NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 2 Results: Title Vs. Title, Chris Jericho Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

By Joshua Gagnon

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s live coverage of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 (Night 2) from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Live coverage will begin at 12 am ET (9 pm ET for those on the West Coast) for the Pre-Show. The main card starts at 1 am ET.

Wrestling Inc. will also have a WINC Podcast right after the show finishes up! The event will stream on NJPW World and FITE.

PRE-SHOW – NEVER OPENWEIGHT 6-MAN TAG TEAM GAUNTLET MATCH
Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Togi Makabe (c) vs. Robbie Eagles, YOSHI-HASHI, & Tomohiro Ishii, and BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, & EVIL, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Taichi, and Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, & Bad Luck Fale

Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, and Bad Luck Fale enter first. Entering second is Robbie Eagles, YOSHI-HASHI, and Tomohiro Ishii. Fale and Eagles get things started, Eagles gets dropped to the mat, cover, barely kicks out. YOSHI-HASHI gets involved, superkick, lariat drops Fale. Owens and Ishii in, and Owens gets blasted out of the ring. Triple team move on Ishii finishes with a single-leg kick to the face by Owens, cover, two. Ishii and Owens throwing big shots in the middle of the ring, Owens with a lariat that puts Ishii to the mat. Owens with a big knee, but eats a lariat, Ishii follows up with a brainbuster on Owens, cover, 1-2-3.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, and Taichi enter the match.

The trio immediately goes to work on Ishii, YOSHI, and Eagles. Ishii sent into the corner and eats a flurry of shots. Taichi with the cover and nearly gets Ishii. He then goes to work on YOSHI-HASHI. Crowd pops for the Taichi pants tearaway. Ishii and Taichi trade shots until Taichi goes down, but Ishii goes down from the shots, as well. Eagles and Desperado go toe-to-toe, Kanemaru with the cheap shot in the back, Desperado drops Eagles. Kanemaru tags in, double team on Eagles, reverse DDT, pin attempt, YOSHI-HASHI breaks it up. Eagles looks for sliced bread, no, multiple standing switches between Eagles and Kanemaru. Eagles with the quick roll-up on Kanemaru for the 1-2-3.

BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, and EVIL enter the match.

All six wrestlers battle with BUSHI and Eagles staying in the ring. Eagles with a hurricanrana, kip up, big chop in the corner, but runs into a kick. BUSHI up top for a dropkick. EVIL gets in there and hits a bronco buster on Eagles, cover, two-count. Takagi in there now, tries for multiple big moves, but Eagles keeps countering. Eagles plants Takagi to the mat, but can't do much more after that. YOSHI-HASHI in the ring now, drops Takagi, chop in the corner, hits a lariat, but Shingo returns fire with a lariat of his own to a nice pop. EVIL and Ishii tag in and they collide in the middle of the ring. Ishii taking a flurry of attacks from all three opponents, cover, YOSHI-HASHI dives in to break up the pin. BUSHI with a crazy suicide dive into Eagles. EVIL looks for everything is EVIL, no, Ishii with a headbutt, but runs into a lariat from EVIL. Darkness falls hits on Ishii, cover, 1-2-3. Ishii kicked out, but it was a three count, no getting around that one.

Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Togi Makabe enter the match.

The champions are the final team to join the gauntlet match. Yano tries to sneak in for the roll-up on EVIL. Yano yanks off the turnbuckle pad. EVIL runs right into the exposed corner, Yano with the roll-up, two. Takagi trips up Yano, BUSHI with the low dropkick. Takagi tags in, takes control of Yano, cover, two. BUSHI tagged in and kicks away at Yano. BUSHI gets the referee to look away, then chokes Yano with his shirt. Yano then throws the shirt at BUSHI, Makabe is tagged in. Goes to focus on BUSHI, but EVIL comes in and eats a lariat for his trouble. Makabe with punches to the head in the corner on BUSHI, cover, two.

Takagi comes in, throws shots with Makabe. Multiple double clotheslines with Makabe finally dropping to a knee, but then hits a big lariat that puts Takagi down. Taguchi tagged in, hip attack on Takagi. Looks for another, Takagi turns it into an atomic drop. Taguchi with three amigos suplex. Other wrestlers get involved, each taking shots. Taguchi with bomaye, facebuster on Takagi, cover, two. Taguchi goes right into an ankle lock. Taguchi eats mist from BUSHI! Takagi with a lariat, made in Japan hits, cover, 1-2-3. New champs!

