NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9: Kenny Omega vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (1/4/15)

To set up this match, all I need you to do is watch this from NJPW Power Struggle 2014



So, Kenny Omega has a target: the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. And would The Cleaner be able to take out Taguchi to get the championship?

Let's do this:

Wrestle Kingdom 9
1/4/15
Tokyo Dome  Tokyo, Japan

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship

Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega comes out to his now-classic "Devil's Sky" theme flanked by members of The Bullet Club. And The "Funky Weapon" Ryusuke Taguchi follows. Omega just stands in the corner, looking like a DDP cosplayer. Matt Jackson says "Let's break Eddie Guerrero's neck."

The bell rings. Omega takes Taguchi to the ropes and mockingly does a clean break. Taguchi returns the favor a moment later. Taguchi gets spit on, and the match begins in reality. Taguchi and Omega have a great exchange of running offense until Taguchi hits him with the Hip Attack. Taguchi "twerks," which Mauro Ranallo himself says no one needed. (I'm watching old AXS TV replays of Wrestle Kingdom 9 on DVD; Thank you Pro Wrestling Tees/Pro Wrestling Crate.) Omega goes for a Snap Rana, but Taguchi reverses into an Ankle Lock. Omega kicks him off, but Omega can't get any momentum on Taguchi. Taguchi dumps Omega to the floor. The Bucks distract Taguchi on the apron, which allows Omega to spray something in Taguchi's eye. Then Omega decides to spray his own private area with it. Well, that just describes itself folks. Go for the jokes at will.
Back in the ring. Omega goes to work on Taguchi with worked offense, not chemically produced sprays. Omega puts Taguchi in the corner and hits the big running back elbow for a 2 count. (This version of Omega looks like he belongs in the 1980s, like if Twisted Sister ran a wrestling promotion.) Omega continues to rake the eyes of Taguchi and puts the boots to him in the corner. Taguchi and Omega fight back and forth on a suplex spot until Omega impressively powers Taguchi up for the suplex. CHAINSAW ELBOW TO THE FACE OF TAGUCHI! (Relax. He's just running his elbow into Taguchi's face as if it was a chainsaw. But can you imagine Omega doing this against someone like Tanahashi or AJ Styles?) The Young Bucks try to help Omega by pulling on Taguchi's leg, but he dumps Omega out to them on the floor. Taguchi runs and hits a flying dive over the ropes onto The (future) Elite.
Back in the ring, Taguchi nails a Springboard Dropkick to Omega for a 2 count. Three Amigos (a tribute to Eddie Guerrero) by Taguchi is blocked on the 3rd Suplex by Omega. Sliding dropkick by Omega to the leg of Taguchi. Kotaro Crusher by Omega only gets a 2. A powerbomb by Omega is reversed into a hurricanrana into the corner pad by Taguchi. Blue Thunder Bomb gets a 2 for Taguchi. Taguchi climbs up to the top of the corner. Omega climbs up after him. Taguchi knocks him off. Omega is knocked off again. Taguchi flies off, but he is met with a dropkick by Omega! Deadlift Gutwrench Powerbomb (Dr. Bomb) gets a 2. One Winged Angel avoided, but Omega gets a roll-up for a 2. Taguchi gets a Butterfly Drop into his own knees for a 2 count. Ankle Lock is reapplied by Taguchi. The Bucks interfere to no avail. Omega hits V-Trigger on Matt Jackson by accident. Taguchi nails the Butterfly Knee maneuver again to a 2 count only. (I feel like Vince McMahon here. When you can't name the move, just say "WHAT A MANEUVER, PAL!")
Taguchi tries to get a Torture Rack on Omega, but he gets out. Snap Dragon by Omega! V-TRIGGER! ONE WINGED ANGEL! 1-2-3! NEW CHAMPION!

Winner: Kenny Omega (New Jr. Heavyweight Champion)
Match Grade: B. Very good match and a lot more entertaining than the previously reviewed Styles vs. Naito match from this show. Taguchi never looked better here as he kept up with Omega's offense and the outside interference the entire time. Taguchi showed on this show that he is a fine wrestler in his own rights, which sometimes gets forgotten with all the sports gimmicks that he does from time to time.
As for Omega, this is definitely the promise of better things from him in this company. There were still some problems to iron out. I'm glad Omega has decided to tone down the level of comedy in his big-time matches. The Chainsaw Elbow and spray can goofy stuff have their place at House Shows or "Road to" events, but they shouldn't be pulled out for big shows like this. Omega is a lot smarter today about how he does things like this and knows his audience to do these things. The evolution of Kenny Omega would continue to be something to behold in wrestling in the years to come as his best work was still to come.

_ _ _ _ _
This is part of a multi-post series looking at Wrestle Kingdom 9. The next part of this series may be for the most legendary match on this card. Kenny Omega's (then) former partner in the Golden Lovers, Kota Ibushi, would try to prove his worth as he challenged for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. His opponent: A New Japan legend. The King of Strong Style. The ever-charismatic Master of Swag. That's right: Shinsuke Nakamura. These two would put on a classic match that is still talked in reverence 4 years later.

Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.