Only a week removed from one of the worst major shows they ever put on in Castle Attack Night 1, a new energy is in the air for New Japan, a 49th Anniversary Show and New Japan Cup to embark on — not to mention the now unified IWGP World Heavyweight Title, providing a new journey for basically everybody on the roster.
1. Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma, Master Wato & Gabriel Kidd vs. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
El Desperado is on the biggest journey of his life in the main event, and here his Suzuki-gun friends opened up the show paired off with the fellas they’ll be facing in the New Japan Cup first round. ZSJ and Kidd did some choice matwork, while Suzuki and Honma mostly growled at and hit each other which provided a fun soundtrack. Suzuki took a bodyslam from Kidd while ZSJ took a straight back bump on the floor when Kidd elbowed him off the apron. Goto pins DOUKI. **1/4
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, David Finlay, Toa Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jay White, EVIL, KENTA, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
This was more New Japan Cup round previews, and in my opinion the best parts were when Chase Owens wrecked Dave Finlay with a knee and when KENTA did headlock jokes with Juice Robinson’s new afro. The finish is actually amazing too, as after enduring a beating Finlay tags out to Taguchi, who springboards into the ring and… gets hit with the Everything is EVIL for 3. New Japan is back. **
3. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & SHO vs. Shingo Takagi, SANADA & BUSHI
An absolute lineup of talents just havin’ fun exchanges, probably the ideal New Japan undercard match. Ishii is the key here like usual, selling his ribs from the other day and just going at it with Shingo for no reason. Okada is here too… he tries to submit Shingo with the Money Clip. ***1/4
4. New Japan Cup – Round 1: Satoshi Kojima vs. Jeff Cobb
Keep it simple, stupid — if you do, you might have a really great wrestling match. They traded 10 minutes of limb work for a compact match based around strength, strikes, and slams out of nowhere. Kojima sells early on and when he collapses after a clothesline, it is the perfect mix of campy and compelling. He keeps fighting back but The Cobb just has his number, and when the surprises hit they hit: Kojima manages a superplex, Cobb catches a Kojima pescado and gives him a backbreaker, and eventually Cobb catches Kojima off the ropes and hits Tour of the Islands. A wonderful, compact wrestling match. ***3/4
5. New Japan Cup – Round 1: Tetsuya Naito vs. Great O-Khan
Great O-Khan is an enigma, the right balance of legitimate monster that the New Japan heavyweight scene needs but he will also bump around like a total goofball, creating a presence you can’t take your eyes off of. This might not be the most high-end Naito match but it was the most interesting one in a long time, with Naito prepared to run through the same crazy match and O-Khan just saying NO.
O-Khan catches all the usual signature spots and occasionally just manhandles him, all the while working the leg — but here’s the twist: he wins with it! Instead of a finish with a bunch of near falls, O-Khan just traps Naito in a kneelock and after a few minutes of struggle Naito gives up. It was a great finish. ****1/4
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title & IWGP Intercontinental Title: Kota Ibushi [c] vs. El Desperado
El Desperado does it again, delivering an epic match just because. He grounds Ibushi with leg work, then tries to keep up with him on strikes. It doesn’t just read right, it hits epic territory in the last few minutes as Desperado’s better-than-normal challenge becomes an actual challenge. Ibushi goes for the kill; Desperado counters out of nowhere with a stretch muffler and nearly taps him out. Ibushi tries a cradle and finally smashes the Kamigoye; Desperado kicks out! He hits another and wins. Best Ibushi title defense yet. ****
Happy Thoughts: This was my favorite New Japan show in a while — after the Okada 6-man, everything was well worth checking out. 4.0 / 5.0
