NJPW On AXS Recap (11/6): Final Week Of Wrestle Kingdom 9 Coverage, Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Okada

Welcome to Wrestling Inc's coverage of NJPW on AXS TV! Tonight's show features the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 9, Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship!

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada

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Okada works an arm ringer, but Tanahashi counters with a drop toe hold into a headlock. Okada locks on one of his own, and drops Tanahashi with a shoulder block, but Tanahashi re-applies his headlock and hits a shoulderblock of his own. The two are on their feet again, and reset.

Tanahashi and Okada clinch and roll from corner to corner until Okada teases a clean break, but forearms the champion. Things pick up as the two have man-off by trading forearms and uppercuts.

Tanahashi goes to the corner, but Okada drills him and knocks Tanahashi to the outside. Okada follows outside and throws the champion into the guard rails before kicking Tanahashi over it. He then lands a Randy Orton-style DDT off the rail to Tanahashi.

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Tanahashi hits a jawbreaker on the ramp, plays a little air guitar and then runs right into Heavy Rain on the ramp. Back in the ring, Okada hits a kick that leaves Tanahashi in a world of hurt.

Okada punishes Tanahashi with elbows in the corner, but Tanahashi comes back and drops Okada. A scoop slam from Tanahashi sets up a second rope somersault senton, but he doesn't retain the advantage very long as he walks right into an Okada flapjack.

Okada applies Deep In Debt, but Tanahashi reaches the ropes. Okada is getting frustrated and clubs Tanahashi, and then taunts him. Tanahashi fires back, but Okada's strikes have more pepper on them. The announcers put over that Tanahashi has an injured neck.

Tanahashi looks to be in control with big strikes, but Okada scores with three huge uppercuts and a front dropkick for two. Tanahashi drops Okada to the mat and misses a frog splash. Okada capitalizes with a knee and a modified neckbreaker but it's just a nearfall.

Okada with a scoop slam and a flying elbow drop, and he signals for the Rainmaker. Tanahashi avoids it and rolls up Okada for two, but keeps his momentum with a dragon screw leg whip.

Tanahashi works on Okada's right leg, as he steps forward with it when he does the Rainmaker. The two go outside the ring and Okada is tossed over the guard rail, and we have no count out apparently.

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Tanahashi hits an absolutely guano crazy flying body press from the top rope over the railing onto Okada, and now the count starts. They're in at 18, and Tanahashi goes back up top but comes up empty. Tanahashi counters the Rainmaker with Slingblade and a big flying body press. The press gets rolled through and countered into a Tombstone, but Tanahashi reverses that into his own Tombstone! Frog splash! A second frog splash! Okada kicks out!

Tanahashi tries to apply the Texas Cloverleaf, but Okada kicks free. A second Slingblade from Tanahashi, and he mocks the Rainmaker pose, but misses and Okada lands it! Tanahashi kicks out! They're both down.

Both men on their knees trading strikes, and they've been at it for over 20 minutes now. They make it to their feet, still trading punches. Okada tries a Tombstone, but Tanahashi rolls through for a two and then dropkicks Okada's leg.

Tanahashi is smacking Okada, who can barely stand up. Backslide out of nowhere but Tanahashi kicks out and lands a straight jacket suplex for two. A giant German suplex from Okada for two, and a suplex from Tanahashi for two! Big dropkick from Okada!

Tanahashi hits several reverse dragon screw leg whips around the ropes, then a rope assisted body press. Another top rope frog splash to a seated Okada, then another! Pinfall! Tanahashi wins!

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Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi via pinfall (frog splash) to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

That was magical, and Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett really added to an already great match. Don't forget to catch us here for Wrestle Kingdom 10 on January 4, 2016!

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