Looking at this card, it is not the most energetic wrestling show that I've ever seen put together. I've made a decision to do light coverage for all the matches except final few matches.
Let's get to it.
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New IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Jay White
The New Beginning (Osaka, Japan), 2/11/19
NJPW World
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NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka
Osaka, Japan
February 11, 2019
1) Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan v. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku, Takashi Iizuka
They continue the storyline of Tenzan trying to convert Iizuka to his side. Iizuka has none of it, and the match begins. Typical Suzuki-Gun brawl to start things off here. Eventually, Liger gets massacred by Suzuki in the audience while Iizuka goes after Tenzan into the crowd as well. Iizuka's muzzle is removed, and he starts biting Liger around the head. Plastic must taste good to Iizuka. Suzuki-Gun takes turns beating up on Liger until Liger gets the tag to Kojima. A great exchange between Suzuki and Kojima working up the crowd with some heavy chops and strikes. Tenzan and Iizuka end up back in the ring against each other. Things break down, and chaos starts going on in the ring and at ringside. (It's a Suzuki-Gun match. What did you expect?) Suzuki goes to hit Tenzan with the chair. Iizuka stops him. The crowd pops... AND IIZUKA TAKES THE CHAIR AND DECKS TENZAN! DQ. The Iron Glove is out and is jammed into the throat of Tenzan.
Winners: Tenzan, Kojima, and Liger
Match Grade: C. A good, if ultimately forgettable, opener here. It continued the Tenzan-Iizuka storyline some more going into the retirement show next week. It's always good to see both Suzuki and Liger work, and I enjoyed getting to see both in the same match.
2) EVIL & SANADA v. Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino
Evil and Sanada dominate the opening moments of the match, as they should against the younger Unimo and Yoshida. Funny spot includes Sanada and Evil taking turns tagging in and out and slamming Unimo between the tags. Evil just enjoys torturing Unimo, including using a Single-Leg Boston Crab. Unimo catches Evil running into the corner and hits a dropkick. He tags in Yoshida to get some offense for his team. Senton Splash by Evil gets a 2. Eventually, it's Sanada and Unimo in the ring. Yoshida and Unimo get some double-team offense in on Sanada. Yoshida gets a German Suplex on Sanada for a 2 count. Fisherman Suplex is countered into Skull End. Yoshida gets a few close roll-ups on Sanada. Evil and Sanada decimate Yoshida with a series of strikes. Magic Killer ends the match.
Winners: Evil and Sanada
Match Grade: C. A typical match involving Young Lions: The stars make them look really good in the process of losing. Then the stars beat them. Again, this is a forgettable match and one that Evil and Sanada should not have booked into. They're a little too big on the NJPW food chain to be working these type of matches.
3) Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, BUSHI v. El Desperado, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemura
Big shocker here: Suzuki-Gun attacks LIJ to start the match. And Naito gives 0 you know whats as he continues to get attacked by Taichi. Naito and Taichi go back into the ring. And Naito is the victim of the Suzuki-Gun attack for a few moments, including a Kanemura Leg Drop over the guard rail on the outside. Bushi eventually gets the tag to continue the war with Desperado. Bushi gets a Double Rana on Desperado and Kanemura at one point. Desperado and Bushi trade a couple more moves before Shingo gets the tag. Desperado and Shingo trade a few moves before Kanemura gets the tag. Things continue to break down until Naito gets the Destino on Kanemura for the win.
Winners: LIJ
Match Grade: C. Completely forgettable just like every other match on this card so far.
Afterwards, Roppongi 3K steal the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championships and hold them ransom until LIJ (Shingo and Bushi) accept their challenge for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. The challenge is accepted, and the belts are returned.
(Sort of a heelish move for a babyface tag team.)
4) Yoshi-Hashi & Tomoaki Honma v. Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi
And the string of forgettable undercard matches continues on. Honma gets worked on for a few minutes. Yoshi-Hashi gets tagged in to get the hot tag offense going. Yujiro and Hashi go at it for a few moments. Fisherman Buster by Yujiro after a good minute of reversals with Hashi. Hashi kicks Yujiro, and both men get the tag to their respective partners. Honma goes for that headbutt and misses. He gets double-teamed by Bullet Club. Owens and Honma go at it for a couple moments. Honma uses his head to knock down Owens. Dropping headbutt by Honma gets only a 1 as the pin attempt gets broken up. Suplex/Neckbreaker by Bullet Club on Honma. Package Piledriver by Owens. 1-2-3.