Winners: EVIL, BUSHI and Shingo Takagi via pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship

Jushin Thunder Liger and Naoki Sano vs. Ryu Lee and Hiromu Takahashi (Liger's Retirement Match)

Liger and Takahashi meet quickly in the middle, Liger gets pushed into the ropes, clean break. Takahashi now shoved into the ropes, clean break, and a bow from Liger. Takahashi stretches out Takahashi, then locks him in a surfboard submission. Liger goes for the tag, but Sano gets shoved off the apron. Lee and Takahashi kick away at Liger and the crowd boos a bit. Lee in the ring now, knocks Sano off the apron again, boot to Liger's head, cover, one-count.

Takahashi back in and locks in the fujiwara armbar. Liger recovers, hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Lee, then Takahashi. Sano gets the tag and hits a double missile dropkick on both opponents. Sano able to hit another dropkick on both opponents. Lee chargers in, shoulder tackle takes him down, kip-up by Lee. Back and forth strikes by Sano and Lee. Lee with a big knee to Sano's head. Sano with a clothesline, turning Lee inside out. Liger and Takahashi back in the ring, back and forth shots until Takahashi drops Liger. Not surprisingly, crowd is very much behind Liger in this one. Takahashi swings away on Liger in the corner, referee tries to get in there and gets shoved away. Takahashi continues to swing away as he stands over Liger in the corner. Liger then powerbombs Takahashi! Liger swings and stomps away at Takahashi.

Sano and Liger end up on the floor with Takahashi holding them, Lee with a tope, but takes out his partner. Liger and Takahashi back in the ring. Liger powerbombs Takahashi, stacks him up for a two-count. Takahashi hits a german suplex, but Liger is right back up, big shot, suplex, cover, two. Sano gets sent out to the floor. Liger takes some big knees and kicks from his opponent, cover, two. Crowd doesn't want to see him lose. Takahashi jams Liger into the corner, looks for time bomb, counter, roll-up, two. Takahashi with a lariat, time bomb hits this, cover, 1-2-3. Crowd goes silent as Liger closes out his wrestling career.

Winners: Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee via Pinfall

- Post-match, Liger lays on the mat as Lee and Takahashi look on. Takahashi tells Liger "You made the Jr. Heavyweight division in New Japan, and I promise to carry on your legacy." Lee helps Liger up and then bows to Liger. Liger then gets on the mic to talk a bit about his career, says Jushin Liger is no more, then thanks the fans dearly for their support.

Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo (c) vs. SHO and YOH with Rocky Romero (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship)

SHO and YOH with the stereo dropkicks and flying tope out to the floor to get things started. Double team moves on Ishimori, then they throw a few shots at Phantasmo, who then slides out of bounds to slow down the match, some boos from the crowd. SHO and Phantasmo back in the ring, Ishimori with a cheap kick to the back, Phantasmo with a dropkick, Ishimori then throws SHO into the barricade. Back in the ring, Ishimori gets the tag hits a sliding german suplex. Ishimori heads up top for the 450, lands on his feet, drops SHO, then twists SHO's neck with his feet. Phantasmo back in the ring, back rake!

Phantasmo walks the ropes, moonsault, another back rake! Crowd laughed at that one. Phantasmo with a springboard crossbody, second rope moonsault, then a suicide dive on Rocky Romero at ringside! Ishiomri tagged in, puts SHO in the tree of woe, sliding kicks to the face. YOH now also put in the tree of woe, Phantasmo and Ishimori with the double stomp between both wrestler's legs. Ishimori showing off his quickness, but ends up eating a spear by SHO. YOH tagged in, dropkick on both opponents. Flying forearm, kip-up, takes a superkick from Phantasmo. YOH fights off both opponents, throws Ishimori out to the floor on his partner, then leaps down on both guys.

Ishimori and SHO trade strikes in the ring. Phantasmo and SHO both tag in, SHO with two german suplexes. Phantasmo tries to stop the third by grabbing Ishimori, but SHO german suplexes both guys. Phantasmo with the inside cradle, two. Phantasmo puts SHO up on his shoulders, Ishimori with a knee to the back of the head, Phantasmo with a swinging neckbreak, cover, two. Phantasmo with a springboard moonsault, cover, two. SHO recovers, lands some big shots, looks for shock arrow, nope, Phantasmo goes for styles clash! Cover, 1-2-no! Ishimori slides in a title belt and distracts the referee. Phantasmo looks for the strike, Rocky steals the title away. Phantasmo tries to punch SHO low, but he was wearing a cup! SHO with a lariat. Then hit 3k on Ishimori. SHO with shock arrow, YOH with a dragon suplex on Phantasmo. YOH goes up top, double stomp / shock arrow combo lands on Phantasmo, cover, and that will do it.

