NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING
WRESTLE KINGDOM 19
JANUARY 4, 2025
TOKYO DOME
TOKYO, JAPAN
Watch: NJPW WORLD
MEET YOUR REVIEWERS:
Go well with Williams: You may learn Go well with’s long-form previews and evaluations of wrestling from world wide right here at Voices of Wrestling. You may as well discover his weekly evaluations of AEW Collision over at F4WOnline. Take a look at his brand-new wrestling weblog Williams Watches Wrestling, the place he’ll interact in watch tasks and assessment requests like Williams Watches WrestleMania each Wednesday. This previous week, he reviewed Wrestlemania 22, that includes Rey Mysterio wrestling with the Eddie Guerrero buff and Triple H turning the smarks on John Cena. Observe Go well with on all social media platforms @SuitWilliams.
Jeri Evagood: Jeri is right here to observe NJPW Professional Wrestling and eat chilly pizza ridiculously early within the morning…. Two noble objectives, if she does say so myself. She is trying to get again into NJPW after a 12 months plus off from watching its shenanigans! She’s trying ahead to getting again into the swing of issues. You’ll find her on BlueSky at Jeri Jeri Fairly Opposite. Warning: She talks about kink simply as a lot as she do professional wrestling—two totally different sorts of consensual violence.
NEW JAPAN RAMBO MATCH FOR FUTURE IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
HIROOKI GOTO WINS
Eliminations so as: Josh Barnett, Boltin Oleg, Yuji Nagata, YOSHI-HASHI, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe went by way of the center rope however by no means received again in, Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma, Taichi, SANADA, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, Alex Zayne, Nice O-Khan
Go well with: There are 17 entrants on this match, in line with the ring announcer. I awakened with a palpable buzz for this present, and I used to be greeted by Josh Barnett. Barnett couldn’t get eradicated by anybody, after all, so he tumbled excessive rope with Boltin Oleg as he had on some fuckin’ keylock or one thing. KENTA was again to racewalking mode after killing it with KENOH on the NOAH New 12 months present. I felt unhealthy that Tenzan needed to stroll down the ramp for his entrance however instantly cheered up when Satoshi Kojima made his approach out together with his MLW World Heavyweight Title.
My anticipated winner SANADA walked to the ring with the identical depth he did when he important evented ¼ final 12 months. He feigned a low blow from Taichi to remove him however then hopped excessive rope for some purpose and received booted by Taichi to get eradicated. The ultimate 4 have been Massive Tom Ish, Nice O-Khan, Hirooki Goto, and Alex Zayne for some purpose. O-Khan dumped Ishii and Zayne, however Goto received O-Khan over the ropes and lariated him out to win the match and earn his tenth IWGP Heavyweight Title match. Goto’s had a renewed push this 12 months after reaching the New Japan Cup Remaining final 12 months, reviving his credibility as one of many final males standing from his technology. You understand what they are saying: it’s exhausting to lose NINE IWGP Title challenges in a row! *1/2
Jeri: It’s the Rambo. To win wrestling, you will need to turn into wrestling. An honest and acceptable pre-show match, not very thrilling however the enjoyable is seeing who pops up in it… in addition to the bonus intrigue of who will get a future title shot! We received lots of totally different personalities and kinds on this match as you’ll count on, and I used to be actually fearful they go together with a boring decide like SANADA… however was pleasently shocked they went with Goto. Is Goto going to win it? HA… no. However it will likely be enjoyable to fake. Not an excessive amount of to write down about in any other case. The motion was largely gradual, the principle curiosity was being who would present up. Even Tenzan confirmed up, though making him stroll the Dome ramp was a alternative. An appropriate pre present slog with an excellent end result. **
IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM TITLE LADDER MATCH
ICHIBAN SWEET BOYS (KOSEI FUJITA & ROBBIE EAGLES) DEF. INTERGALACTIC JET SETTERS (KEVIN KNIGHT & KUSHIDA) (C), CATCH 2/2 (FRANCESCO AKIRA & TJP), BULLET CLUB WAR DOGS (CLARK CONNORS & DRILLA MOLONEY)
Go well with: These guys labored their asses off right here to have a memorable opener, with this being the primary ladder match in Tokyo Dome historical past in line with commentary. They have been very formidable with their spots, with an excellent chunk of them simply lacking the affect level. In the end, this was one other ladder match that I used to be nice with however that I might’ve lived with out. Fujita and Eagles, who gained Tremendous Junior Tag League, gained the titles after Fujita locked Akira in a Dragon Sleeper on high of the ladder. ***1/2