Winners: Bullet Club
Match Grade: D+. There was literally nothing about this match that excited me whatsoever. The effort was there, but these four have been treated as jobbers for so long that I could care less about any of them winning or losing a match.
Kota Ibushi is out next and announces that he is staying in New Japan. He will be at the New Japan Cup. He gets a great ovation from the crowd.
5) Toru Yano & Togi Makabe v. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
The Guerrillas of Destiny jump Yano and Makabe on the runway. Tonga is back to being "The Bad Boy" again. The bell rings as Yano is being attacked in the ring by G.O.D. Makabe tries to save Yano, but he gets decimated as well. G.O.D. beat up Yano and Makabe all around ringside with Tonga using a woman's purse to beat up Yano in the audience. He empties it out just to be more heelish. Yano gets back in the ring at 18 to get more boots and attacks from G.O.D. Makabe gets tagged finally and starts going after both members of G.O.D. Jado gets some as well. Yano and Tonga get tagged back into the match. A corner pad is ripped off. Jado distracts Yano allowing Tonga to get the advantage. Makabe gets caned from behind. Gun Stun in the ring. Yano tosses Loa into Tonga and the referee. Low Blow to Tonga. Cane to Yano. Gun Stun to Yano. 1-2-3.
Winners: G.O.D.
Match Grade: C. Another completely forgettable match. This undercard has been terrible in terms of maintaining interest.
After the match, Tonga canes The Young Lions and Yano in the ring. He goes around smacking a bunch of other people around ringside.
6) IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
Taiji Ishimori (c) v. Ryusuke Taguchi
Taguchi apparently plays mind games with Ishimori by coming out dressed like Ishimori was in an earlier gimmick (imagine a bad "Boy Band" gimmick complete with baggy pants and headset microphone).
The bell rings. A good tease early on by both men with rope breaks and fast-paced offense. Taguchi almost gets the ankle lock in, but Ishimori escapes. Taguchi and Ishimori trade mocking poses back and forth in the ring, with Ishimori breaking out some dancing to show Taguchi how it is done. Ishimori's offense is lightning quick, and he uses it to get a Springboard Meteora on Taguchi in the ring.
Ishimori spends the next couple minutes keeping the offensive advantage in the match. Funky Weapons are blocked by Ishimori, but Taguchi does get a dropkick in to send Ishimori to the floor. Springboard Crossbody to Ishimori on the floor by Taguchi, followed by a Springboard Missile Dropkick into the ring. A flying Somersault Dive onto Ishimori on the floor now by Taguchi. (This is very impressive from Taguchi, who is mainly seen as a comedic performer on New Japan cards.) The Eddie Guerrero tribute known as Three Amigos connects for Taguchi. 2 count. Ishimori gets the Handspring Back Kick on Taguchi to stop the offense. Ishimori gets the amazing Sliding German Suplex in on Taguchi. 10 minutes have passed.
Ankle Lock is escaped by Ishimori once, but Taguchi locks it back in deep. Ishimori gets to the ropes. Taguchi signals for the Bomaye (his tribute to Shinsuke Nakamura). It connects, but he only gets a 2. Ankle Lock is back on. Again, Ishimori gets to the ropes. Ishimori catches Taguchi and hits the Bloody Cross (Tombstone into a flop with 2 knees into the chest). Taguchi is able to avoid a second one and locks in another Ankle Lock. He elbows the knee and locks it in deep! Ishimori is brought back into the center of the ring. A Chicken Wing Facefirst Driver (Dodon) gets a VERY close 2 count. Ishimori gets a lariat into the throat of Taguchi to again buy some time. Running knees into Taguchi's face in the corner. Death Valley Driver only gets a 2 count. Enziguri by Taguchi. Dodon reversed into the Bloody Cross. 1-2-3.
Winner: Taiji Ishimori (still IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion)
Match Grade: A-. This was definitely the best Taguchi match I've ever seen. Taguchi is such a comedic wrestler most of the time that you forget how good of a performer he can be in big moments. Taguchi showed a lot and actually had me buying the near falls in this one. Really good performance by Ishimori as well who is one of the best young talents that NJPW has.
After the match, Ishimori motions for Jushin Liger to enter the ring. Liger obliges. Liger says "You want me to come into the ring and come for your title? I'll take your title anytime and anywhere."
7) Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
The Rogue General Bad Luck Fale comes out first, accompanied by Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi. It is still so weird to see Okada come out without Gedo, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, or the raining Okada bucks.
Okada jumps Fale to start the match. (Do unto others before they do unto you. Isn't that how it goes?) But Fale gets a boot in soon after to stop the offense. Fale gets dumped to the floor, and Okada dives out over the top onto him. Owens distracts Okada, allowing Fale to mow him over. Chase and Yujiro beat up Okada while Fale distracts the ref. Okade rolls into the ring only to be met with the stomps and standing attack of the 365lb Fale. A big Backdrop by Fale to Okada causes Okada to hold his back in pain and roll to the floor. At 19, Okada rolls back in. He tries to slam Fale, but Fale falls right on him. (5 minutes have passed.)
Fale continues to focus on the back of Okada with elbow drops on the back. Okada gets a running elbow into Fale, and Fale walks into an Okada bodyslam. Okada starts getting some momentum going. Running dropkick to Fale. Running attack into the corner and DDT to Fale only get a 2. Fale just knocks Okada back down with a shoulder tackle. Samoan Drop. 2 count. Okada backdrops Fale, but he hurts his own back in the process. Kip Up by Okada. Forearms exchanged by both men. (10 minutes have passed.) Shotgun Dropkick by Okada. He gets Fale up for a White Noise/Neckbreaker (using the knee). 2 count. Okada climbs up and hits the flying Elbow Drop! RAINMAKER POSE! Owens: "HE'S GOING FOR THE RAINMAKER!" No duh! Fale hears Owens and hits a big lariat of his own. 2 count only. Fale splashes Okada in the corner and in the middle of the ring. 2 count only.
Fale goes for Bad Luck Fall. Okada escapes using the ropes. He climbs up the corner and hits a flying Missile Dropkick off the top rope! He goes for the Tombstone, but Owens distracts Okada. Fale puts the referee in the path of Okada's attack, allowing Owens and Yujiro to interfere. Fisherman Buster and Running Knee Strike by both men. Yoshi-Hashi comes out to save Okada and beat up on Owens/Yujiro. He helps get them out, but Fale just tackles Hashi down out of the ring. Spear to the running Okada. (15 minutes have passed.) BAD LUCK FALL is avoided! Dropkicks by Okada, knocking the big man down. GRENADE!!!! Fale gets the cover! 1-2-KICKOUT! Fale doesn't quite know what to do. He puts the boots to Okada. Now Fale goes to the apron and CLIMBS THE CORNER! Okada dropkicks Fale while he is on the corner. Okada climbs up... AND HITS A SUPLEX OFF THE CORNER! Fale just decks Okada with several shots. SPINNING RAINMAKER BY OKADA!!! RAINMAKER!!!!!! 1-2-3!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Match Grade: B. There's only so much Okada can do with someone the size of Fale, but these guys both did a good job in putting on an entertaining match here. They didn't do too many crazy things outside of the ring, which is usually a Bad Luck Fale staple in his matches. Instead, they focused on in-ring action while using outside interference to get some heat on the match.
8) IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Jay White (w/ Gedo)
We get the classic IWGP Heavyweight Championship montage before the hype video plays. They hype up the fact that on 2/12/12, Okada upset The Ace to become the IWGP Heavyweight Champion in Osaka. Now, 7 years later, Gedo is managing another man, Jay White, in his quest to beat Tanahashi for that same belt in the same building. They replay all the things that Jay White has done in the last year, including his wins over Tanahashi and Okada. The TTO (Tanahashi Tap Out) is replayed from the previous week.
Kevin Kelly and Don Callis put over the last year for Jay White as he enters the ring. Similarly, they put over Tanahashi's legendary career up to this point. And of course, they remind everyone of what happened in that building 7 years ago.
The bell rings. The crowd is solidly behind The Ace. Jay White goes to the floor and tells Tanahashi this match will start on HIS terms. They finally start going at it in the ring. The leg of Tanahashi becomes the focus of the early moments of the match. Tanahashi gets Saito Suplexed to the floor thanks to a distraction by Gedo. For the next few minutes, White focuses on the lower back and leg of Tanahashi. (This includes smacking Tanahashi's lower back and leg against the ring frame and guard rails along with the classic ring post attacks to the injured leg.)
