shine a blinding florescence into the eyes of anyone seated in the upper deck.<\/p>\n<p>This was my first go-round with the Briscoes before catching them at Honor Rising, and they\u2026look\u2026terrifying.\u00a0 Mark Briscoe looks oddly similar to Animal from the famed Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band, complete with a light dusting of Muppet meth-mouth between the gums.\u00a0 Can you picture that?\u00a0 When Jay Briscoe stares into the camera, he does so with a testosterone engorged hysteria in his eyes \u2013 a glare that would probably prelude the smell of stale beer wafting into ones nostrils before the deathblow of a tire iron to the face is delivered.\u00a0 The Guerillas of Destiny come out dressed in battle finery of red and white camo pants, their upper torsos strapped up by black flak jackets.\u00a0 Their faces keep with the color scheme \u2013 Roa\u2019s in all red besides shards of white branching out from his left eye while Tonga\u2019s is an interesting goat skull conception of white covering most of his face with red horns jutting up his forehead from blacked-out eye sockets.\u00a0 I gotta say, this kind of detail takes away from the warmonger motif they\u2019re trying to create.\u00a0 I just can\u2019t shake the image of these two men sitting under the golden glow of vanity mirror bulbs while meticulously applying paint around their facial hair.\u00a0 Their family tree is more than enough to terrify any opponent.\u00a0 Skip the paint and just come out with their Ancestory.com profiles split-screened on the tron to showcase who their father is.\u00a0 Trust me, that\u2019ll clue the opposition into what type of night they\u2019re in store for.<\/p>\n<p>Before the bell rings, JR mentions that we are getting a rare occurrence of having two legitimate blood brother teams facing off, with Barnett adding, \u201cBoth have an affinity for camouflage.\u201d\u00a0 He makes a quip about each team\u2019s individual choice of camo, which of course prompts JR to hit the notes.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s all about marketing, Josh.\u00a0 You know that.\u201d\u00a0 So, in order to get to me for my comments, the Briscoes will have to get through JR and Barnett first.\u00a0 Collectively, they have to know enough tricky s- to stall those guys long enough for me to win a footrace to freedom.\u00a0 As long as I don\u2019t drop my wallet on the way out.\u00a0 Once they have my address, no manner of panic room will provide safe haven.<\/p>\n<p>Mark and Tama start out with dueling rolls before Tonga decides to do a little shimmy in the corner.\u00a0 Mark lunges at Tonga, who breaks up the opening salvo with a knee to the gut.\u00a0 Tonga clubs Mark into the corner before booting him in the ass and whipping him into the corner.\u00a0 He slides under a counter leg lift, but runs right into three chops that puts him on the defensive &#8211; his steps bringing him right into the Briscoe corner of the ring where Jay gets the tag.<\/p>\n<p>Jay launches into a boot-to-the-gut strategy, working Tonga to his rear so he can step on his throat until Marty asks him to break \u2013 done via a shout from clear across the ring.\u00a0 Jay pops Tonga under the chin with a European uppercut and hits a back elbow off the ropes.\u00a0 He reaches back to tag Mark, who enters with a punch to Tonga\u2019s ribcage and a crane-basement-dropkick to the side of the head.\u00a0 Very cool.\u00a0 While this is going on, JR informs us that the Briscoes are Delaware chicken farmers, a comment that prompts Barnett to give a rollcall of the chickens he has in his own coop.<\/p>\n<p>Tonga reverses and Irish Whip, running misdirection for Roa to run in and clothesline Mark to the mat.\u00a0 As Roa drives Mark into the turnbuckle pad, Barnett questions whether a legal tag has been made.\u00a0 Marty seems fine with it, so either all is copasetic or he\u2019s playing fast and loose with the rules out of self-preservation.\u00a0 Roa tags Tonga back in, who enters with clubs to the back before whipping Mark into the ropes.\u00a0 Mark ducks out of the way of a clothesline as Jay\u2019s hand smacks him on the arm.\u00a0 Mark counters another clothesline attempt with a chinbreaker and whips Tonga into a charging Jay, who lariats the piss out of him.\u00a0 Jay covers, but only gets a one.<\/p>\n<p>Jay chucks Tonga outside, chasing him down with a head-first dive that pastes him into the guardrail.\u00a0 Roa starts walking their way, with eagle-eyed Mark booking it across the ring to intercept him with a dropkick through the ropes.\u00a0 Jay rolls Tonga back in and hoists him atop his shoulders as Mark heads up top for the Doomsday Device.\u00a0 Roa leaps up and pulls the rug out from under Mark, tripping him stomach-first onto the top turnbuckle as Tonga slips off of Jay\u2019s shoulder and hits an inverted twisting neckbreaker.\u00a0 Roa gets the tag and pulls Mark off of the top rope into a fireman\u2019s carry pickup as Tonga races forward to hit a neckbreaker as Roa hits a Samoan Drop.\u00a0 Roa covers, netting a two from Marty who holds up two very timid digits quivering dangerously close to his face.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1483287878\" 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>Roa gets Mark in a powerbomb pickup as Tonga flies off the top rope \u2013 combining to hit a powerbomb\/blockbuster combo.\u00a0 Beautiful!\u00a0 Roa covers, and as Marty\u2019s hand is inches from the third slap, Jay pushes him off to break up the pin.\u00a0 Jay pitches Tonga outside, then Roa lobs Jay outside.\u00a0 Mark gives a rebel yell before connecting with a dropkick that pushes Roa into the corner, following it up with a picture perfect Fisherman\u2019s Buster.\u00a0 JR: \u201cMark Briscoe is being challenged here.\u00a0 Much like he does when he flosses.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus, Jim.\u00a0 He had a hitter\u2019s count and dribbled that s- right back to the mound.<\/p>\n<p>Jay gets the tag and hits a leaping double-underhook piledriver on Roa!\u00a0 Holy s-, Man!\u00a0 He covers, with Roa beating the count by decimal points!\u00a0 Jay lifts Roa onto his shoulders for another Doomsday Device attempt, but Tonga races around the apron to hop onto the second rope and knock Mark off.\u00a0 He is met by a few hundred hammerfists to the top of his skull before a forearm clears him out of camera view.\u00a0 Mark adjusts his position and leaps off to complete the Doomsday Device as Jay covers for the win.<\/p>\n<p>WINNERS: Jay &amp;\u00a0Mark Briscoe in 14:02 to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships<\/p>\n<p>After the match, Marty presents the belts to the Briscoes so they can climb opposite turnbuckles and hoist them into the air.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Tonga is checking to see if his brother\u2019s neck has been reduced to a crinkle cut stem as two figures dart down the ramp.\u00a0 As they approach, the figures come into focus to reveal Hangman Page and Yujiro Takahashi &#8211; who rip the new champions off the turnbuckles and rain down right hands.\u00a0 As they switch to a stampede of stomps, Marty is seen on the floor waving his arms about in an attempt to get them to stop.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t work.\u00a0 Page lobs Jay outside before he and Takahashi hang Mark over the top rope.\u00a0 JR: \u201cHow distasteful can it be?\u00a0 Good grief.\u00a0 Get rid of the damn rope!\u201d\u00a0 As Page runs outside to take his rope back from around Mark\u2019s neck, JR yells, \u201cCan\u2019t leave without your gimmick for God\u2019s sake!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 Well, it wasn\u2019t the best tag match in the world, but it was a nice introduction to the Briscoes for me.\u00a0 Their offense is steeped in power moves and rough as hell strikes, both equally agile given their large frames.\u00a0 Jay in particular is mean as f-, with a look that would fit seamlessly in an octagon.\u00a0 The Guerillas of Destiny didn\u2019t really do all that much in the match, with most of their contribution coming in the way of defending against the Briscoes\u2019 onslaught.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>(2)\u00a0Katsuyori Shibata vs. Yuji Nagata (c) &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>NEVER Openweight Championship Match<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Ho\u2026ly\u2026s-.\u00a0 It\u2019s Shibata.\u00a0 AXS dropped the ball on the intro, beginning knee deep into the riff of his anthem.