NJPW ON AXS (11/11/16) – The New Beginning in Niigata Part 1
IWGP Tag Team Title: Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma [c] vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows w/ Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale (2/14/16)
Anderson & Gallows’ swan song in New Japan and it was very good. Hit every note it needed to – Honma took a beating, Makabe got the hot tag tag, and Honma finally got a win. Anderson and Doc are way scarier in Japan and Honma has always been an amazing underdog seller, a Tsuyoshi Kikuchi for a new generation. ***1/2
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: KUSHIDA [c] w/ Ryusuke Taguchi vs. BUSHI w/ Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI (2/14/16)
This was like two matches in one and I liked a lot of it – a Japanese junior heavyweight match with matwork and dives, an American-style underdog match with KUSHIDA fighting up against BUSHI’s mist and interference from EVIL. Finish was awesome, with Naito getting kicked in the face, KUSHIDA getting on the Hoverboard Lock, Taguchi and Jay White holding back Naito, and KUSHIDA rolling BUSHI into the center of the ring for the tap out. ***1/2
NJPW ON AXS (11/11/16) – The New Beginning in Niigata Part 2
IWGP Intercontinental Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega (2/14/16)
There are quite a few Kenny Omega interviews on these AXS shows and they are probably very cool if you are 15-years-old. I mean he straight-up calls Tanahashi a bitch! Not hating, go get the kids – I’m just about to turn 30 and not moved. This was really good, with both guys selling their asses off (Tanahashi’s shoulder, Omega’s leg) and some fun hooks like Omega acting like he was going to not fight dirty early, Omega bringing some junior-heavyweight craziness (moonsault off guardrail, reverse rana) to a New Japan heavyweight match, and a super super hot finish, with a ref bump and Mike Elgin carrying those dastardly Young Bucks to the back. “I’m sorry, Nakamura” says Tanahashi backstage – the STORY of this! ***3/4