Winners: SHO and YOH via pinfall to win the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship

Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. SANADA (RevPro British Heavyweight Championship)

Back and forth chain wrestling gets us started, tons of pin attempts, but each wrestler quickly kicking out. SANADA looks for the paradise lock, but Sabre shoves him away, leading to a stalemate. Test of strength ends quickly with Sabre tying up SANADA, but it gets reversed back and forth. Sabre gets shoved to the floor, SANADA flips to the apron and then flip backs in the ring. Sabre kicks the barricade in frustration. Back in the ring, SANADA rolls Sabre around and around, cover, two. Standing moonsault by SANADA is caught by Sabre and he works over the arm, bending it behind SANADA's back.

SANADA side steps a big boot, then hits a low dropkick to Sabre's knee. He goes for another, nope, Sabre tries for a penalty kick, and it's caught. SANADA goes for a dragon leg screw and Sabre has a rough landing to the mat. He goes out to the floor, but SANADA follows with a crossbody down on his opponent. SANADA looks for TKO, but Sabre slips out and has a standing kimura for a moment. SANADA looks for skull end, and ends up swinging Sabre around. Muta moonsault, nobody home, Sabre with a big penalty kick, but it was the leg that was damaged earlier in the match, so he can't follow up.

Sabre with multiple uppercuts, SANADA follows up with some of his own. Multiple pinning attempts, all two-counts. SANADA looks for skull ends, no, Sabre with a tricky pin, two, SANADA tries over and over for skull end with no luck. Sabre with a cobra twist in the middle of the ring. SANADA with skull end, no, SANADA tries for the tricky pin, Sabre rolls through and ends up getting the pin on SANADA.

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr. via Pinfall

Jon Moxley (c) vs. Juice Robinson (IWGP US Championship)

Robinson leaps on Moxley before he can even get to the ring. He drops Moxley throat first down on the barricade, then body slams the champ on the floor. Moxley tosses Robinson into the ring post. Moxley brings some chairs out from under the ring and sets it up on the floor. Drop toe hold by Robinson, sending Moxley into the chair. He sits Moxley in the chair and Robinson hits a cannonball senton before finally rolling him into the ring. Robinson with a lariat in the corner. Moxley whips Robinson hard into the corner and he flips out to the floor.

Moxley grabs a chair and just whacks Robinson over the back. Ref lets it go though. Back in the ring, Moxley with punches to the head. Referee says no punches, Moxley gets in his face, ref tells Moxley "no punches," Moxley bows and says "thank you." Moxley goes for a cover, two, then wrenches on Robinson's back with clubbing forearms to the face. Back and forth chops, Moxley then bites Robinson's head. Spinebuster by Robinson, then a leg lariat. Robinson with a powerbomb, stacks him up, two-count.

Moxley locks in a figure-four, Robinson forces a rope break. Moxley drags Juice to the ring post and locks in the figure-four around the post! Moxley puts a chair around Robinson's neck, he gets another chair, but eats the left hand of God sending the chair right into Moxley's face. Back in the ring, second rope superplex on Moxley, right into a jackhammer, pin attempt, two-count. Robinson looks for pulp friction, nope, gets dumped on his head, but Moxley then takes a german suplex. Double lariats, second drops Robinson. Moxley looking for the double arm DDT, Robinson with a roll-up, two, follows up with a lariat. Moxley egging Robinson on, both throwing big shots, Moxley with a flying knee. Looks for death rider, nope, eats both the right and left hand of God, and another one! Robinson with pulp friction, nope, double arm DDT hits, floats over, hits another one, cover, 1-2-3!

Winner: Jon Moxley via Pinfall

- Post-match, Minoru Suzuki heads out to the ring with a smile on his face. He's got his ring gear on and goes to the ring. The two start swinging, Suzuki tries to choke Moxley out. Bell is ringing over and over. Gotch style piledriver on Moxley. This is not a match though. Suzuki gets the mic, "Who do you think you're picking a fight with? I am the king of professional wrestling, Minoru Suzuki."

KENTA (c) vs. Hirooki Goto (NEVER Openweight Championship)

Goto gets the quick attack on KENTA before the bell even rings. Goto with a hip toss, shoulder tackle, KENTA looking for safety on the floor, Goto follows and gets him back in the ring. Running bulldog on the champion, who again goes to the outside, but Goto gets him right back in the ring. KENTA finally gets in some offense with a big boot sending Goto out to the floor. Goto sent into the barricade and then beat up some more. Referee starts up 20-count, Goto gets back in at 10. KENTA sends him right back out to the ramp.