At the 10 minute mark, Tanahashi starts fighting back, but White is able to get a Flatliner and German Suplex in to stop the momentum. Twisting Brainbuster gets a 2 for White. Tanahashi continues to be tortured and assaulted by White. White gets caught arguing with the ref, and Tanahashi hits the Dragon Screw Leg Whip on the ropes. (15 minutes have passed.) Tanahashi climbs the corner while White is on the floor! HIGH FLY FLOW TO WHITE ON THE FLOOR!!!!
Both men are back in the ring. Gedo distracts the ref. White gets a chair, but Tanahashi throws him into Gedo. Both men trade moves and countermoves back and forth for a good 30 seconds. TWIST AND SHOUT FINALLY CONNECTS! Tanahashi picks up White and nails it again! He picks up White again and nails it for the trifecta! Tanahashi motions to the crowd, but White gets to the ropes to avoid any more offense. Tanahashi moves to hit a move, but White hooks himself into the hopes. Dragon Screw Leg Whip by Tanahashi. White collapses to avoid the Sling Blade, but he gets caught in a German Suplex. Tanahashi goes to climb up, but Gedo interferes and gets knocked down. HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE BACK OF WHITE!!!! He climbs back up! HIGH FLY FLOW MISSES!
White now crawls back towards Tanahashi as 20 minutes have passed. Tanahashi slaps White to avoid the TTO application. Kick to the knee by White. Dragon Screws to the leg of Tanahashi. TTO (Tanahashi Tap Out; Inverted Figure Four) is in!!!! Loud "Tanahashi" chants from the crowd. Tanahashi is crawling, dragging himself and White in the process. HE GETS TO THE ROPE! White holds on until the last possible moment before breaking the move. Snap Saito Suplex by White. Another one connects. Death Valley Driver/Reverse DDT gets a 2 count. KIWI CRUSHER CONNECTS! 1-2-AND TANAHASHI BARELY KICKS OUT! White calls for Blade Runner. Tanahashi fights with everything that he can. At 25 minutes, White hits a Sleeper Suplex.
Blade Runner is countered into a desperation roll-up by Tanahashi! 2 count. White makes sure the ref only counted 2. White is the first one back on his feet. Tanahashi tries to dead-weight him, but he can't. Slap by Tanahashi. Dropkicks to the leg of White. Dragon Screws to that leg by Tanahashi. Cloverleaf is locked in on White. The problem is that Tanahashi's knee is in such bad shape that he may not be able to keep it locked in. He sits down of the hold, but White is too close to the ropes. Tanahashi pulls White away. TANAHASHI TRANSITIONS IT INTO A STYLES CLASH! Both men are down. Loud "Tanahashi" chants from the crowd. Tanahashi pulls White up. Dragon Suplex is blocked. Blade Runner is blocked. A pair of Sling Blades to White! 1-2-KICKOUT! Dragon Suplex to White! 1-2-Kickout! Tanahashi is in pain trying to get to the corner. 30 minutes have passed!
Tanahashi climbs up the corner! HIGH FLY FLOW... INTO BLADE RUNNER!!!!! 1-2-3!!!! JAY WHITE IS THE NEW IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!
Winner: Jay White (New IWGP Heavyweight Champion)
Match Grade: A-. While this wasn't a five-star classic, this was a very good match that further establishes Jay White and cements him as the new top Gaijin (outsider; foreign wrestler) in NJPW. I love the finish as it came out of nowhere and further places the Blade Runner as the "insurmountable finish" to a match. Jay White has a big opportunity now to run with the company as its new champion. Best of luck to him. As for Tanahashi, another great performance by one of the all-time great wrestlers period.
Tanahashi is helped to the back while White cuts a promo. White talks about having his last Young Lion match 2.5 years ago in that building. He called NJPW his home and the fans were his family. He cuts a promo on the crowd about no one believing that he could beat Omega, Tanahashi, Okada, or win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He's champion in spite of each and every one of the fans. He's not doing this for anyone but himself, Gedo, and the Cuthroat Era Bullet Club. All of the fans can breathe with the Switchblade. Welcome to HIS New Era.
Show Grade: C+. And that's because of how horrific that undercard was. Before the Taguchi-Ishimori match, this show was absolutely terrible and boring. There's no other way around it. Usually, the undercards of NJPW are better than this, but you can tell they were hurting from talent off doing other events. Even so, the booking of those matches could have been much better. The last 3 matches were all very good, especially the two title matches on this show. Jay White gets the push as the new main attraction of New Japan, and Ishimori continues to put on quality matches in the Jr. Division.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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