\u00a0 Although I didn\u2019t get the full effect of the entrance, I\u2019m right there in the moment &#8211; leaning forward on my couch and riddled with excitement as if this presentation were live.\u00a0 Shibata vs. Nagata \u2013 a dream match that I never would have thought plausible three months ago when I dove back into wrestling head-first.\u00a0 This is a big one on a personal level.\u00a0 Shibata has always had my full support, but Nagata has been such a pleasant surprise.\u00a0 I was prepared to think of him as just NEVER Openweight cannon fodder, but his first match against Shibata really opened my eyes to how good he really is.\u00a0 Given his age &#8211; forty-eight at the time of this match \u2013 I am awestruck at the athleticism that Yuji Nagata possesses.<\/p>\n<p>When Shibata emerges from a short climb to reach the rampway, his gait is steady as his eyes tilt downward to focus on each step towards the ring.\u00a0 The camera refocuses on the entrance as Nagata appears with Tenzan, Kojima, and Nakanishi riding shotgun.\u00a0 Nagata\u2019s eyes are transfixed on his challenger as he moves swiftly down the ramp, the jewel of the NEVER Openweight division inset between the untied robe draped over his shoulders.\u00a0 Red Shoes is the ref for this match, stepping into the corner after signaling for the bell.\u00a0 The bell\u2019s echo is muted instantly as the crowd erupts in dueling chants for both champion and challenger.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-615901430\" 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>Nagata and Shibata feel each other out, both of their hands raised in a Muay Thai guard as they send out kicks seeking out to the other\u2019s leg.\u00a0 They finally tie up in the middle of the ring, with Nagata stuffing Shibata\u2019s attempt to get his back.\u00a0 They break for only a breath before locking up again &#8211; this time Nagata trying to trip his foe, only to see him scoot back and tag his inner right thigh with a swift kick.\u00a0 A third tie-up puts Nagata in control for a fleeting moment before Shibata backpedals to place himself in the ropes to set himself free.\u00a0 As Nagata begins to back off, Shibata finally breaks the ice with three consecutive forearms and a European Uppercut to the champion\u2019s chin.<\/p>\n<p>Nagata strikes back with a kick to Shibata\u2019s hamstring, followed by a kick to the chest that connects with the acoustic clarity of a gunshot, sending Shibata to the mat.\u00a0 Shibata hurries back to his feet and boots Nagata on the cheek, swiftly evading a grapple to put distance between them.\u00a0 The crowd breaks into a round of applause as Shibata wipes his chest clean of the remnant pain from Nagata\u2019s kick.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata knees Nagata in the gut, snapmaring him to the mat before trying to sink in a cross-arm breaker while Nagata keeps his arm curled to block it.\u00a0 During the scrum, JR points out that Nagata\u2019s NEVER Openweight title win was his first reign in eight years.\u00a0 Shibata manages to transition to a triangle choke before rolling into an armbar that puts Nagata right into the ropes to auto-break the submission.\u00a0 On the way to even footing, Shibata kicks Nagata in the chest, the impact dumping him into the corner.\u00a0 He drags Nagata back to the center of the ring, twisting his arm from a hammerlock into a reverse armbar as the crowd audibly marvels at the smoothness of the transition.\u00a0 While Barnett mentions that it was \u201cright out of Nagata\u2019s playbook\u201d, Shibata lets him loose to stomp his arm.<\/p>\n<p>As Nagata gets to one knee, Shibata engages \u2013 hitting a disrespectful boot swipe to the face followed by a forearm that jolts Nagata\u2019s neck to the right.\u00a0 Nagata snaps his head right back, exchanging words with Shibata that gets him forearmed across the jaw.\u00a0 Nagata drops to the mat as Shibata stares daggers at him.\u00a0 As Nagata once again reaches one knee, Shibata sticks him in the chest with two kicks.\u00a0 He heads to the ropes, coming back to a knee to the gut that flips him to the mat.\u00a0 With Shibata on both knees, Nagata takes a hop-step forward and drives his shin directly into Shibata\u2019s chest.\u00a0 Shibata\u2019s body curls from the strike before he falls face-first to the canvas.<\/p>\n<p>Red Shoes\u2019 mouth gapes open as Nagata lays in two very, VERY stiff kicks that sound like a whip crackling.\u00a0 Shibata motions for Nagata to bring him more, an invitation the champion is more than happy to RSVP.\u00a0 Nagata tags Shibata in the chest, with the cameraman catching the view from Shibata\u2019s back as it ripples from the impact.\u00a0 Shibata defiantly shakes his head, which causes Nagata to stomp his foot out of frustration before sending a shockwave through Shibata\u2019s body with another hard kick laid in with crippling intentions.\u00a0 Shibata looks at him furiously as he rises to his feet.\u00a0 Nagata sets his feet and screams, unleashing another kick straight at Shibata\u2019s chest that drops him once more.<\/p>\n<p>Nagata lifts Shibata to his feet, ushering him to the corner with a forearm that sprays a misty sheen of sweat between their bodies.\u00a0 He sends Shibata into the opposite corner, connecting with a big boot to the face.\u00a0 He whips another forearm at Shibata\u2019s face, causing Shibata to lean against him for stability.\u00a0 Shibata reverses an Irish Whip, putting Nagata on a path to the corner, and plants his boot into his chin.\u00a0 He follows up with another boot to the face before rattling his temporal lobe with VATS-locked forearms.\u00a0 The shots drop Nagata momentarily until he roars and pops to his feet, the sound snuffed out by another shot that sends him sinking down with his hands trembling in front of his face.\u00a0 Shibata hits the floating dropkick before flipping Nagata to the mat with a half-hatch suplex for two.\u00a0 Thus far, the poetic meter of combat has played out beautifully in its own barbaric way.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata punts Nagata in the back as he rises, then steps to the center of the ring to call for a Batsu.\u00a0 For the love of the game, Nagata is more than happy to answer that call.\u00a0 Forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata &#8211; the camera cuts to a strained expression on Kojima\u2019s face as the sound of bloodlust\u2019s lullaby pounds throughout the arena &#8211; forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Nagata, forearm by Shibata, followed by two more that wobble Nagata\u2019s jaw with a sickening thud, big boot by Nagata, big boot by Shibata, exploder by Nagata, release German Suplex by Shibata, release German Suplex by Nagata, back heel trip takedown (JR) by Shibata and the game is called as both men crash to the mat!\u00a0 For all you Batsu junkies out there, that one was well played!<\/p>\n<p>Shibata is up first, racing towards Nagata to clip his left wing with a kick, followed by two hard kicks to the chest at the turnbuckles.\u00a0 Shibata stays on the attack, his boot targeting Nagata\u2019s left arm repeatedly as Red Shoes tries to pull him away.\u00a0 In a rage, Shibata shoves Red Shoes away and continues the assault.\u00a0 He heads to the corner, zipping back with a sliding kick that strikes Nagata\u2019s left arm.\u00a0 Ignoring Red Shoes\u2019 reprimand about the shove, Shibata pulls Nagata off the mat and twists him into an Octopus Hold.\u00a0 Nagata screams in agony as he slowly makes his way to the ropes, with Shibata fighting to pull his right arm away from relief.\u00a0 Shibata uses his left hand to dunk Nagata\u2019s head lower so he can stretch his left leg over it a push down, still pulling on Nagata\u2019s right arm to keep it from the promise land.\u00a0 Nagata finally begins to teeter, his path finding salvation with a death grip around the middle rope.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata breaks for the length of a blink, transitioning into a Gable Grip-Style Sleeper (Barnett) that drops Nagata to his knees.\u00a0 The camera zooms in on Nagata\u2019s face, his breaths heavy as his eyes begin to roll back into his head.\u00a0 He grimaces, then begins to ascend to his feet as the crowd stirs at the show of resilience.\u00a0 Nagata manages to lean against the top rope, breaking the hold but leaving himself wide open for a kick to the chest that sends him backpedaling to the middle of the ring.