Jeri: I’ve been burnt out on ladder matches for someday, so I wasn’t certain how I’d get pleasure from this entering into. In the end it was a enjoyable opener. It didn’t go longer than wanted which helped tremendously because it stored it compact and gave a way of urgency. I used to be fearful with 4 groups this might flip right into a trainwreck that was exhausting to observe, however it was fairly targeted and didn’t attempt to do an extreme quantity at one time which allowed you to deal with the more durable and extra impactful spots. Some spots maybe didn’t land as that they had deliberate, however it didn’t damage the rhythm or move of the match. This was an excellent begin to the principle card. ***1/2
IWGP WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH
MAYU IWATANI (C) DEF. AZM
Go well with: These two didn’t have any time to waste right here, they usually wrestled prefer it. They went balls to the wall right here and threw bombs at one another. There’s lots of dialog about match instances in girls’s wrestling, and I’ve at all times been on the facet {that a} lengthy match doesn’t essentially make an excellent match. Have a look at any Triple H match, for instance. Plenty of matches fall into the entice of going lengthy to say they went lengthy as a substitute of getting a match that may truly fill the time. These two had the easy concept of simply whipping one another’s ass till one couldn’t stand up. It helped having AZM in there, as she’s mastered the short matches as a long-reigning Excessive Velocity Champion. Iwatani retained with the Two Step Tiger Suplex. ***3/4
Jeri: I noticed this match was going to get the shaft time sensible….. however you benefit from the time you get and these opponents determined to go all out for what size they received. All motion, little or no downtime, a bloody mouth on AZM, this was energetic and entertaining. It felt like excessive stakes and each opponents wanting to place it away as quickly as doable. That mentioned the time restraints is a hamper as you can inform issues have been rushed not letting sure factor breath or absolutely sink in. This was a quick ahead model of a basic match, however you bought to applaud the trouble they gave working with what that they had. It turned iinto a hell of an effort! ***3/4
NJPW WORLD TELEVISION TITLE FOUR-WAY MATCH
EL PHANTASMO (W/ JADO) DEF. REN NARITA (C) VS. JEFF COBB VS. RYOHEI OIWA (W/ HARTLEY JACKSON)
Go well with: This was one other nice four-way match, one which I desire over a Narita singles match. Cobb was the star of this match, at one level laying everybody out with a Tope Cobb Hilo. Roy The Mullet (credit score to Lyric Swinton on that one) seemed alright, however he’s going to be a participant down the road on this firm. Narita…received in the place he slot in. Cobb broke Narita’s push-up board and laid him out with a Tour of the Islands, however Phantasmo broke it up with a dive earlier than hitting Narita with the Thunder Kiss ’86 for the win and the title. ELP spent the 12 months in a funk after the remainder of Guerillas of Future left for WWE, however he ended it beating most cancers and profitable the TV Title right here in a pleasant second. ***1/2
Jeri: Hell yeah, if ever there was time to go for a really feel good ending, this was it. I received off my sofa and let loose a “FUCK YES” when ELP received the win for the title change…. And I’m not even an enormous ELP fan. Most cancers can get fucked, and ELP overcoming most cancers and profitable a title afterward is superior. Narita was in all probability the least attention-grabbing factor on this match, however he performed his position effectively of being that annoying gnat attempting to brief change his approach to victory solely to lastly get caught and receiving his come uppance. Oiwa goes to be increasingly more spectacular as time goes on, a powerhouse, and I need to see extra of him sooner or later as I get again into my NJPW watching, and Cobb is constantly entertaining, constantly gifted, and this was an important compact match that didn’t really feel rush regardless of the fifteen minute constraints. Properly place, effectively executed, and a really feel good ending. ***1/2
LUMBERJACK MATCH WITH TANAHASHI’S HAIR AND CAREER ON THE LINE
HIROSHI TANAHASHI DEF. EVIL
Go well with: I want EVIL had a greater act, as I really like his aesthetic. I want they tortured individuals with holds and never unhealthy wrestling matches.