KENTA beats him up some more and Goto gets back in at 19. KENTA then tosses Goto right back out again! Crowd is getting impatient now and booing, KENTA eggs them on as Goto works his way back into the ring. KENTA goes low with a knee to the midsection, kick to the back, cover, two. Goto takes some more punishment, but finally lands a spinning clothesline. Both trade shots in the corner, referee trying to break them up. Goto with a massive forearm to KENTA! Spinning heel kick, back drop suplex, pin, two-count.

Spinning powerslam by KENTA after he gouges Goto's eyes. KENTA with a spinning DDT and drapes Goto's throat over the top rope. KENTA with a flying clothesline off the top rope, cover, two. Goto drops KENTA's neck over his knee. KENTA with a crossface, follows up with some kicks to the body and head. Goto on the apron, KENTA draping DDT lands. KENTA with a delayed dropkick in the corner. KENTA goes up top, double stomp, cover, two. KENTA with a massive penalty kick, another big kick, cover, two. GTS, caught by Goto, lands a headbutt to KENTA. Crowd really into this one, fully behind Goto. Goto with a big lariat, KENTA absorbs it, spinning backfists. KENTA with a lariat of his own, does nothing! Goto with a spinning lariat, cover, two. KENTA with big palm strikes that just seem to make Goto mad and he smacks KENTA back. KENTA with more strikes. GTR by Goto, no, Goto with GTW, cover, two. Goto with GTR, cover, 1-2-3!

Winner: Hirooki Goto via pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight Championship.

Jay White vs. Kota Ibushi

Back and forth action early on, White ends up knocking Ibushi off the apron and he ends up going pretty much down chest-first on the barricade. White follows out and sends Ibushi chest-first into the apron again. He then slammed Ibush down on the edge of the ring. He's really focusing on Ibushi's neck thus far. Ibushi finally getting in some offense. Crowd is very much behind him in this one. Springboard dropkick on White, spinning powerslam, second rope moonsault, cover, two. White fights back with a DDT, both wrestlers down.

Ibushi recovers and drives White hard into the mat. Ibushi kicks down on White's back. White fights back with a bunch of shots to the back, but Ibushi fires off one shot to drop White. White gets to the ropes and looks for a timeout, throws a shot, Ibushi launches one right back and down goes White. Crowd pops for that. Ibushi asks White to hit him, he does, and eats a forearm in return. White can barely stand at this point. White with a slap to the face, couple more strikes, Ibushi with a big lariat! White somehow gets a deadlift german suplex on Ibushi.

Twisting suplex on Ibushi, kiwi crusher lands, cover, two. Snap saito supex by White! Both end up on the top rope, White with the eye gouge as Gedo distracts the ref. White shoves Ibushi down on the apron. Ibushi leaps to the top rope, but White kicks out his feet and Ibushi crumples down on the rope. White with a super uranage! Ibushi landed hard, ouch. Cover, two-count. Snap suplex on Ibushi. Ibushi with a v-trigger, german suplex with the bridge, two.

Back and forth shots, White pulls Ibushi right into the referee and he tumbles out of the ring. Gedo is immediately in the ring with a chair, crowd boos. Gedo looks to swing and cracks Ibushi in the back. Ibushi slowly turns around though as Gedo tries to back up. He kicks Ibushi, it does nothing. Ibushi with a big shot that instantly drops Gedo. Ibushi with a big kick to White, last ride hits, but no referee for the count. Ibushi picks up the referee and rolls him into the ring. Ibushi with some big kicks, cover, Gedo pulls the referee out of the ring! Gedo then reaches into his pocket and has brass knuckles. He swings and Ibushi blocks it. White launches a chair at Ibushi's head! Gedo then punches him in the face with the knuckle dusters. White with bloody sunday, blade runner, cover, 1-2-3.

Winner: Jay White via Pinfall

Chris Jericho vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

If Tanahashi wins, he get a rematch for the AEW World Championship. Jericho is wearing the AEW Title to the ring and NJPW did a close-up of it. Jericho flips off the crowd as we get things started. Tanahashi working the arm, springboard crossbody, hip toss, and then mock Jericho's pin with a foot on the chest. Both exchange palm strikes, Tanahashi charges, Jericho low bridge, Tanahashi gets back up on the apron, Jericho with a springboard dropkick that sends Tanahashi back to the floor.

Jericho sends Tanahashi into the barricade, and then over it into commentary. Jericho then hits a big DDT on the table. Audio is low for this match, making for some awkward moments. Looks like they got it worked out though. Jericho really working over Tanahashi in the ring. Jericho takes off his weight belt and whips Tanahashi with it a couple times, then puts it back on. Tanahashi fighting back as the referee is still down. Jericho gets crotched on the second rope in the corner, Tanahashi with a splash, second rope senton flip, cover, two. Tanahashi shoves Jericho out to the floor, he goes up top and hits high fly flow!

