NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 Results: Kenny Omega Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Chris Jericho Vs. Tetsuya Naito
Hirooki Goto, Beretta, & Chuckie T vs. Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe, & Toru Yano vs. Yuji Nagata, Jeff Cobb, & David Finlay vs. Marty Scurll, Hangman Page, & Yujiro Takahashi (Number One Contender Gauntlet Match for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship)
Scurll, Takahashi, and Page take on Finlay, Cobb, and Nagata to get things started. Commentary saying they have the biggest crowd in about 20 years. Scurll and Nagata kick things off, Scurll getting the best of Nagata early on, but Nagata able to take Scurll down, works the legs, tags in Cobb. Scurll with a thumb to the eye, tags in Page who hits running shooting star on Cobb. Cobb out to the floor, kick to the face by Scurll, shooting star press off the apron by Page. Back in the ring, tries for rite of passage, no, rolling elbow hits, but Cobb lands a fallaway slam on Page and tags in Finlay.
Takahashi in there, back and forth strikes, Finlay dropped down, kick to the face, fisherman's buster land, cover, Nagata breaks it up. Chase Owens on the outside with the trip of Finlay, tries to get involved, gets knocked off the apron. Page and Takahashi end up with a miscommunication, Finlay with the roll-up on Takahashi for the three-count.
Adam Page, Marty Scurll, and Yujiro Takahashi eliminated.
Beretta, Chuckie T, and Hirooki Goto enter the match.
All six wrestlers start fighting, Goto gets right into the mix. Chuckie T with a flip over the top rope on Cobb and Finlay. Beretta with a big asai moonsault on Cobb and Finlay. Back in the ring, Nagata kicks away on Goto. Beretta tagged in, goes to work on Nagata, chops to the chest, but Nagata looks for the armbar, but Chuckie breaks that up quickly to a chorus of boos. Nagata hits an exploder to clear out Chuckie T, overhead release suplex on Beretta. Nagata tags in Cobb, Goto also comes in. Cobb with a bunch of chops, big running european uppercut in the corner.
Cobb with a crazy twisting suplex, standing moonsault, cover, gets broken up. Cobb tries to lift Goto, but gets rolled up, Nagata breaks it up. Cobb and Goto with double clotheslines, discus lariat by Goto. Chuckie in there now, jumping elbow in the corner, Cobb lifts the Best Friends and suplex both of them. Finlay in there, gets hit with a small package piledriver, cover, Nagata breaks up yet another pinfall. Chuckie with a big moonsault attempt, nobody home, Finlay rolls him up for the 1-2-3.
Beretta, Chuckie T, and Hirooki Goto are eliminated.
Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, and Davey Boy Smith Jr. enter the match.
Suzuki and Nagata face off in the middle of the ring, open hands slaps to the face. Nagata with an exloder, cover, two. Suzuki with a rear naked choke into the corner, Smith tags in, looks for a clothesline, Nagata fakes high, kicks low, and tags in Cobb. Smith with a kick to the leg, another kick is caught. Cobb nails an Olympic slam, standing moonsault, nobody home. Saito suplex, two-count. Nagata and Suzuki fighting on the floor. Smith and Archer with a double powerbomb on Finaly and that will finish them off.
Yuji Nagata, David Finlay, and Jeff Cobb eliminated.
Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe, & Toru Yano enter the match
The new team can barely get to the ring before Suzuki-gun attacks them. Suzuki goes after the English commentary, Callis literally runs away from the table. In the ring, Suzuki handles Taguchi. Smith is brought in, lands the big boot, leg drop hits, cover two. Archer is in now, walks the ropes a la Undertaker, tags Suzuki mid-walk, and drops down on Taguchi. Suzuki eggs Taguchi on to strike him, ends up dropping Taguchi who tries for a hip attack and completely misses! He gets up and hits on the second attempt.
