Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
Styles, being the heel he is, tried to grab Naito for a Styles Clash immediately to try and break his neck. Naito fought back and hit a leaping dropkick off the apron to the floor on Styles. Back in the ring, Naito controlled Styles but Styles began working over his knee and leg.
As Naito fought for the ropes, Matt Striker mentioned our own Matt Macklin while talking the background of the talents and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I was to hear that as Matt has done an amazing job on the site and is a great addition to the team.
Naito fought back and nailed an tornado DDT off the ropes. They battled back and forth. Naito backdropped Styles and nailed a nice senton splash. Naito placed Styles on the top rope and drilled him with a series of punches. Styles fired back with headbutts, knocking him to the floor. They battled back and forth. Styles went for a German suplex but Naito fought out and reversed it. Styles then reversed it and nailed the German suplex himself. Styles went for another but Naito used a forward victory roll for a two count.
Naito nailed a big German suplex and roled up Styles, who kicked out at two. They continued back and forth with some great wrestling. Naito nailed an enziguiri and whopped Styles into the ropes. Styles reversed but was still nailed with a flying forearm. The announcers told the story that Naito has never been able to win at this event to make him the underdog.
Naito ascended to the top but Styles took his legs out from under him, crotching Naito on the top. Some awesome back and forth stuff here. Styles locks on a leg submission and Naito fights to the ropes. Naito nailed a big back suplex for a two count. Styles nailed the Pele Kick. Styles nailed a big impact DDT. Styles was dumped over the top to the floor.
Naito drilled Styles and made the big comeback, placing Styles on the top, He went for a top rope rana but Styles caught him and went for the dreaded Styles Clash. Ross acted like this was the most devastating thing in wrestling. Styles scored the pin.
Your winner, AJ Styles!
Great back and forth match. Just awesome stuff from bell to bell.
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi
Big entrances here. They did a lot of feeling each other out early. Based on the timing of the show, we can expect some long final matches. Nakamura seemed to be taking Ibushi easy early but that ended when Ibushi shoved him. Ibushi and Nakamura went into a great flurry of kicks before facing off.
They went back and forth. Nakamura nailed a series of knees, including a big knee drop onto Ibushi’s head while he was out on the apron. Nakamura controlled the action for a long time. Ibushi made the comeback and started hitting all his high flying offense, including a missile dropkick and a standing shooting star press. Ibushi went for a springboard but Nakamura kicked him down with his one-legged dropkick in mid-air.
Nakamura nailed several knees but missed a charge in the corner. Ibushi placed him on the top but Nakamura nailed him with a series of elbows and dumped him on the apron. Ibushi leapt up and caught him with a top rope rana in one fluid motion. Ibushi covered him and went for a Dragon suplex but Nakamura fought free. Ibushi nailed him with the Dragon suplex and hit a standing corkscrew moonsault press for a two count.
Nakamura was drilled with a big roundhouse kick to the head. He was out. Ibushi nailed a sit-out powerbomb for a close two count. Ibushi ascended to the top but missed a Phoenix Splash. Nakamura drilled him in the back of the head with his signature knee. Ibushi made a comeback and began hitting a lot of strikes and worked over Nakamura, who was down in the ropes. The referee argued with Ibushi, allowing Nakamura to shove him into the challenger and then snap on the rolling armbreaker.
They continued battling back and forth. Nakamura was really taking it to Ibushi with some stuff kicks and strikes. It was really stiff. Nakamura rebounded off the ropes but was caught with a ridiculously sick double stomp. Ibushi wounded himself up and used a springboard to pull Nakamura over the ropes into the ring with an incredibly sick suplex and somehow Nakamura kicked out at the last second. This is awesome.
They battled back and forth. Nakamura drilled him with a running knee and finally scored the pin.
Your winner and still IWGP IC champion, Shinsuke Nakamura!
Just an incredible story told here. Nakamura was the grizzled veteran who refused to play dead for Ibushi, who showed his heart and fire before finally falling, This was designed to make Ibushi the guy who the audience sees as someone who is fighting to earn his spot and when he gets that big win, it will be a huge deal. Great, great stuff.
After the bout, Nakamura said, "This is insane! Insane! I'm all worn out....just kidding. Ibushi...this guy is the best! Tokyo Dome! Are you ready? Yeah!"
Thanks to Yottsume for the translation.
Main Event Time!
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