\u00a0 Shibata slides behind him, lifting him off his feet for a bridging back suplex for two.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata quickly pops off the mat and sits Nagata up for the PK.\u00a0 Nagata reclines back as the kick whiffs over his face.\u00a0 He pops to his feet, but steps into a Shibata forearm.\u00a0 Shibata spins Nagata around to take his back, his arms wrapping around Nagata\u2019s neck and forehead for the sleeper.\u00a0 Nagata reaches up and snags Shibata\u2019s arm, his body twisting back around to drag Shibata to the mat for a reverse armbar.\u00a0 So slick!\u00a0 The crowd erupts as Nagata pulls Shibata\u2019s arm towards his body, his mouth now caked in blood.\u00a0 His eyes begin to roll back, a meditative expression searching for an inner reserve as his sclera vibrate.\u00a0 The crowd cheers wildly at the sight, but Shibata manages to rotate their bodies around so his long limbs can find the ropes and free him from having to submit.<\/p>\n<p>Forced to let go, Nagata pivots into striking position to lace his boot into Shibata\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Shibata clutches it and rolls to his side as Nagata circles around his body to drive a knee into his chest.\u00a0 With Shibata absorbing each shot in the corner, Red Shoes once again tries to intervene, and is once again shoved aside.\u00a0 Nagata continues to bang away at Shibata &#8211; hitting him so hard you could see the light of his aura flicker &#8211; until Red Shoes leaps between them to break it up.\u00a0 Shibata rises to his feet as Nagata brushes past Red Shoes &#8211; that old chassis hitting three on the tree to dash forward and stiffen the challenger\u2019s body with a running knee to the face.\u00a0 With Shibata\u2019s legs wobbling, Nagata snatches him up to hit a backdrop suplex, covering for the win as Red Shoes drops to the canvas.\u00a0 1, 2, Shibata kicks out at two and a half!<\/p>\n<p>Nagata lifts Shibata back to his feet and hooks his head to lift him into the air and come down with a brainbuster.\u00a0 He can sense it, catching a second wind that pops him to his feet so he can sit Shibata up.\u00a0 He races to the ropes and sprints back with a PK that absolutely levels Shibata!\u00a0 Nagata grabs Shibata by the hair, his foe\u2019s eyes dancing for signs of life as his body dangles in Nagata\u2019s grip.\u00a0 Nagata slowly gets Shibata to his feet and locks his arms around his waist.\u00a0 He lifts Shibata up for another backdrop suplex, but Shibata counters with a knee to the face, ultimately unable to find room to work as Nagata boots him in the face.\u00a0 Nagata hits a speedy combination of kicks, knees and slaps to the face before Shibata catches an errant kick and smacks him right back.\u00a0 The impact causes Nagata to stumble, finally providing Shibata with enough space to circle around and lock the sleeper hold back in.\u00a0 Nagata tries to flip him over his shoulder, but Shibata holds on while shifting his body to a better vantage point to keep the hold locked in.<\/p>\n<p>Nagata begins to rise to one knee, his head hotboxed by Shibata\u2019s heavy breaths as he tries to squeeze the champion into submission.\u00a0 Nagata gets to his feet, grabbing Shibata\u2019s right arm to bend it over his shoulder.\u00a0 The crowd applauds loudly as Shibata\u2019s arm begins to bend unnaturally, but it\u2019s short lived as he flexes his arm back and cinches the sleeper in deeper.\u00a0 Nagata\u2019s clamp on Shibata\u2019s arm loosens before dwindling down to a seated position on the mat.\u00a0 Shibata finally releases the hold, his body on auto-pilot as he races to the ropes to zip back and drive a PK dead center of Nagata\u2019s chest.\u00a0 He falls lifelessly atop Nagata\u2019s body as Red Shoes flops down to count the pin.\u00a0 1, 2\u20263!<\/p>\n<p>WINNERS: Katsuyori Shibata in 14:53 to win the NEVER Openweight Championship<\/p>\n<p>After the match, with the belt back in his possession, Shibata walks to the center of the ring as Tenzan, Kojima, and Nakanishi watch from the apron.\u00a0 Shibata lowers his upper body, respectfully bowing to a true master of the craft.\u00a0 Nagata steps closer and embraces Shibata, patting him on the back as the two exchange words.\u00a0 Tenzan, Kojima, and Nakanishi enter the ring as Nagata raises Shibata\u2019s hand in the air.\u00a0 They clap for him, putting the past aside to revel in the present.\u00a0 Nagata embraces Shibata a second time and pats him on the back as the crowd continues to shower the ring with applause.<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 What a perfect way to end this feud, with both men showing respect to one another in the middle of the ring.\u00a0 This match was full throttle forearm fanaticism from start to finish.\u00a0 Again, Nagata was forty-eight at the time of this match.\u00a0 Forty-eight!\u00a0 He took full force shots to the face and chest and kept on plugging away as if he was fresh out of the package.\u00a0 Always valiant, the man had two very close pinfall attempts that would not have been surprising to see him net the victory.\u00a0 He was, for lack of a better word, spectacular.\u00a0 He moves with such deliberate movement, only letting his foot off the accelerator to charge up a surge of adrenaline to send out knockout blows that would obliterate most normal men.\u00a0 Jokes aside about his skirt chasing, he is the embodiment of a warrior in the twilight of his career.\u00a0 He can still go at a very high level and looks damn good in the ring doing so.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Shibata was brilliant in victory.\u00a0 I am absolutely smitten with this guy.\u00a0 Yes, he brings nickel-plated strikes that leave hollow-point casings in the ring, but his mat wrestling and submission prowess are what is catching him up quicker than I ever imagined to KUSHIDA as far as my personal favorite wrestlers on the planet.\u00a0 If he\u2019s in the doghouse for whatever reason, I hope his sentence is short so he can freely roam the battlefield and get a shot at the top of the card.\u00a0 Maybe he has to ride the pine for at least another year, but if a spot were to ever open up, Shibata should get first dibs on proving his worth amongst those in the elite air of New Japan\u2019s ecosystem.\u00a0 He has the look, the body of work, and the versatility to shine with Okada, Suzuki, and Naito.\u00a0 I used to think that he was kind of pigeon-holed as a striker in the NEVER Openweight realm, but match after match he shows off such versatility that his skills simply can\u2019t be ignored.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what 2017 is going to bring for Katsuyori Shibata, but I have to believe that he\u2019ll come out the other end with his star brightening with each flip of the calendar.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p>We get a present day interview with KUSHIDA, seated in front of an off-white wall with a brown sliding door to his right.\u00a0 Where exactly in the hell is he?\u00a0 I always assume given his laid back nature during these present-day interviews, that he\u2019s either about to, or has just come from, taking a steam.\u00a0 The setting for this interview has heightened my suspicion that this is the case.<\/p>\n<p>When asked about his first match against Ospreay, KUSHIDA replies that he thinks that Ospreay is an amazing wrestler.\u00a0 He has three amazing attributes \u2013 height, accuracy, and power \u2013 all of which KUSHIDA feels that he has adapted well to.\u00a0 Asked about sitting on commentary for the finals of the Super Juniors tournament, KUSHIDA takes BUSHI\u2019s word choice and says that he was vexed that he couldn\u2019t be in the ring for it.\u00a0 He was proud of both Ospreay and Taguchi, but a myriad of emotions built up inside of him about it.\u00a0 He mentions that he called Ospreay a champion because the Best of The Super Juniors title is something of great value to him.\u00a0 He sees Ospreay as reborn out of his growth of having to go through the tournament, knowing that he had to erase any impression that he had of the man from their first bout.<\/p>\n<p><b>(3)\u00a0KUSHIDA (c) vs. Will Ospreay &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match<\/b><\/p>\n<p>As Ospreay\u2019s beat kicks in, he appears at the ramp wrapped in a Union Jack sleeveless robe, his boots and trunks decked out in kind.\u00a0 In his clutch is the hard earned Super Junior\u2019s trophy.\u00a0 As the lighting flickers between an array of blue and purple, smoke fills the rampway, leaving a porthole to the face of a young KUSHIDA on the mountain-tron showing the early stages of a skillset we would all come to know.