Makabe tagged in, ten punches in the corner. He and Suzuki swing away in the middle of the ring. Makabe wants a shot and gets cracked by Suzuki, he falls down, gets up and sends back a shot. Suzuki with another forearm to the face, and Makabe gets back up with a smile on his face. Yano wants in, rakes Smith's eyes and immediately wants out, Taguchi acts like he couldn't hear him. Smith chases after Yano who unties the turnbuckle pad. Swings with it, misses, gets dropped by Smith.
Archer and Smith hit heart attack, pin, Yano kicks out. High/low combo, cover, two. Side suplex/crossbody combo, cover, Taguchi breaks up the pin. Taguchi tries for a hip attack, no luck. Taguchi is able to clear out Suzuki, but Killer Elite Squad are right back in there with the legal man, Yano. He tries for double low blows, Taguchi with a double hip attack and is then sent out. Makabe with a double clothesline, Yano with a lowblow on KES, rolls up Smith for the win!
Winners: Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe, and Toru Yano to become the number one contenders for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Titles.
Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Will Ospreay (NEVER Openweight Championship)
Fast start with Ibushi getting monkey flipped out of the ring. Ospreay looks to fly, flips back into the ring for a pose, Ibushi rushes in for a knee, no, Oscutter, no. Ibushi looks for a moonsault to the outside, but gets kicked in midair by Ospreay, who leaped up to the apron. Ospreay then flies to the outside, taking out Ibushi. Back in the ring, Ospreay controls the pace, hits some forearms to the face in a taunting manner. Snap-rana by Ibushi, sending Ospreay out to the floor.
Top rope corkscrew moonsault hits Ospreay flush. Back in the ring, Ospreay works his way back into the match, catches Ibushi in the corner, tucks the head, kick, cover, two. Back and forth forearms with Ibushi winning that battle with a big chop to the chest. Ibushi looks for last ride, no, Ospreay with a kick to the head, flips over, tries for a powerbomb, Ibushi does the same, no, kick to Ospreay who then nails a spanish fly in the middle of the ring.
Lawn dart attempt on Ospreay, reversed into a suplex, but Ibushi shakes it off and hits a running knee, last ride, cover, Ospreay just barely kicks out. Ibushi heads to the top rope, Ospreay trips him up, Ibushi goes down in the tree of woe. Ospreay sits in front of him and just slaps away at his face. Ibushi strikes back while upside down until Ospreay kicks away at Ibushi's face! Ospreay goes up, but ends up crashing down, Ibushi looks for the deadlift second rope suplex, Ospreay flips out of it. They does the amazing angle as Ibushi slowly turns around. Ibushi is bloodied at this point. Oscutter attempt, no, Ibushi with a straight jacket suplex with the bridge, cover, two.
Ibushi looks for a knee strike to the face, no, Ospreay with a kick to the head. Ibushi with rapid fire strikes and Ospreay lands a massive lariat to halt that. Back and forth counters, Ibushi with a reverse small package piledriver and Ospreay is able to just barely kick out. Ibushi pulls down the knee pad, knee strike, no, wrap around kick to Ibushi's head and then a knife edge elbow strike to the back of Ibushi's head! Ow! Ospreay picks him up for the stormbreaker, nails it, cover, 1-2-3.
Winner: Will Ospreay wins via Pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight Championship
- Post-match, Ibushi is secured on a stretcher and taken out of the ring. Commentary says they will get an update tonight or maybe tomorrow at New Year Dash.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado (c) vs. Roppongi 3K vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship)
Sho and Yoh clear out the ring and hit double flips over the top ropes on Takagi and BUSHI. Sho and Yoh look to fly again, but the champs drop both of them in the ring. Desperado and Kanemaru go to work on Yoh, but he's able to clear out the champions and tag in Sho, who hits a dropkick on Desperado. BUSHI gets in for a moment, but is sent out by Kanemaru. Takagi finally tags himself in and goes up against Sho. Takagi with a double ax chop to the chest, and hits some massive strikes to Sho. Sho tries for a suplex, no Kanemaru gets in the ring, Sho ends up suplexing both Takagi and Kanemaru, spear by BUSHI. Everyone is getting dropped one at a time.