Tanahashi’s physique could also be shot, however his capacity to place an enormous match collectively stays intact. These two got here out right here, received the shenanigans out of the best way with the lumberjacks early, then had a rattling good closing stretch with EVIL coming ever so carefully to profitable earlier than Tanahashi swiped it away. EVIL reduce off the Excessive Fly Movement, hit a superplex, Darkness Falls, an extended stint within the Darkness Scorpion, and the EVIL. However as EVIL went for the pin after his end, Tanahashi snatched him up in a small bundle to win and combat on.
After the match, Home of Torture hit the ring to brawl with the lumberjacks and Tanahashi, however Katsuyori Shibata made the save and ran off the Home of Torture. He requested Tanahashi for a match at Wrestle Dynasty tomorrow evening, which Tanahashi accepted. An superior match with a surprising post-match announcement. An overachiever if there ever was one. ****
Jeri: I shouldn’t have appreciated this. I keep in mind not liking HOT shenanigans and tom foolery after I was nonetheless watching NJPW repeatedly, so I used to be ready to hate it right here, however there was a factor that made it work… a component referred to as Hiroshi Tanahashi. This match labored as a result of it informed a wonderful story of the dastardly, brief reduce taking, low cost shot-throwing bastard that’s EVIL doing all he might to conquer the virtuous, hard-working, and beloved Tanahashi and Tanahashi desirous to lengthen his profession till it’s destined time to finish. That was a recipe for achievement, and the recipe was executed fantastically. This rocked with Tanahashi and his lumberjacks always doing what they may to beat and defend themselves towards the antics of Home of Torture and the group, who was already behind Tanahashi, getting increasingly more into it. This isn’t a workrate match so in case you are in search of that, I’m sorry my good friend, you aren’t going to search out it, that is good versus evil, pure versus corrupted, that is the survive towards all odds and overcome situation. . . and it freaking clicked in and labored! Additionally Shibata returned to avoid wasting Tanahashi after which problem him to a match… tomorrow! Fuck yeah! This all dominated. Our first 4 star affair of the night! ****
WINNER TAKE ALL MATCH FOR BOTH AEW INTERNATIONAL & NEVER OPENWEIGHT TITLE
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA (INTERNATIONAL) DEF. SHINGO TAKAGI (NEVER)
Go well with: This match fell in that odd spot of “nice, however underwhelming.” It was the motion you’ll count on from these two, as they hit one another exhausting and dumped one another on their heads. However it felt like they left an even bigger closing stretch of their again pockets. I’d be bummed out about that usually, however that truly offers me hope for a rematch between the 2 with much more room to breathe. I’ve written earlier than about being uninterested in Shingo on this spot with the NEVER Title, and hopefully this Takeshita reign results in another person rising as much as take the title again from this AEW invader.
Takeshita gained with the Raging Fireplace. ****
Jeri: I had lots of confidence I’d get pleasure from this entering into, and I wasn’t unsuitable. This was nice, hit so many good notes, however, whew, I might’ve used 5 extra minutes of that stuff. I really feel like this can be a nice match however they each have a greater match in them they’re ready to unleash, and that’s not a knock on the trouble of those males who put in a hell of a title versus title effort, and Takeshita as a double champion is intriguing going ahead and I sit up for seeing what he will get into in NJPW (particularly his match with Ishii tomorrow). There was some exhausting hits and drops on this match, and among the sequences was simply holy shit inducing in how they sounded and seemed. Once more, it’s a case of utilizing the time you get to the very best of your skills, and whereas I want I had 5 extra minutes, they used their time effectively, paced it properly, and it felt like a whole match ultimately. I hope we will run this again with a bit extra time sooner or later as I want to see these opponents go at it once more sooner or later. This card has been a optimistic to this point, and this match was one more welcome boost to an excellent card to this point! ****
IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
EL DESPERADO DEF. DOUKI (C) BY REFEREE STOPPAGE
Go well with: Douki seemed to both have damaged his arm or dislocated his elbow on a nook dive to the ground, and the match was stopped instantly with the title being awarded to Desperado. Despe seemed upset however grabbed the mic to say that these have been the dangers you took once you went all out like these two did. He wouldn’t apologize and promised that they’d end this combat someday quickly.
