PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

1/5 NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING WRESTLE KINGDOM NIGHT TWO REPORT

1/5/21 Results for New Japan Wrestle Kingdom from the Tokyo Dome

KOPW 2021 Trophy (4 way Match):  Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens vs. BUSHI vs. Bad Luck Fale

BUSHI gets dropped by a Grenade Launcher by Fale and Owens.   Owens goes to pin BUSHI.  Fale breaks up the pin and tries to pin BUSHI.  Fale pulls Owens off.  They argue about who will get the pin.   Yano sneaks up behind them and low blows them both.   Yano pins BUSHI for the win!  Toru Yano wins the KOPW 2021 Trophy.   This looks like to be a "comedy" award for the undercard for upcoming New Japan events, especially with Yano as the winner.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match:  Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi, with Hiroyoshi Tenzan

El Desperado pins Taguchi with Pinche Loco.  Suzuki-Gun successfully defends their IWGP Jr. Tag Titles.   Solid match.  I expected a win for Wato here.   After a much hyped entrance last year, Wato ends 2020 with not much to show for it.  El Desperado talked a lot of trash on Wato and Taguchi going into this match, so I expected them to step up.   Unfortunately, they were not able to do it.  Wato has a lot of work to do.  He is not at the level of Hiromu Takahashi, El Phantasmo or Taiji Ishimori.... yet.  Hopefully, he will get closer to that level in 2021.  

NEVER Openweight Championship Match:   Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb

Takagi pins Cobb with Last of the Dragon.  My God.  Awesome brutal match!   Rocky Romero compared the match to Stan Hansen vs. Bruiser Brody.   Great comparison.  These guys hit each other with power moves that would destroy a normal man.  The announcers spoke of a rematch.   I would wait awhile.  These guys will need time to heal.  My favorite match of the two nights, so far.  

The Empire is 0 for 3 in two nights.  I do not think their time is done.  If either O-Khan, Ospreay or Cobb had gotten at least one victory, they could have backed up their claims as a powerful faction.  Right now, it is all talk and no substance.   Individually, all are great wrestlers, but as a group, they have yet to live up to expectations that they brag about.  Things could change for them at New Year's Dash or on the Road to New Beginning.

Special Single Match:  SANADA vs. EVIL, with Dick Togo

After Dick Togo is put through a table, SANADA hits his own version of Everything is Evil, a pop-up TKO and a moonsault on EVIL.  SANADA pins his former partner.  Good match with great wrestling.   In the events leading up to this match, SANADA and EVIL were having brutal fights with each other.  I expected a grudge match with brawling or fighting.  However, that did not happen at the onset of the match.  That took me out of the match for a bit.  Without the interference of Togo, SANADA could beat EVIL on the level playing field, which is the point they trying to make with this match.

I question how New Japan treats EVIL going forward.   He was so dependent on Dick Togo all year.  EVIL won and lost the Double Championship.  Can EVIL only win with Togo's interference?  Where does EVIL fit into Bullet Club now, especially if Switchblade Jay White beats Kota Ibushi?   EVIL's relationship with Bullet Club should be the story for 2021 as he moves away from Los Ingobernales de Japon.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match:  Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi

The elbows that were thrown in this match were vicious.  Hiromu's nose was busted open.   This is the emotion which should have been in the SANADA/EVIL match.  Damn!  The reversals in this match were awesome.    Hiromu Takahashi pins Ishimori with Time Bomb II.    Great match!   What is amazing is the punishment that Hiromu took.  A damaged hand from El Phantasmo on Night 1. Tonight, a Destroyer on the top of his head.  His arm almost ripped out by a Bone Lock.  A bloody nose from the Bone Soldier's elbows.  

Takahashi screamed that he wants to main event the Tokyo Dome.  He has talked about the Jr. Heavyweight Title being the main event.  This may be the final goal he wants to achieve.

 IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship Match:  Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White, with Gedo

Ibushi pins Jay White with a Kamagoye to the back of the head, then another Kamagoye to the face.   Wicked!  This was a great 48+ minute match.  Both wrestlers told a good story in the ring.   

Jay White was out on his feet but yet still wanted to fight.  He was dazed trying to grab the belts.  He is a great heel.   He helped make this moment for Ibushi.

SANADA comes out in a suit.  He congratulates Ibushi and asks to be the first challenger.  Ibushi takes the mic and tells SANADA that he hopes to wrestle him many times in the future.  SANADA nods and leaves the ring, seemingly satisfied with his answer.  Ibushi tells the crowd he will not betray them.  He announces that he has become "God".  As Ibushi leaves the ring, he bows to the announcers, Jyushin Thunder Liger and Masahiro Chono at ringside.   Kevin Kelly, Rocky Romero and Chris Charlton give him a standing ovation, and he bows to them.  

After winning the G1 Climax last year, and losing at Wrestle Kingdom 14, Ibushi finally achieved his goal after winning the IWGP Double Championship on back-to-back nights.   

Stay tuned for a report on New Japan's New Year's Dash.

Thank you for reading.

 

 

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!

• Tweet