\u00a0 He appears through the plume \u2013 championship McFly\u2019s set aside for Color Rush KUSHIDA to come out in his powder purple Uniqlo.\u00a0 For this occasion it is appropriate, as it proved a source of good fortune in his first meeting with Ospreay.<\/p>\n<p>As he flips into the ring, the referee for the contest is revealed.\u00a0 It\u2019s Marty &#8211; a fitting choice considering the champion\u2019s theme.\u00a0 The two meet in the middle of the ring, with KUSHIDA raising the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title while Ospreay raises the Super Junior\u2019s trophy.\u00a0 KUSHIDA looks focused as the two lock eyes, while Ospreay smirks and points to his trophy.\u00a0 In a way those demeanors match their in-ring style \u2013 KUSHIDA\u2019s no nonsense approach versus Ospreay\u2019s cube gleaming aerials.\u00a0 As the bell tolls, Ospreay\u2019s smirk shrinks to a straight line as KUSHIDA loosens up in his corner.<\/p>\n<p>The crowd is restless as they wait for the men to lock up &#8211; half of them clapping while the other half chants.\u00a0 Once finally locked up, Ospreay pushes KUSHIDA to the corner.\u00a0 He feigns a club to the face, then pats him politely on the chest before backing away.\u00a0 Ospreay shifts away from a second tie-up, snatching KUSHIDA\u2019s arm in the process to bring him to the mat with a wristlock.\u00a0 KUSHIDA finds a way out, rising to his feet and twisting under Ospreay\u2019s arm to get a wristlock of his own.\u00a0 As they travel closer to the side of the ring, Ospreay grabs hold of the top rope and front flips out of a wristlock, maintaining control upon landing to drag KUSHIDA to the mat.\u00a0 KUSHIDA kips out, banishing Ospreay to the corner as the crowd applauds.\u00a0 During the break in action, we get a shot of Taguchi on commentary rocking that dream-weaved t-shirt from his Super Juniors present-day interview.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA single-legs Ospreay to the mat, hanging onto his boot and twisting it outward.\u00a0 Ospreay rolls to his stomach, his arms locked as he raises his other leg and drops it across his caged appendage to free himself and transition into a side headlock.\u00a0 It\u2019s such a fluid escape oozing with stylistic flair unlike anything I\u2019ve ever seen before.\u00a0 Ospreay flips KUSHIDA to the mat, rolls him into a one-count, and travels back to his feet.\u00a0 KUSHIDA drops low, his head sneaking out of the headlock as he pulls Ospreay\u2019s leg to bring him to the mat.\u00a0 He rolls over Ospreay\u2019s prone back and latches onto his arms.\u00a0 As Ospreay rolls sharply to his left, KUSHIDA floats over to keep position.\u00a0 Ospreay tries again, with KUSHIDA tracing the movement to maintain control.\u00a0 He hops over Ospreay\u2019s body, then reverses course and spins across his back to stall him so he can grab his legs and intertwine them together.\u00a0 The crowd applauds the elegance of their movements as KUSHIDA waits for the applause break before switching to Ospreay\u2019s side and grabbing hold of his chin to lean back and apply a surfboard.\u00a0 All of that movement &#8211; none of it wasted &#8211; to find the right position to put that submission in.\u00a0 Absolutely gorgeous!<\/p>\n<p>Ospreay is released and gets to his feet, snapping KUSHIDA to the mat but winding up in a headscissors.\u00a0 Ospreay kips out and heads to the ropes as KUSHIDA drops down.\u00a0 Ospreay does a front flip over him, but runs into an inverted atomic drop, pausing him long enough for KUSHIDA to hit a basement dropkick to the knee.\u00a0 KUSHIDA runs to the ropes as Ospreay does a front roll to his feet.\u00a0 KUSHIDA cartwheels alongside his path, swipes away Ospreay\u2019s dropkick attempt, and cartwheels into position to hit another basement dropkick to the back of the head.\u00a0 This is mind blowing stuff.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA picks Ospreay up and extends his arm out to slam it across his shoulder, but Ospreay pushes him away, rolls under a clothesline, rolls back as KUSHIDA scoops him onto his shoulder, twists off his shoulder and armdrags him to the mat.\u00a0 Are you f****ng kidding me!?\u00a0 This is such gorgeous movement in the ring.\u00a0 KUSHIDA pops back up and tries for another clothesline, but Ospreay high-jumps his arm to hit a hurricanranna.\u00a0 \u201cPerpetual motion by both men,\u201d JR decrees.\u00a0 As KUSHIDA gets off the mat, Ospreay rolls back &#8211; his boots sandwiching KUSHIDA\u2019s head &#8211; but KUSHIDA props him into a handstand and sidesteps way to smack his left arm with a sweeping kick.\u00a0 Ospreay, clutching his wrist, rolls outside.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA rolls outside to corral Ospreay back into the ring, twists his arm as he wraps his legs around his torso, and gets the double wristlock.\u00a0 Ospreay bows low, pulls his arm free to place it around the back of KUSHIDA\u2019s neck, and hoists him into position for a vertical suplex.\u00a0 KUSHIDA knees him on the side of the head to escape, twisting Ospreay\u2019s arm and bulldogging it!\u00a0 What a nice touch.\u00a0 He bends Ospreay\u2019s arm in a short-arm scissor on the mat as JR gushes over the choices of KUSHIDA\u2019s playlist.\u00a0 Ospreay swings his legs into the ropes, but arises to a punishing kick straight to the wrist.\u00a0 He yelps when the strike hits, his body dancing forward like KUSHIDA tried to sear it with a branding iron.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA sends another one his way, but Ospreay catches it and twirls under.\u00a0 He flips into the ropes &#8211; his hands never touching the mat, mind you &#8211; and springboards back with a flipping kick to KUSHIDA\u2019s jaw!\u00a0 As Ospreay begins to get back to a solid base, Marty\u2019s hand reaches into camera view to give his wrist a squeeze.\u00a0 Ospreay\u2019s body convulses as he smacks his hand away.\u00a0 What in the hell did Marty expect to happen there?<\/p>\n<p>Ospreay boots a charging KUSHIDA in the face, hops outside to the apron, and slams KUSHIDA\u2019s head into the turnbuckle before combo-ing off the rebound with a kick to the face.\u00a0 He leaps onto the rope, hollering \u201cPip, pip, cheerio!\u201d as he takes flight and slams his forearm into KUSHIDA\u2019s skull.\u00a0 KUSHIDA is sent clear across the ring and out to the floor, struggling to clear his head as Ospreay cartwheels into a twisting backflip over the top rope that connects!\u00a0 Ospreay rolls KUSHIDA back in and hits a twisting corkscrew moonsault for two.\u00a0 Ospreay hits a diving forearm to KUSHIDA in the corner, and sets him on the second rope where he tucks KUSHIDA\u2019s head against the turnbuckle pad and eyes up a superkick.\u00a0 As he lunges forward, KUSHIDA thrusts his boots into his face and laces him across the left wrist.\u00a0 KUSHIDA races into a back elbow counter, but roundhouses Ospreay\u2019s arm to regain control.\u00a0 They have an exchange of words before launching into a mini-Batsu of forearms that is ended swiftly by a European Uppercut by Ospreay.\u00a0 Ospreay runs to the ropes, but KUSHIDA is only a step behind, hitting a forward rolling kick that sends Ospreay outside.<\/p>\n<p>There are no breathers in a KUSHIDA match.\u00a0 He dashes to the top turnbuckle and flings his body forth with a Swanton that nearly lobotomizes Ospreay when his head gets crunched against the floor!\u00a0 Marty counts reasonably on time, with KUSHIDA rolling back in but sliding under the adjacent bottom rope to the apron.\u00a0 Ospreay dives in at nineteen, straight into a springboard dropkick that connects the second he picks his head up to search for KUSHIDA.\u00a0 JR: \u201cYou\u2019re damned if you do and damned if you don\u2019t in that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA climbs to the top rope and flips back for a moonsault, his abdomen landing right on top of a pair of knees awaiting his arrival.\u00a0 As Ospreay tries to get to his feet, Marty once again goes in to squeeze his wrist.\u00a0 And yet again, Ospreay is forced to take a swipe at him.\u00a0 Let it go, Marty!\u00a0 Ospreay hits KUSHIDA under the chin with a European Uppercut.\u00a0 KUSHIDA fires back with a kick to Ospreay\u2019s left arm, but gets dropped by a stiff forearm that hunches him over.\u00a0 Ospreay drives the tip of his boot repeatedly into KUSHIDA\u2019s face.