An absolute bummer for Douki, who labored his approach up from an damage substitute for Desperado in Tremendous Juniors to strolling into the Tokyo Dome as IWGP Jr. Champion. This can be a horrible flip of occasions for him, however to search for a silver lining, that is the type of state of affairs that builds true emotional funding in followers for a wrestler. That empathy for Douki will help to make him a good larger star upon his return. He now has two journeys to take, one again to the Jr. Title and one again to the Tokyo Dome. N/R
Jeri: …Shit.. This was constructing to one thing nice, I might sense it, after which Douki hit a excessive danger transfer to the surface and… received badly damage to the purpose of getting to cease the match. FUCK. Security first after all, and stopping the match was the best name and I applaud it, however this was such a bummer and sucked the wind out of issues. However most significantly I hope Douki can get better absolutely and effectively and get again to doing the issues he love. Take your time and are available again one hundred pc. N/R
IWGP GLOBAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
YOTA TSUJI DEF. DAVID FINLAY (C)
Go well with: For some time, David Finlay felt like a man that was simply going to be A Man on the roster. He got here in as a younger lion, by no means received an tour, and simply slotted in an undercard babyface position alongside guys like Ricochet, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Juice Robinson. He appeared destined to face alongside guys like YOSHI-HASHI and Tomoaki Honma on the backside of the cardboard. When he turned heel and took possession of the Bullet Membership, it felt like a spot he was by no means outfitted to fill. He wasn’t the man to take a match to the following gear and actually step as much as the principle occasion degree. I’m right here to let you know of us, David Finlay has discovered that subsequent gear.
He was an animal on this match, violently ragdolling Yota Tsuji round. There was one level the place he hit three Dominators back-to-back-to-back on Tsuji the place I simply put my fingers on my head and questioned what the hell received into this man. Finlay has discovered his lane as a dominating, bullying, energy heel that’s to be overcome. Tsuji survived the onslaught from Finlay, together with a uranage by way of a desk at ringside, to return again and land the Gene Blast spear to lastly win the large one and depart with the World Title. Tsuji received the much-needed win, however with this match, David Finlay put himself on the map as a real-deal participant in New Japan. ****1/4
Jeri: This was wanted after the deflation that was the earlier match. This match was capable of get the group again and ship the products. Nice match, and it was largely because of Finlay who had one hell of an effort. Tsuji did nice and did sufficient to maintain his finish of the discount and ensure the match made it to nice standing, however Finlay who’s somebody I used to be actually impressed with right here, and as soon as upon a time I can’t think about myself ever saying that. He simply actually has a presence, confidence, and skill about him now. Tsuji has some good strikes, an excellent look, and I feel he can have proceed success, however I really feel there are some issues that also want to completely click on. All that to say this match was paced effectively, some impactful spots (the spot the place Finlay put Tsuji by way of the desk was superior) and I felt good on the ending, felt earned by way of a tough combat. Good things, and one other 4 star match of the night, however I’m nonetheless ready for one thing to interrupt the 4 star barrier for me. ****
TETSUYA NAITO DEF. HIROMU TAKAHASHI
Go well with: This was by no means going to be for me since I’m not an LIJ lore man, and I’m additionally of the idea that Naito is fried. These two didn’t do something to vary my thoughts right here, as this was a flat match with a shocking lack of warmth at factors. For the large cash match on this present, the individuals didn’t actually appear strongly invested in it. Naito has no explosion in any of his actions, they usually didn’t work a match designed for one man to be cheered over the opposite till the top. The tip of the match noticed Naito mainly punk Hiromu out and beat him clear with the Destino. The post-match noticed a defeated Hiromu crawl up Naito’s physique as he stood holding up his fist for the LIJ pose. Hiromu bowed and put his fist up earlier than the 2 walked off.