Sho and Yoh go to work on Takagi, knee strike/back breaker combo, cover, two. Backstabber into a dropkick on Takagi, but they avoid whiskey spray and black mist, Takagi uses the distraction to lay out show with two massive lariats on Sho, cover, two. BUSHI clears out Yoh on the outside. Takagi looks to finish off Sho with last of the dragon, 1-2-3.
Winners: BUSHI and Shingo Takagi via Pinfall to win the IWGP Jr. Tag Titles
Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (RevPro British Heavyweight Championship)
Quick start, Sabre with some kicks, but finds himself getting suplexed. Sabre able to look for an cross armbreaker in the middle of the ring. Ishii finally gets a foot on the ropes. Sabre goes back to work on Ishii's arm, he tries to reach for the rope and that gets tied up as well, foot on the rope finally breaks the holds. Kick to Ishii's back, light kicks to the face as Ishii slowly rises to his feet. European uppercuts to Ishii, Ishii tries for a strike, blocked, northern lights suplex, goes for the arm and quickly switches to Ishii's ankle, wow, Ishii with the reverse into ankle of his own! Sabre up and hits a enziguri, but Ishii with a charging shoulder block sends Sabre flying into the corner.
Ishii with some strikes in the corner, Sabre charges in and gets hit with an overhead release suplex. Ishii sits Sabre up on the top rope, Ishii with a stalled vertical suplex from the second rope, Sabre able to get up, twist Ishii's arm and snap it down to the mat. A flurry of counters from both wrestlers end in an octopus stretch by Sabre. Ishii nearly gets out of it, but Sabre hits a yoshi tonic, cover, two. Penalty kick to Ishii's chest. Sabre looks for the zack driver, nope, lands a bunch of kicks to Ishii, who asks for more.
Ishii with a big chop that drops Sabre, Ishii sells his arm though after it's been worked over all match. Ishii with a stacked powerbomb, two-count. Ishii misses an enziguri, but sliding clothesline lands, looks for a brainbuster, Sabre with a knee to the head. Sabre looks for standing guillotine, Ishii fights out of it, but Sabre locks in a double octopus stretch. Ishii with the verbal tapout.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. wins via Submission to win the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship
Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa (c) vs. EVIL and SANADA vs. The Young Bucks (IWGP Tag Team Championship)
Tonga and Nick start things off, Tonga tries to shake Nick's hand and says "I'm a good guy!" Matt ends up tagging in, EVIL looks to shake hands and ends up just tagging in and tossing Tonga out of the ring. EVIL takes Matt out to the ramp, body slam, EVIL gets up a head of steam down the ramp and runs over Matt. Back in the ring, Loa tags in and body slams EVIL, cover, two.
Tonga gets in there, hits a reverse cutter. They clear out the other teams, both head up to the top, Loa hits a headbutt, but Matt tags in. Matt and Nick with a double dropkick, EVIL tries to fight off the bucks, Matt with a senton, then hits a baseball slide on SANADA on the floor. Another double team move on EVIL, cover, two. Nick with a flip to the outside. Matt with a sharpshooter on EVIL. Loa tries to break the hold, but Tonga tells him no, they instead push the bottom rope towards EVIL who is able to break the hold.
EVIL back up, clothesline on Matt, SANADA is tagged in. Young Bucks try for a double team, but Nick gets put in a paradise lock, Matt sent into his partner. Tonga in, SANADA with a dropkick sending Tonga to the floor. SANADA then hits four consecutive crossbody attacks on different opponents to the floor. Crowd appreciated that spot. Back in the ring, SANADA and Matt are countering each other. SANADA looks for skull end, but Nick flips in for the save. Tonga twist sends Nick out to the floor. EVIL gets a magic killer on Tonga with Loa mistakenly helping out with that move.
Matt with a spear on Loa. Big tower of doom sending multiple wrestlers crashing down. Nick with a 450 splash on SANADA. Jado in the ring with a kendo stick, Fale tries to stop him, Young Bucks end up double superkicking Jado. EVIL with a clothesline, sending Fale out of the ring. Nick hits a step-up hurricanrana off the top rope on Tonga, double superkick on SANADA who tried to jump off the top rope. Nick gets hit with a midair gun stun. Everything is evil on Tonga, magic killer on Matt, SANADA hits a moonsault on Matt for the victory.