Ref starts up his count, Jericho gets back into the ring at 18. Tanahashi with dragon screw leg whip on the ropes, dropkick, and another dragon screw leg whip. Slingblade, no, codebreaker, no, another dragon screw, and another one! Tanahashi with high fly flow, Jericho gets the knees up. Lionsault hits, Jericho is slow to go for the pin, two. Jericho tries for judas effect, blocked, Tanahashi with the straight jacket german suplex with the bridge, two. Jericho is up and gets the liontamer locked in. He gets close to the ropes, but Jericho pulls him back. Tanahashi finally is able to flip out of it and hits slingblade. Tanahashi looking for high fly flow, Jericho up to his feet, and hits codebreaker in midair! Cover, two.

Jericho misses judas effect, Tanahashi hits codebreaker, cover, two-count. Tanahashi counters a slingblade almost into a liontamer, Tanahashi with a roll-up for two. Twist and shout lands, slingblade, cover, two. Tanahashi goes to the top again, high fly flow is short, Jericho rolls through for the liontamer again and gets it this time. He's trying to fight out of it. Jericho really wrenches back on it and Tanahashi taps out!

Winner: Chris Jericho via Submission

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito (Title vs. Title Match)

Crowd pretty split early on for each wrestler, maybe slightly more for Naito. Both end up in the ropes, Okada teases chopping Naito and just taps him. The two suddenly go into a sprint, running the ropes Okada finally lands a big forearm. Okada with a dropkick to Naito's face. Naito gets in a string of moves, ending with a low dropkick to the back. Naito with kick in the corner, slingshot kick, taunts a bit and the crowd cheers him on. Naito with a neckbreaker from the apron down to the floor. Naito takes control of the match, spits at Okada and that causes Okada to get fired up, landing a big boot to Naito's face and hits a big flapjack.

Okada looks for another boot, caught, Okada with a forearm, uppercut, lifts Naito up and drops him down with a neckbreaker. Rainmaker, no, Naito with some shots, holds the wrist and throws more elbows. Naito with a spinebuster and a super-rana. Naito with a measured strike, Okada fires back with a big shotgun dropkick. Naito kicks Okada away, hops up to the top rope and takes a dropkick, sending Naito to the floor. Okada heads out and drops Naito's knee down on the floor. Okada looking to drop Naito through a table, chop blocks the bad knee, then slams it down on the table!

Referee starts up his 20 count, and Naito had a lot of trouble getting back in the ring, but does so at 19. Okada is on the top rope and hits a big missile dropkick, cover, two. Okada with a big german suplex and holds on. Tries for rainmaker, nope, tornado DDT by Naito (who is really selling his bad knee at this point). Okada put on the second rope facing the crowd and hits a poison-rana! Okada landed on his damn head! Cover, barely kicks out. Okada tries for some elbows, nothing behind them though. Naito tries for a flying forearm, Okada catches him and tries for a rainmaker, swing and a miss. Naito with a flying forearm lands, destino, nope, lands a kick. Okada with a big dropkick, but Naito hits destino, cover, two! Only two!

Okada is up and somehow lands a picture perfect dropkick on Naito, both wrestlers down. Okada doing a lot of talking to Red Shoes. Both wrestlers eventually make their way up to their knees and swing away. Up to their feet and they keep swinging. Naito with a big shot. Okada hits a rainmaker! He picks Naito up, looks for another, no, destino, no! Tombstone piledriver on Naito. Okada hit another rainmaker, cover, 1-2-no! 30 minutes into the match. Okada looking for another piledriver, Naito fights out of it, but can't do much more once he does. Okada picks him up and Naito spits right in his face! Okada then boots Naito's bad knees. Crowd booing and Okada kind of egging them on.

Rainmaker hits, holds the wrist though and picks Naito up again. He hits another one. Okada yells and looks for a third, nope! Destino! Naito slow to get the pin, cover, very close three. Naito with a body slam and goes to the top rope. Naito with stardust crash, cover, two! Destino, nope, he drops Okada down, destino hits! Cover, 1-2-3! Naito wins!

Winner: Tetsuya Naito wins the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship

- Post-match, Naito gets on the mic and says "Winning the main event at the Tokyo Dome, turns out it feels pretty good. Perhaps one more time in the future, let's do this again," Naito says to Okada. As Naito celebrates with the fans, KENTA rushes the ring and takes him out. KENTA then takes the titles and sits on Naito with them. BUSHI chases KENTA away and he leaves through the crowd.

Comments

Recommended