NJPW On AXS Recap (3/25): KUSHIDA Vs. Kyle O'Reilly In A MOTY Contender, Chris Benoit Name Dropped

Welcome to tonight's coverage of NJPW on AXS. Tonight's show features a 2015 Match of the Year contender between KUSHIDA and ROH's Kyle O'Reilly from the finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament!

Kyle O'Reilly vs. KUSHIDA

Jim Ross name drops Chris Benoit as a former winner of the Battle of the Super Juniors tourney again this week, which have to be a couple of the only mentions in almost a decade on American cable TV wrestling. The two go back and forth with a great chain series until O'Reilly gets caught in a Hoverboard Lock while trying to break KUSHIDA's bridge. KUSHIDA spins and rides O'Reilly, frustrating the American.

O'Reilly drags down KUSHIDA and runs over him, but ends up eating two sick dropkicks to the face. O'Reilly comes back with kicks of his own and a backbreaker before slamming KUSHIDA with a hammerlock takedown. O'Reilly punishes the arm of KUSHIDA before hitting a series of double underhook suplexes into a facebuster.

We come back from a commercial to see KUSHIDA working over the arm of O'Reilly with kicks before leaping across the ring with a handspring back elbow. KUSHIDA applies a Hoverboard Lock, but O'Reilly counters into an armbar. O'Reilly pulls a standing guillotine, but KUSHIDA once again pulls out a Hoverboard Lock.

O'Reilly ends up on the top rope and almost kills KUSHIDA with a double wristlock DDT. He applies a deep seated armbar, and somehow KUSHIDA manages to get out and connect with a German suplex. O'Reilly fires back with a knee, but KUSHIDA somersaults into him with a kick.

KUSHIDA goes up top and lands an insane Swanton to the outside on a standing O'Reilly. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA moonsaults, but lands right in the guard of O'Reilly, who applies a triangle! KUSHIDA happens to be under the bottom rope as he's about to go to sleep. O'Reilly continues the attack by hitting a super back drop, but he only gets a two count.

We return from a break to see a reverse cradle suplex from O'Reilly for two. KUSHIDA decks O'Reilly with a closed fist as Red Shoes yells at him about it. O'Reilly gets a rebound clothesline, suplex, and then an armbar. The two battle to the apron, where O'Reilly grabs another standing guillotine, but KUSHIDA counters with a brainbuster on the apron. They're lucky they're able to walk at this point.

Both men struggle to their feet and slug it out until O'Reilly levels KUSHIDA. O'Reilly isn't able to capitalize, and KUSHIDA gets Sliced Bread No. 2 and Midnight Express for two. KUSHIDA applies another Hoverboard Lock and O'Reilly taps out! What a match!

Winner: KUSHIDA via submission (Hoverboard Lock)

Several wrestlers come out and help KUSHIDA up. He and Kyle O'Reilly show each other respect after the match and hug. Jim Ross also name dropped Benoit a couple of more times during the match.

Backstage Kyle O'Reilly says that KUSHIDA beat him at his own game and was better than him tonight. O'Reilly says he's coming back in 2016 to win the tournament. We also see KUSHIDA celebrating in the ring.