Winners: EVIL and SANADA via Pinfall to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Juice Robinson (IWGP US Championship)
Cody and Brandi out with Jaguars themed wrestling gear. Rhodes tries to pull knee injury early on, but punches Robinson in the face. Robinson gets control of the match, looks to fly off the top rope, Brandi hops in to cover Cody. Robinson hops down, Brandi offers up Juice punch her in the face, he doesn't, she ends up leaving the ring. Juice heads out to the apron to get Cody, gets kicked in the face and sent shoulder-first into the ring post. Cody ties up the referee with Brandi hitting a bionic spear on Juice and follows up with a ton punches on him. The referee catches her and sends her packing. Brandi shoves one of the Young Lions as she leaves.
Cody hits cross rhodes on Juice, cover, two. Juice is up, tries for pulp friction, nope, Cody tries for cross rhodes and Juice hits a cross rhodes of his own, pin, two-count. Commentary has noted a few times about the new business Cody and The Young Bucks have started up, haven't specifically named All Elite Wrestling though. Cody drops Juice again and gets a very close three-count. Cody pulls off the weight belt, smacks Juice once with it, doesn't get disqualified, Cody tosses the belt and yells at Juice to "get up!" Juice finally gets up and cracks Cody with a chop. Back and forth punches. Juice lands two left hand of god punches, Juice with pulp friction, he pauses, hits a second one, cover, 1-2-3.
Winner: Juice Robinson via Pinfall to win the IWGP US Championship
KUSHIDA (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship)
KUSHIDA going right after Ishimori's arm right off the bat. Ishimori able to get the LaBell lock in on the champion. KUSHIDA trying to get back into this match, Ishimori with a kick, sets him up in the ropes and hits a sliding german suplex. Back in the ring, Ishimori with a 450 splash, misses, KUSHIDA goes right into the cross armbreaker, crossface, triangle, Ishimori powers out and gets KUSHIDA on his shoulders. KUSHIDA with a keylock submission, Ishimori fights out into a hurricanrana armbar, but can't keep it on for long.
KUSHIDA ends up tossing Ishimori's feet up on the referee's shoulders (referee just freezes), KUSHIDA then with a big kick to Ishimori. Lands another kick, rolls through, but Ishimori reverse hits double knees to the face, cover, two. KUSHIDA looking for another keylock submission, Ishimori gets him up on his shoulders and hits a death valley driver on the champ. KUSHIDA up, hits back to the future, tries again, no, straight overhand right lands flush, but Ishimori somehow is able to hit a jumping double stomp on KUSHIDA. Ishimori hits bloody cross for the victory.
Winner: Taiji Ishimori via Pinfall to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
A more measured start when the bell rings, White gets to work on Okada, trips him up, tosses Okada into the corner, and then just dumps his opponent out to the floor. Back in the ring, White continues to work over Okada, flies in with a back elbow, hits a couple saito suplexes, cover, two. White with a couple disrespectful slaps to the face, Okada with a hard charging back elbow to drop White, flying elbow in the corner, cover, two. Crowd is really into this one early on, firmly behind Okada (who's sporting his old wrestling trunks instead of the pants he's been wearing lately).
White gets put up on the top rope, Okada with a dropkick that sends White all the way down to the floor. White sent into the barricade, Okada knocks him over it. Gedo tries for a cheap shot to the back, Okada then sends him over the barricade and the gate ended up swinging around and clocking Gedo in the back of the head. Okada with a big crossbody over the barricade, taking out both men. Okada stands up on some chairs and looks to hype up the crowd.
Back in the ring, body slam, Okada up top and nails a big elbow drop, rainmaker pose! He goes for it, but White elbows himself away, plants Okada face-first into the match followed by a german suplex. White looks for bladerunner, no, goes for a clothesline. White gets the referee's attention, Gedo puts a chair on the ring, then gets the referee's attention. White with a chair swing, nope, Okada shoves White into Gedo and nails a dropkick to the back of the head, then another to White's face. Rainmaker, no, Okada is on the receiving end of a half-and-half suplex. Kiwi crusher by White, cover, very close three.