\u00a0 He whips KUSHIDA into the ropes, who counters with a handspring into a back elbow, but Ospreay drops low to seat KUSHIDA on top of his shoulders.\u00a0 KUSHIDA spins his crotch into Ospreay\u2019s face and leans back for a Frankensteiner, but Ospreay pumps the brakes and hoists KUSHIDA back up.\u00a0 KUSHIDA follows the feel of the momentum for a sunset flip that nets him a two.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA hits the ropes, twists around Ospreay\u2019s body for the Hoverboard Lock, but is popped into the air \u2013 his body twirling a full rotation before splatting against the mat.\u00a0 Ospreay follows up with a standing shooting star press to KUSHIDA\u2019s back, rolling and hopping onto the second rope to hit a corkscrew half-gainer front-flip splash!\u00a0 He covers, but KUSHIDA shoves him off right before Marty\u2019s third slap can hit.\u00a0 JR: \u201cWhat a flurry of offense by Ospreay!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ospreay lifts KUSHIDA onto the second rope and tucks his head, this time driving a superkick right to his throat.\u00a0 He hits a 720 Shining Wizard and springboards off the ropes for a back elbow, but KUSHIDA ducks under it.\u00a0 KUSHIDA spins to generate a jaw-breaking right hook, but Ospreay flashkicks it!\u00a0 Incredible!\u00a0 He smacks KUSHIDA on the back of the head with his boot, bringing it back around to bash his heel into his face.\u00a0 He hits the ropes, racing back to a counter discus-elbow.\u00a0 KUSHIDA spins for another one, but Ospreay kicks him on the back of the head.\u00a0 KUSHIDA reaches deep within his wind-up to launch a straight right at Ospreay, who dives his head down to let the punch hover over his view.\u00a0 Ospreay headbutts KUSHIDA in the jaw and whips him into the ropes for a Spanish Fly.\u00a0 KUSHIDA counters!\u00a0 His knees hit the mat to block it and transitions straight into a cross-arm breaker!\u00a0 Ospreay tries to lock his fingers together, but KUSHIDA tirelessly hammerfists it free before leaning back and extending Ospreay\u2019s arm!\u00a0 Ospreay manages to roll to his knees, with KUSHIDA transitioning to a triangle choke.\u00a0 As he extends Ospreay\u2019s arm, Ospreay grabs KUSHIDA\u2019s wrists and hoists him off the mat with the champion hanging on for dear life.\u00a0 He powers KUSHIDA all the way up into a fireman\u2019s carry pickup, with KUSHIDA trying to twist around his body for the Hoverboard Lock.\u00a0 Ospreay drops him into a tombstone position before flipping back into the air to hit an inverted lungblower!<\/p>\n<p>Ospreay rolls outside and heads up top, slowly climbing to the top rope.\u00a0 He steadies himself and hits a twisting corkscrew indo for Christ\u2019s sake!\u00a0 He covers.\u00a0 1, 2, KUSHIDA survives!\u00a0 As KUSHIDA rises to his feet, Ospreay springboards off the ropes for the OsCutter.\u00a0 KUSHIDA takes a step back and catches Ospreay\u2019s left arm, driving him to the mat and into the Hoverboard lock!\u00a0 He screams as Ospreay tries to fight for the ropes.\u00a0 With Ospreay\u2019s fingertips fluttering inches from the ropes, KUSHIDA pivots his body to roll Ospreay back to the center of the ring!\u00a0 He traps Ospreay\u2019s body on the mat by switching his left leg over Ospreay\u2019s head, his hands forcing his wrist into a ligament-popping angle!\u00a0 Ospreay tries to hold out, but is forced to tap as KUSHIDA unleashed a victorious roar through the air!<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: KUSHIDA in 14:36 to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship<\/p>\n<p>As KUSHIDA exhaustedly rolls onto his side, Barnett says, \u201cThat double wristlock is a bread and butter hold of catch as catch can wrestling and there\u2019s a great reason why it works, JR.\u00a0 It just works.\u201d\u00a0 As Ospreay tries to leave, KUSHIDA calls him back to the ring.\u00a0 Ospreay rolls in gingerly, greeted by a handshake from KUSHIDA.\u00a0 JR: \u201cIf Ospreay can stay healthy, you\u2019re seeing the early stages of a hall of fame-like career.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the interview lounge, Ospreay says that it\u2019s tough to make a British boy cry.\u00a0 He says that he really wanted the Junior Heavyweight title, mentioning coming back to Britain as a hero to so many people and making a lot of promises to them.\u00a0 He can\u2019t believe that he tapped out.<\/p>\n<p>KUSHIDA is interviewed, the title draped over his shoulder.\u00a0 He says that he was aware of Ospreay\u2019s momentum and youth, but his prior title defenses allowed him to dig deep and hold on.\u00a0 Whether its joint attacks or aerial attacks, he\u2019s at a much higher level.\u00a0 The IWGP title is one of the world\u2019s best in his estimation.\u00a0 Agreed.<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 This match was every bit as good as their first encounter, but ramped up to make it that much better.\u00a0 These two guys work so well with one another &#8211; with styles that meld together to form an artistic endeavor painted before our eyes.\u00a0 The opening mat wrestling segment was so pretty, garnering high praise from the crowd right off the bat.\u00a0 As the match delved deeper into the story, both men were locked into a game of counter-chicken, daring the other to come up with the next jaw-dropping escape before the final bell was struck.\u00a0 Ospreay continues to bust out the type of offense pulled straight out of the panels of Stan Lee\u2019s imagination.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never seen anything like it before, especially the stylish ways that he evades strikes and twirls out of his opponent\u2019s offense.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>KUSHIDA continues to cement his position high atop my list of best wrestlers in the world.\u00a0 The guy is relentless, pulling out all the stops to wear down his opponent with a focus on setting them up for the Hoverboard Lock.\u00a0 As I\u2019ve mentioned before, my favorite style of wrestling is picking apart a body part for the sole purpose of exploiting the damage for a submission.\u00a0 And in my mind, no one is better at it than KUSHIDA.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Actually, hang on.\u00a0 I\u2019m still getting acclimated to Minoru Suzuki, so I\u2019ll get back to you in a couple of months.\u00a0 But for now, KUSHIDA gets the nod.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p>We go back to the present day interview with KUSHIDA, who begins by saying that Ospreay is very studious and has seen many of his matches.\u00a0 He had the option of outwitting Ospreay\u2019s plans, but there wasn\u2019t room to think of that.\u00a0 He was desperate to keep up with Ospreay\u2019s moves, noting that he could not afford to lose because it would ruin everything he had said about taking the junior class to a higher level.\u00a0 He was afraid of that happening.\u00a0 On what took him to victory, KUSHIDA explains that it wasn\u2019t all on him.\u00a0 It was the fans who put a lot of expectations on him.\u00a0 Because of the fans, instead of giving 100 percent he was able to give 150-180 percent off of their support.\u00a0 He felt as if he disappointed them by not winning the Super Juniors Tournament and thought that his match with Ospreay made him feel that there was still so much that he could do and that he had to keep working towards them.<\/p>\n<p>AXS showed a \u201cblink and you\u2019ll miss it\u201d highlight reel of Elgin vs. Omega in New Japan\u2019s first ever ladder match.\u00a0 I really wanted to see it in full with JR and Barnett waxing poetic over it, but alas they weren\u2019t feeling up to it.\u00a0 I gotta say, the snippets of action looked tremendous, chock full of explosive power moves onto and through ladders, and an Elgin powerbomb to Omega from high atop a ladder onto two tables that bent but didn\u2019t break, sending Omega skidding on a slick of sweat to the floor. \u00a0 Elgin won, which all of you probably knew already.<\/p>\n<p>We get a present-day interview with Kazuchika Okada, seated on a steel chair in a nondescript training ring.\u00a0 When asked about the match where Naito took the title from him, Okada says that he could really feel his challenger\u2019s momentum in that match.\u00a0 He mentions that Naito had a lot of support, even when breaking the rules.\u00a0 It was in that match that Okada knew how much crowd support Naito really had.\u00a0 He finds it weird that a rule breaker would have that much fan support when he tries to fight a straight match and gets booed for it.