My solely hope is that that is taking part in off of the Naito/Keiji Mutoh match from Wrestle Kingdom 6, the place Hiromu received overwhelmed soundly by the veteran, resulting in a rematch at a future Dome present the place Hiromu surpasses Naito. The tip of the match was laid on too thick for me to imagine that this was “one evening solely” because the announcers famous. However the issue is that I don’t need to see this match once more, and I feel Naito is barely going to worsen as time goes on. This was a swing and a miss. Greatest case situation is that it’s the beginning of the arc between these two that I don’t need to see. Worst case situation is that this can be a one-off that achieved completely nothing. **1/2
Jeri: I don’t need to say an excessive amount of, trigger I might say alot, however this didn’t click on, this didn’t resonate, this didn’t succeed on any platform. A terrific concept 5 years too late, Naito isn’t the identical Naito he was, and Takahashi didn’t carry out to the extent he wanted to for this match to excel. It was gradual, it was plodding, the group for ¾ of it appeared very subdued (though they picked up within the closing ¼) and the ending was… effectively… not the end result I’d’ve gone with. I’m not even certain I can name this match a disappointment, I positively didn’t are available in considering it will excel in 2025, however I can’t fake I wasn’t hoping to be confirmed unsuitable/a miracle both. Miracles have occurred in wrestling earlier than. Alas this was no miracle, this was a low finish semi-main occasion match. I wouldn’t name it lifeless, however I positively did have to ensure it was respiration just a few instances to make sure. I used to be orgiinally going to provide it a Women three… however upon main consideration, I can’t even do this. It didn’t succeed at something that will’ve garner my curiosity or enjoyment. **1/2
IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
ZACK SABRE JR. (C) DEF. SHOTA UMINO
Go well with: After this match ended, I sat for some time to consider whether or not I appreciated it or not. I received an excellent sense of what they have been going for, with Umino getting dragged to the deep waters and never having the ability to be the ace he’s proclaimed himself to be. Umino drilled Zack with DDTs to melt up Sabre’s neck for the Demise Rider, and when Zack received flustered, he labored over Umino’s already injured ankle. There was a subplot of Umino preventing by way of the boos he received to show himself as a high man. The substances have been there, however they simply didn’t come all the best way collectively to make an important Dome important occasion.
There was a degree deep into the match, after Umino hit a top-rope Demise Rider however couldn’t observe up with a canopy, the place Umino’s anger boiled over and he simply began stomping on Sabre’s neck within the ropes. He even shoved his father Purple Sneakers Unno away to maintain on the assault to huge boos. However the heavy response to that spot didn’t stick as Sabre ultimately batted Shota down, dropped him with the Gotch Type Piledriver, then pinned him with a cross-legged Zack Driver for the win in 43:44.
Once more, there have been components of an important match right here. I feel if these two have been to run an enormous rematch within the subsequent 12 months, they may construct on these components to have a greater match. It wasn’t as a lot the size of the match that bothered me as a lot because it simply took too lengthy to search out its lane. There’s one thing there with Umino’s frustration and the followers turning on him, however they didn’t hone in on it strongly sufficient. This was an odd important occasion on paper, and it left me feeling odd in follow. In the end, I feel this was an excellent match in a spot the place you need an important one. ***1/2
Jeri: I’m not anti-long match, a few of my favourite matches have gone a very very long time, however I don’t assume this wanted to be 41 minutes. I really feel like there was 4.5 star work for stretches adopted by sub 4 work in different stretches. An inconsistent match that at instances admittedly had me satisfied they’d go together with Shota, however ultimately I’m glad they caught with Zack to let him proceed his reign. Umino continues to be lacking components in his recipe to success. I didn’t purchase into all his strikes, and I felt he waited to lengthy within the match to begin shedding his cool/compsure, felt that was wanted ten minutes sooner. Zack, what can I say, he is aware of his strikes, he is aware of his pacing, he will get pro-wrestling on the next degree and he helped hold issues shifting in a optimistic route whether or not it’s on offense or on the defensive. I’m not shoo pooing Umino’s efforts utterly, he has capacity and there was moments I received that fireside and energy I’m in search of from him, however it’s not utterly put collectively, and I’m not convined he was Tokyo Dome important occasion prepared. I didn’t dislike this match, the truth is I’m giving it a optimistic score, I simply don’t assume it achieved the extent of epic they have been clearly going for. There was quarter-hour of greatness in there, however the match itself went over 40. The match high quality inside the match itself was inconsistent, however when issues clicked we received near the fireplace that brings the great burn. I don’t know, I nearly need to give a uncommon ladie’s 4, however ultimately I feel I’ve to settle with *** ¾. This present had a rattling good undercard adopted by a deflating high finish of the cardboard. In the long run an excellent however not wonderful Dome Present.