White looks for bladerunner, Okada counters into a tombstone piledriver. "Okada!" rings out in the Tokyo Dome. More counters, rainmaker, no, dropkick lands on White. Okada tries for rainmaker, nope, bladerunner, Okada side steps, tombstone, no, bladerunner by White, no, spinning lariat finally hits for Okada. Okada tries for rainmaker and it's instantly countered into a bladerunner! White with the pin and the victory!
Winner: Jay White via Pinfall
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito (No DQ Match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship)
Naito is ready to go as soon as Jericho gets in the ring, attacking him from behind. They brawl out on the floor, Naito chokes Jericho with his scarf and slams him head first into the table. Naito takes Jericho up the ramp, looking for a piledriver and he gets all of that. Back in the ring, Naito takes off the turnbuckle pad, whacks Jericho a few times with it, launches it and Red Shoes has to dive out of the way. Naito with a hurricanrana on Jericho, does a quick pose, much to the delight of the crowd.
Naito clotheslines Jericho out to the floor, Naito looks to fly, nope, then decides to charge in and gets cracked in the face with a kendo stick! Jericho whacks him again, gets up on the turnbuckle, does Naito's taunt, and hits the challenge again. Jericho continues to beat up Naito, out on the floor Jericho takes a camera and films Naito for a moment, then flips him the middle finger. Jericho holds Naito's against the barricade gate and knees him from behind. Jericho brings Naito on an announce table. "Finish him!" Jericho with a sick DDT, planting Naito's head straight into the table. Jericho grabs the ring bell and rings it, but Red Shoes says no way.
Jericho gets Naito back in the ring, heads to the top rope, hits a big crossbody, cover, pin. Crowd cheering on Naito who tries to fight back, but Jericho drops him with a back elbow, lionsault hits, pin, two-count. Jericho does a whole lot of taunting to the crowd as he slaps Naito over the head. Naito gets up and fires back, leaping forearm connects on Jericho. Jericho tossed in the corner, he throws a few kicks at Naito, who just spits in his face and gives the crowd a smile. Neckbreaker on Jericho, cover, two. Naito with some light kicks to Jericho's head, puts his foot on Jericho's face and spits at Jericho's face again.
Naito tries for the slingshot dropkick in the corner, caught, Jericho with the Walls of Jericho in the middle of the ring. Jericho tries for a codebreaker, caught, tornado DDT off the ropes by Naito lands. Naito hits Gloria, dropping Jericho on his neck, cover, two. Destino attempt, Jericho throws him down and puts him in the Walls of Jericho again. "Ask him!" Jericho yells over and over until Naito grabs hold of the kendo stick and swings away on the champion to break the hold. Another smack to the back of Jericho, baseball swing straight into Jericho's midsection. Naito legit acting like a baseball player, hard swing misses, codebreaker lands and Naito kicks out!
Jericho went to the kendo stick again, drops it, throws some chairs in the ring. He piles them up and looks for a powerbomb, but Naito with a DDT into the chair. Naito tosses out some of the chairs, hits a codebreaker, cover, two. Naito grabs the kendo stick, heads to the second rope, Jericho tosses a chair at him, tries for a suplex, but Naito hits a german suplex on a pile of chairs. Destino, nope, lowblow, codebreaker, very close three. Jericho goes for a chair, drops it, grabs the title. "Want to be the champ?! Huh?! Come on!" Jericho yells. Jericho tries for the swing and gets sent into the exposed turnbuckle, destino hits, and no! Crowd thought that was it. Naito eyes the title, picks it up and smacks Jericho in the face, launches the title out of the ring, destino hits, cover, 1-2-3.