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that all about?\u201d he ponders aloud.\u00a0 Okada was less than pleased with the way Naito handled the title, but since he wasn\u2019t the champion there was nothing he could do about it.\u00a0 He says that people can\u2019t really tell the champion what to do, noting that the only way to stop it would be to win the title back.<\/p>\n<p><b>(3)\u00a0Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada &#8211;\u00a0<\/b><b>IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Admittedly, I was extremely spoiled by having my first taste of Tetsuya Naito coming via a championship win against Okada.\u00a0 That, my friends, IS the definition of spoiled.\u00a0 Now, only a few months later, I get to see it again but with the roles swapped.<\/p>\n<p>Okada steps out to an outpour of support, his body engulfed in a long red robe with black feathery frill diving down from the back of his neck to the hem.\u00a0 As cash begins to drizzle along the rampway, Okada poses with his head tilted towards the ceiling and arms lifted at his sides like gull wing doors.\u00a0 Once in the ring, Okada hikes the far corner and once again poses oh so familiar with the adulation gushing his way.\u00a0 His head slowly pans from left to right, nodding approvingly to the crowd\u2019s welcoming response.<\/p>\n<p>The lights dim once more, but only for a breath.\u00a0 A purple hue ramps up as water ripple effects spread from the ceiling.\u00a0 JR mentions that when taking a forensic look at Naito\u2019s resume, you can find a little Stone Cold Steve Austin there in regards to his anti-establishment rhetoric.\u00a0 The camera charts a course from the west wing of the arena, traveling on a tilt to zoom in on the mountain-tron where Naito\u2019s eyes glance out at the crowd.\u00a0 His video package includes footage of him taking the IWGP title and tossing it into the air, almost as if the man himself got into the editing bay to piece it together.\u00a0 As his retro side-scrolling soundtrack worms through the arena speakers, green lasers fan throughout Osaka-Jo Hall.\u00a0 In true fashion to his laid back approach, minutes bleed together until the champion finally decides that it is time to make his way to the ring.\u00a0 Amidst the backdrop of a stylized font reading \u201cLOS INGOBERNABLES de Japon\u201d, the champion finally emerges \u2013 his face concealed by a black and white skull matching the white three-piece suit and black undershirt so expertly picked out by its wearer.\u00a0 He is flanked by SANADA, BUSHI, and EVIL \u2013 all dressed in black.<\/p>\n<p>Naito moves slowly down the ramp, quenching his appetite for apathy as the title swings left to right in his staggered stride.\u00a0 As his name is announced to the crowd, Naito slowly peels off his mask \u2013 his mouth chomping away at a piece of gum as he begins sweeping his path clear of the debris left by Okada\u2019s entrance.\u00a0 Naito stops and stares at the bespectacled owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling &#8211; Takaaki Kidani.\u00a0 He extends his hand towards him, one that is hesitantly accepted with the definition of a flaccid handshake.\u00a0 Naito holds that dead fish in his grip for a moment, releasing it only after he has made Kidani truly uncomfortable by his presence.\u00a0 Jesus, if that handshake doesn\u2019t tell you about the global positioning of the two largest promotions in the world.\u00a0 Vince would eat this guy alive in the boardroom.<\/p>\n<p>Naito slowly builds up to entering the ring, shoving a cameraman deemed too close for his liking.\u00a0 His movements remain labored, almost as if being tasked with the chore of having to wrestle has already left him exhausted.\u00a0 When he finally enters, the belt is flippantly tossed to the mat as the crowd boos loudly.\u00a0 Red Shoes is quick to snatch it up and cradle it in his arms, no doubt netting brownie points with the boss at ringside.\u00a0 When Okada is announced, a smattering of boos gets swallowed whole by a wave of applause.\u00a0 When Naito is announced, the crowd boos in unison as he motions with his fingers for them to turn up the volume.\u00a0 \u201cA lot of boos,\u201d Barnett begins, \u201cbut you know that merchandise is all throughout the audience tonight.\u201d\u00a0 The comment elicits a chuckle from JR, as well as me upon realizing the real Ironman streak they have going for bringing up merch each week.<\/p>\n<p>After Red Shoes pats Okada for illegal objects, Naito makes him wait an eternity as he strips down.\u00a0 Allowing Red Shoes to finally frisk him, his eyes focus on Okada who is requesting the match to be one-on-one.\u00a0 JR: \u201cOkada is somewhat challenging the manhood of Naito.\u201d\u00a0 Naito accepts the request, sending the rest of LIJ to the back.\u00a0 Knowing Naito, even in such a short span of time, I feel as if the ace up his sleeve is still close by \u2013 Red Shoes.\u00a0 Barnett quips that if LIJ decides to come back it won\u2019t be with EVIL in tow because it\u2019s too much work for him to lug his sickle all the way back to the ring again.<\/p>\n<p>The crowd chants overwhelmingly for Okada when the bell rings &#8211; both men allowing the calls to cascade towards the ring before tying up.\u00a0 When they lock together, Okada backs Naito into the ropes, with Naito reversing position to break clean with two pats to the chest.\u00a0 His gaze remains on the crowd chanting for the challenger, with a swagger in his step as he nods at the noise.\u00a0 Barnett breaks into a pretty impressive stream of announcing as Okada and Naito haggle for position: \u201cSide wristlock\u2026going for the hammerlock here is Naito, low on the back though.\u00a0 He\u2019s not putting enough pressure on it\u2026Half-nelson standing\u2026reversal\u2026trying to get the hammerlock is Okada.\u201d\u00a0 I loved it.\u00a0 Okada switches position, forcing Naito to the ropes where he feigns a pat on the chest before whipping him into the ropes.\u00a0 Naito dives over Okada\u2019s drop-down, swinging him around in an armdrag before succumbing to one from Okada.\u00a0 He suckers Okada into a headscissors, which Okada kips out of while Naito relaxes on the mat.<\/p>\n<p>As Okada approaches, Naito rolls safely outside &#8211; taking a breather before winking into the camera and telling the viewers at home, \u201cTranquilo\u201d.\u00a0 He rolls back in before rolling right back out, which prompts Red Shoes to begin his count.\u00a0 Naito drinks up nearly every drop of the count, finally rolling in at eighteen to club Okada to the mat.\u00a0 Okada retaliates with a snapmare before hitting the ropes to zip back with a low dropkick that smacks the side of Naito\u2019s head.\u00a0 He tries to whip Naito into the corner, but is reversed and sent in himself.\u00a0 Okada counters Naito\u2019s rush by picking him up and placing him on the top turnbuckle, delivering a dropkick that double-dots his forehead like an umlaut and dumps him to the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Okada is cautious with his movements, selecting a section of the ring far from a Naito ambush to slowly roll outside.\u00a0 Naito is up and on the move, heading up the ramp with an eye on a mammoth screen high atop the entranceway.\u00a0 When Okada tries to grab ahold of his trunks, Naito spins and forearms Okada in the face before raking his eyes and slamming him on the ramp.\u00a0 Naito continues up the ramp, his arm wafting the concert of boos in his direction.\u00a0 He backs up to the entrance, charging at full speed to leap into the air and dropkick Okada right as he begins to rise.\u00a0 Naito rolls back in, relaxing on the mat as Okada struggles to reenter at sixteen.<\/p>\n<p>Naito scoops Okada up and pitches him right back out, sending him on a back-first course into the guardrail.\u00a0 He stays on the attack, eyeing up Kidani as he whips Okada right into the guardrail protecting him.\u00a0 JR: \u201cThese guardrails should get a payday.\u00a0 They\u2019re in more matches than about anyone on the roster.\u201d\u00a0 Tired of Red Shoes\u2019 incessant counting, Naito pitches Okada back inside, staring at Red Shoes\u2019 with his hands raised as if to say, \u201cThere.\u00a0 He\u2019s in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Naito gets a cravat on Okada, wrenching him down to one knee before Okada can get to the ropes.\u00a0 Naito pops Okada in the jaw repeatedly with back elbows as Red Shoes tries to get him away.