Winner: Tetsuya Naito via Pinfall to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (IWGP Heavyweight Championship)
Feeling out process to kick things off, Omega ends up getting a little annoyed and stops. He tries again and Tanahashi slaps him in the face. Omega then aggressively locks up, shoves Tanahashi to the ropes, goes to hit him, backs off, Tanahashi just slaps him! Omega gets angered and then slaps the challenger back. Omega charges in, back elbow by Tanahashi, heads to the second rope, Omega looks for one winged angel, but it's easily countered. Tanahashi locks up Omega's legs and they start slapping the heck out of each other. Omega finally crawls to the ropes for a break. Omega gets up, hits a knee, quick elbow drop.
Omega with kicks to the back and is really focusing on Tanahashi's back now. More kicks land, back suplex, Omega seems pretty proud of himself at this point as Tanahashi rolls out to the floor, Omega follows, chops to the chest, Tanahashi sent to the barricade and then returns fire with a dropkick. Both men up, Omega powerslams Tanahashi on the announce table. Omega then hits a moonsault off the barricade, taking out Tanahashi, and celebrating with one of the Japanese commentators.
Omega brings out and sets up a table on the floor. He taunts the crowd a bit, Tanahashi looks to smash Omega's face on the table, stops, and tosses Omega in the ring. Back in the ring, Omega is landing some massive chops to Tanahashi's chest, but the challenge hits a running forearm to stop Omega's momentum. Tanahashi tries for slingblade, no, Omega plants Tanahashi to the mat and he rolls out to the floor again. Omega looks to fly, but Tanahashi runs in and hits a dropkick. Omega with a snap-rana, sending Tanahashi to the outside. Omega tries again and ends up taking out Tanahashi, but basically lands on his back on the ramp, ow. Both are able to beat the 20-count, Omega lands a v-trigger, tries for one winged angel, nope, twist and shout, nope. Omega with you can't escape, but he twists his knee and pauses for a moment, Tanahashi takes advantage with a dragon leg screw from the second rope.
Tanahashi locks in the scorpion deathlock and transition into the styles clash! Tanahashi heads to the top rope, high fly flow and Omega gets the knees up, both men in pain after that one. Tanahashi with a dragon leg screw over the second rope and then hits a slingblade on the apron. Tanahashi thinks about sending Omega into the ring, but instead puts him on the table, climbs up to the top and goes for high fly flow, but nobody home! Tanahashi goes crashing through a table. 20-count starts up and ends at 15. Omega drapes Tanahashi over the second rope, Omega up top and hits a double stomp to the back of his opponent's head. Omega looks for a stacked up powerbomb, two-count. He goes for another one, another two-count. He goes for a third sit-out powerbomb, cover, kick out! Omega showing signs of frustration.
Omega with a v-trigger attempt, slingblade by Tanahashi. Back and forth attacks, Tanahashi holding his ribs after crashing through the table, leaving his face wide open for slaps and chops. Omega landing some horrific chops to the face and Tanahashi fights back. Omega hits a slingblade, heads to the top rope, high fly flow, cover, and Tanahashi kicks out at one! The Ace is eats a v-trigger and then another one. Omega tries again, it gets caught and Omega gets his knee kicked out from under him. Reverse-rana by Omega and follows it up with a massive v-trigger. One winged angel and Tanahashi hits a reverse-rana of his own, spiking Omega on his head! Dragon suplex hits, Tanahashi heads to the top, high fly flow on a standing Omega. He goes back up top again, high fly flow lands, cover, 1-2-no!
Tanahashi is slow to climb up top, Omega shakes the ropes and leaps up for a v-trigger. Omega sits Tanahashi up top, facing the crowd, Omega looking for a dragon suplex, but it ends up being more of an overhead release suplex. Omega looking for his billionth v-trigger and it might be the hardest of the bunch. One winged angel, Tanahashi with a twisting leg drop counter, slingblade, high fly flow, 1-2-3, new champion!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi via Pinfall to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
- Post-match, Tanahashi thanks the fans in attendance. He originally thought deep down inside he wasn't sure if could compete on this stage, but was able to come through on the big stage. He teases not being able to air guitar, but does one for the crowd and celebrates a bit more before heading up the ramp.