\u00a0 He steps back briefly, only to come back and snapmare Okada into a rear chinlock on the mat.\u00a0 Okada fights his way out, but is cut off by another back elbow that is followed by a hip toss and a basement dropkick to the back of the head.\u00a0 Naito scoops up Okada, flipping him into a standing bridge and dropping his neck across his kneepad before shuffling back to score another low dropkick to the back of the head.\u00a0 He covers leisurely, garnering only a two count.<\/p>\n<p>Okada stiffs Naito with four forearms to the face, dodges a rushing attack, and hits a straitjacket neckbreaker (Barnett, but I should know it by now).\u00a0 Okada sprints into a Naito boot, but repays him with a big boot that flips Naito into the air and forces him to roll outside.\u00a0 Okada gives chase, met by a flurry of punches on the ramp that drops him to a knee.\u00a0 Pleased with the damage inflicted, Naito walks back up the ramp, spitting at the crowd as he saunters in front of them.\u00a0 His eyes never cast upon the screen that had his back earlier, though the camera picks up Okada sprinting after him and dropkicking him in the back of the head.\u00a0 Red Shoes leaves the sanctuary of the squared circle to come after them, waving his hands about to herd the action back where he has authority.\u00a0 Okada abides, clubbing Naito in the back of the head to force him into the ring as the crowd applauds.<\/p>\n<p>Naito kicks Okada out of a Red Ink attempt and follows up with a swinging neckbreaker.\u00a0 He rushes Okada in the corner, catches the boots raised in defense, and swings them outside to hit a hangman neckbreaker.\u00a0 Well played, Sir!\u00a0 Naito rolls to the apron, spitting towards\u2026oh s-\u2026Makabe, who is seated at ringside commentary.\u00a0 Pay homage.\u00a0 Makabe doesn\u2019t looked pleased, but Naito is well out of range after leaping onto the top rope and hitting a springboard dropkick that pastes Okada to the mat.\u00a0 He covers with a little more zest than before, but again Okada kicks out at two.\u00a0 Okada reverses a whip into the ropes and hits a flapjack that sends Naito rolling to his side.<\/p>\n<p>AXS cuts to a quick commercial break promoting the David Lynch Festival of Disruption.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to give you guys a quick peek behind the curtain here.\u00a0 I f****ng love David Lynch!\u00a0 The man is so brilliant.\u00a0 Hell, you astute sleuths out there might have even picked up on that based on my liberal use of blue velvet when describing Shibata\u2019s entrance.\u00a0 Am I comparing his rage to that of Frank Booth?\u00a0 Let\u2019s just say the man probably prefers the harsh bite of a Pabst Blue Ribbon over a Heineken.<\/p>\n<p>Now that I\u2019m done washing Lynch\u2019s balls, AXS cuts back to Naito getting to his feet as Okada attacks with a running back elbow comboed into a DDT.\u00a0 He kips up, then swipes a sliding European Uppercut under Naito\u2019s chin before covering for two.\u00a0 He once again goes for Red Ink, this time locking it in with Naito just out of arm\u2019s reach of the ropes.\u00a0 Okada pulls Naito\u2019s head back, applying as much pressure as possible while Naito circles around to finally get to the ropes and break the hold.<\/p>\n<p>Okada scoop-slams Naito and heads up top, taking flight to hit a very pretty tribute to Macho Man\u2019s flying elbow straight down on Naito\u2019s chest.\u00a0 He calls for rain!\u00a0 Naito boots him out of the unwind, quickly closing the gap to hit an Ura nage.\u00a0 As Okada rises in the corner, he is chased down by a dropkick to the apron\/heel trip\/dropkick back inside combo.\u00a0 Nope, still hasn\u2019t grown old.\u00a0 The combo is just so damn pleasing to the eye.\u00a0 The crowd unleashes another solid round of boos, with a small section privy to a wad of spit sent their way.\u00a0 Naito hits an inverted atomic drop into a Flatliner before wrapping his legs around Okada\u2019s head in a modified Koji Clutch headscissors (Barnett).\u00a0 Okada rolls Naito onto his shoulders, getting a two.\u00a0 Naito armdrags Okada into another modified Koji Clutch headscissors, squeezing as Okada fights to break it at the ropes after spending minutes in the hold.<\/p>\n<p>Naito perches Okada on the top turnbuckle and hops after him to hit a Frankensteiner while the crowd boos unmercifully.\u00a0 Naito slowly lifts Okada to his feet by the back of his trunks, with Okada punching his way out of a Gloria attempt.\u00a0 Naito spins around and sends a gob of spit towards Okada.\u00a0 Okada smacks him for it, dropping Naito to a knee as he takes off for the ropes.\u00a0 Okada dives at Naito, which is countered into a wicked looking spinebuster!\u00a0 Naito quickly gathers up Okada and tries for Destino, but Okada reverses for the neckbreaker, which is reversed again by Naito who kicks off the ropes for a tornado DDT.\u00a0 Okada counters the counter!\u00a0 He once again hoists Naito onto his shoulder, packaging up the back of his neck before dropping it across his knee.\u00a0 As Naito cradles the back of his head, Okada lays in a heap, exhaustedly heaving in oxygen.\u00a0 Red Shoes checks on both men before calling for the ten count.\u00a0 Both men roll to their sides and take a knee at eight, forcing Red Shoes to back up and let the war continue.<\/p>\n<p>They trade shots from their knees, with both men delivering labored forearms to the other that land completely undefended.\u00a0 Red Shoes steps in and out of camera view with each hit scored, watching as both men sway upon impact.\u00a0 Okada grabs the back of Naito\u2019s head, forcing in a forearm.\u00a0 Naito cackles as he teeters back, blurring the thin line between continuing the fight and ending up flat on his back.\u00a0 As both men rise, Okada lumbers back with a smile before lunging forth with a forearm that whips Naito\u2019s head sharply to the right.\u00a0 Naito stumbles back, chuckling in between deep gasps for air.\u00a0 He bounces towards Okada, drunk-dialing a slurred shot that connects to send Okada shuffling to the corner.\u00a0 Okada answers with a forearm of his own.\u00a0 They toast to another round, with Naito serving up the final shot that drops Okada to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Naito wobbles left to right as Okada uses the corner to rise.\u00a0 He rushes in, leaping for a forearm that catches the air as he\u2019s caught and lifted atop the challenger\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 Naito crawls over Okada\u2019s back and into a sunset flip, but Okada rolls to his feet and hits a basement dropkick that breaks through his swatting hands to tag him in the face.\u00a0 Okada quickly sits Naito up and heads to the ropes, bringing another basement dropkick to the face on his way back.\u00a0 He sits Naito up again, and again breaks through the champion\u2019s defense to hit another low dropkick for two.\u00a0 Barnett: \u201cLike a bag of bad plums!\u201d\u00a0 After a moment of dead air, JR quips, \u201cA bag of bad plums?\u00a0 That\u2019s how I\u2019ve been described in my swimsuit.\u201d\u00a0 Focus, Gentlemen.<\/p>\n<p>Okada lifts Naito onto his shoulder in a fireman\u2019s carry pickup, but Naito squirms free to cleanse Okada\u2019s palate with a loud smack to the face.\u00a0 Naito tags the back of Okada\u2019s head with an enzuigiri, reversing a counter whip into the ropes with a flying forearm.\u00a0 Naito tries for Destino, but gets hung up on Okada\u2019s shoulder &#8211; his legs flailing wildly for stability.\u00a0 Okada stumbles towards the ropes as Naito tries to kick free, dropping his legs across the ropes to counter into a waistlock to drag him off.\u00a0 Naito elbows out of his grasp and hits a rolling kick before hitting the ropes and coming back straight into Okada\u2019s dropkick.\u00a0 Both men are down!<\/p>\n<p>The crowd roars as Okada gets to his feet, his arms diving down to lift Naito off the mat.\u00a0 He nearly gets a tombstone, but Naito wriggles back to the mat with his body trapped in a gut-wrench position.\u00a0 Okada tries again for the tombstone, but Naito deadweights him, forcing the challenger to push him away only to uncork a European Uppercut seconds later.\u00a0 With Naito shuffling towards the ropes, Okada closes the gap and grabs him around the waist to power him up for the tombstone.\u00a0 Naito again wriggles free, repositioning his body to hit a reverse DDT!\u00a0 Naito pulls Okada off the mat and gets a half-rotation on a Destino attempt, with Okada countering with a tombstone that spikes the top of Naito\u2019s skull to the canvas!\u00a0 He pulls Naito to his feet by the back of his trunks, his hand snatching his wrist on the way up.\u00a0 Rainmaker!\u00a0 Okada drills Naito in the chest, sending his body smacking against the mat and completely folded in half!\u00a0 Okada covers, with Naito kicking out with fractions of a second to go!<\/p>\n<p>Okada drags Naito to his feet and hits a German suplex.\u00a0 He rolls through, his hand still latched tightly to Naito\u2019s wrist.\u00a0 He spins him out, but Naito counters, whipping his body onto Okada\u2019s shoulder for Destino, but Okada blocks his motion halfway through.\u00a0 Okada dumps Naito off his shoulder, with the champion setting his feet and flipping inverse to roll Okada up for the pin.\u00a0 1, 2, Okada escapes with his hand latched around Naito\u2019s wrist!\u00a0 A second Rainmaker!\u00a0 Holy s-\u2026a third Rainmaker!\u00a0 Okada peels Naito off the mat with a hand still clamped around his wrist, the champion\u2019s glazed-over gaze catching the glimpse of an arm rushing towards him.\u00a0 Son of a damn bitch!\u00a0 A fourth Rainmaker, the impact flipping Naito\u2019s body to the mat!\u00a0 Okada covers\u20261, 2, 3!!!<\/p>\n<p>WINNER: Kazuchika Okada in 28:58 to regain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship<\/p>\n<p>As Okada collapses on the canvas, a ringside crew member runs in to ice him down.\u00a0 Okada lifts three fingers, begging for reassurance that the he indeed got the win.\u00a0 He nods exhaustedly at the realization before rolling to his side while Naito gets iced down in the foreground, his eyes still glazed over as he stares at the lights strobing overhead.\u00a0 Okada rises long enough to have his hand raised before dropping back to the mat while Naito gets carried out of the ring.\u00a0 As JR mentions that the rivalry between these two men is far from over, Red Shoes hands the title to Okada as the closing score of a Disney movie trumpets throughout the arena.<\/p>\n<p>Okada gets a mic, telling the crowd that he has three things to say.\u00a0 He glares at Naito and says, \u201cMr. Naito, you made me rush things,\u201d as the crowd laughs at the comment.\u00a0 Okada tells the crowd that they all witnessed what fighting for an IWGP title is all about in New Japan Pro Wrestling.\u00a0 His second point, next up for him is the G1 Climax and he wants to win it while being the champion.\u00a0 He promises to win it because he\u2019s on a completely different level.\u00a0 I, uhhh, don\u2019t think that promise was kept.\u00a0 His last point\u2026he says he doesn\u2019t have anything.\u00a0 He just wants to make New Japan Pro Wrestling global.\u00a0 He asks the crowd if they want to see exciting things, tagging it by stating that he will take them there and \u201cmake it rain money in New Japan Pro Wrestling!\u201d\u00a0 Gold confetti shimmies down from the ceiling as Okada poses atop the turnbuckles.\u00a0 As far as Okada\u2019s newest reign, JR says that the cupboard is not bare for the amazing challenges, and challengers, for his gold.<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews Analysis:\u00a0 That was another thrilling chapter in the amazing rivalry of Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito.\u00a0 The pace was slow in comparison to Shibata\/Nagata and KUSHIDA\/Ospreay, which fit this match perfectly.\u00a0 This was a story of the two top men in the company trying to wear down the other\u2019s Herculean feats of strength and pain tolerance.\u00a0 It needed to be a grind in order for the story to be told effectively, and f- me if the result wasn\u2019t expertly accomplished.\u00a0 The standout moment, for me, came when both men were stumbling around with barely enough energy to strike a match, only to light that whole f****ng arena on fire with a thrilling final five minutes.\u00a0 This was such a remarkable sequel to their earlier match that saw Naito capture the title.\u00a0 Although New Japan is brimming at the top with talent, I can only hope that chapter three will be written by the time we get to Wrestle Kingdom 12.\u00a0 Of course, there are a few guys who might have something to say about that, so even if we have to wait until next year you can bet that they\u2019ll find a way to top what took place in Osaka-Jo Hall.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p>In the interview area, Okada wheezes through his thoughts on the match, stating that Naito is strong and that the match served as a reminder of such.\u00a0 Even without his cornermen, Okada feels as if Naito did well.\u00a0 As the camera zooms in on the belt, Okada folds it up for the tight shot while stating, \u201cI knew I had to take back this belt as soon as I could.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Naito is interviewed backstage, his body hunched over his knees as he struggles to catch his breath.\u00a0 He acknowledges that Okada, Mr. Kidani, and all the fans of New Japan must be happy.\u00a0 He asks them to thank him because \u201cit\u2019s all in the palm of my hands, you fools.\u201d\u00a0 He stumbles left to right before limping out of camera view.<\/p>\n<p>We get one last present-day, with Okada saying that he thought Naito had become stronger after winning the belt.\u00a0 He mentions Naito urging the crowd to boo him during the match, musing that in the end the booing didn\u2019t matter because those that wanted to cheer him did while those who wanted to boo him did so as well.\u00a0 He feels as if CHAOS had finally stopped LIJ\u2019s momentum.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Overall Thoughts:<\/i><\/b><i>\u00a0 The Guerillas of Destiny\/Briscoes match was ok.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t above average by any means, but getting to see the Briscoes prior to Honor Rising was a treat.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen enough Guerillas of Destiny matches to know what to expect, and damn if the Briscoes didn\u2019t stay step for step with them.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>For me, this was about Shibata\/Nagata, KUSHIDA\/Ospreay, and Naito\/Okada &#8211; six men who I have grown so fond of in such a short span of time.\u00a0 All three of those matches were superb, besting their prior entries in the respective feuds.\u00a0 I was on the edge of my seat for Shibata\/Nagata, scooching just a hair further when KUSHIDA\/Ospreay began, and damn near jumped to my feet for the ending of Naito\/Okada.\u00a0 This was one of the better blocks on AXS for all-around quality of matches.\u00a0 Give us something fun to start, then ramp it up with a hard-hitting match, followed by four world class artists painting pictures that told such brilliant stories after the last stroke was applied.\u00a0 If you ever wanted to sell someone on this company &#8211; putting on display a wide variety of styles in the most time-efficient way possible &#8211; then this is the block you would feature on the showroom floor.<\/i><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/02\/21\/njpw-axs-tv-best-super-juniors-xxiii-parts-1-2-ospreay-vs-volador-jr-gedo-vs-taguchi-elgin-omega\/\">NJPW ON AXS TV: Best of the Super Juniors XXIII (parts 1 and 2): Ospreay vs. Volador Jr., GEDO vs. Taguchi, Elgin, Omega, more<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3806996624\"><div id=\"pwtor-651461938\"><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 Dominion &#8217;16 Edition Osaka, Japan at Jo Hall By R.W. Andrews, PWTorch Specialist (1)\u00a0Tama Tonga &amp; Tanga Roa (Guerillas of Destiny) (c) vs. Jay &amp;\u00a0Mark Briscoe &#8211;\u00a0IWGP Tag Team Championship Match <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/03\/10\/njpw-axs-tv-dominion-16-including-briscoes-kushida-ospreay-okada-naito-shibata-nagata\/\" title=\"NJPW ON AXS TV: Dominion &#8217;16 including Briscoes, KUSHIDA, Ospreay, Okada, Naito, Shibata, Nagata\">[&#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":[200,4873,201,4871,4872],"class_list":["post-39781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tvshowsandevents","category-njpw-on-axs","tag-briscoes","tag-naito-kushida","tag-okada","tag-ospreay","tag-tetsuya"],"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\/39781","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=39781"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39783,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39781\/revisions\/39783"}],"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=39781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}