NJPW STRONG REPORT: OKADA VERSUS TANAHASHI, MERCEDES MONE, AND MORE

By Richard Trionfo on 2023-03-19 09:29:00

Match Number One: Alex Coughlin versus JR Kratos

JR with a running shoulder tackle and foerarms. JR sends Alex into the turnbuckles. JR with a chop in the corner. JR with another chop in the corner. JR with an Irish whip and a splash into the corner but Alex catches JR and sends him into the corner followed by shoulders. Alex puts JR on the turnbuckles and JR with a boot. Alex pulls JR off the turnbuckles and then connects with uppercuts. Alex with a chop in the corner. JR with a kick and he sends Alex into the ropes. The referee checks on Alex.

JR with a suplex throw and Alex goes into the ropes. JR sets for another suplex and he flips Alex into the corner. The referee checks on Alex. JR with forearms and Alex gets in JR’s face. Alex avoid a forearm and connects with forearms and chops. Alex tries to get JR up for a slam but JR blocks it. Alex with a chop. JR misses a short arm clothesline but hits a second clothesline for a near fall. JR sets for a delayed vertical suplex and he hits it and gets a near fall.

JR with an Irish whip and he runs into a boot. JR with a forearm. JR with an Irish whip and Alex floats over and goes for a German suplex but JR blocks it. JR with a waist lock and Alex with a standing switch. Alex with a double sledge to the back. Alex with a bridging fallaway slam for a near fall. Alex with a gutwrench suplex and both men are down. Alex with a series of chops to JR. Alex with a clothesline and a clothesline into the corner. Alex with a waist lock and JR with an elbow and enzuigiri. The referee starts his count and they get to their feet. Alex with a forearm and JR fires back. JR with a slap and Alex slaps back. Alex with forearms but JR with a jumping knee and clothesline for a near fall. JR with a jumping forearm in the corner and he puts Alex on the turnbuckles. JR sets for a superplex but Alex gets to his feet and he tries for a German superplex. JR blocks it but Alex is able to hit a German suplex for the three count.

Winner: Alex Coughlin

Match Number Two: Kazuchika Okada versus Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Men’s Championship

They lock up and Tanahashi with a waist lock and a wrist lock. Okada with a single leg take down and he works on the ankle. Tanahashi with a cross arm breaker but Okada gets a near fall with a rollup. They lock up and Okada with a clean break and then he teases a chop but he pats Tanahashi on the chest. Okada with a kick and side head lock and shoulder tackle. Tanahashi with an arm drag into an arm bar. Tanahashi with a punch to the midsection. Okada with an Iris whip and Tanahashi with a back elbow and cross body. Tanahashi with a guitar solo. Tanahashi misses a splash into the corner and Okada puts Tanahashi on the turnbuckles and hits a drop kick to send Tanahashi to the floor.

Okada backs Tanahashi into the guardrails and then he picks up Tanahashi and runs him into the apron. Okada with a DDT on the ramp. They return to the ring and Okada sends Tanahashi into the turnbuckles and connects with a series of elbows. Okada with a DDT for a near fall. Tanahashi with forearms and Okada with a knee and neck breaker. Okada circles Tanahashi and Tanahashi with forearms and Okada wants more. Okada with a forearm and Tanahashi falls into the corner. Okada with an Irish whip and he runs into boots. Tanahashi with forearms and Okada with an uppercut. Tanahashi with a flying forearm.

Tanahashi with forearms and punches. Tanahashi with a slam and he goes to the turnbuckles for a somersault senton and he gets a near fall. Tanahashi with a drop kick to the knees. Tanahashi blocks a kick and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Tanahashi goes to the turnbuckles and hits High Fly Flow onto Okada on the floor. Tanahashi rolls Okada back into the ring and he blocks a flapjack. Okada with a flapjack and both men are down. Tanahashi with a drop kick to the knee and Okada with an Air Raid Crash neck breaker. Okada with a slam and he goes to the turnbuckles. Okada with an elbow drop and he sets for the camera to pan back for the Rainmaker. Tanahashi with elbows to block the Rainmaker. Okada with the head and arm choke.

Okada with a back breaker and he returns to the head and arm choke. Tanahashi gets to the ropes to force a break. Okada has a clothesline blocked and Tanahashi and he hits an arm trapped German suplex for a near fall. Okada goes for a tilt-a-whirl move but Tanahashi with a sling blade for a near fall. Tanahashi with High Fly Flow to the back and then he turns Okada over for another High Fly Flow but Okada gets his knees up. Tanahashi with a forearm and Okada fires back. They exchange forearms.

They get back to their feet and they continue the exchange. Okada with an uppercut and Tanahashi with one of his own. Okada with a drop kick. Tanahashi slaps Okada and Okada with a drop kick. Okada with a Michinoku Driver. Tanahashi kicks Okada in the knee and punches Okada while Okada tries for the Rainmaker. Tanahashi with sling blade and he goes up top for High Fly Flow but Okada with a drop kick. Okada goes for Rainmaker but Tanahashi with an inside cradle for a near fall. Okada with an enzuigiri and Emerald Flowsion. Okada with Rainmaker for the three count.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada (retains championship)

After the match, Okada has the belt put around his waist.

Okada takes the mic and he asks everyone how was the show tonight. He says this is pro wrestling. This is New Japan Pro Wrestling. Okada thanks everyone for their support. He says they showed what New Japan Pro Wrestling is. He says to Tanahashi to bring back the dream tag team and become Tag Team Champions. He says let’s make it rain. Okada thanks San Jose and he says he will see you next time.

Mercedes Mone’s music plays and she makes her way to the ring.

Okada and Mone hold up their title belts.

Mone thanks San Jose. She says New Japan and Stardom made her dreams come true tonight. Mone says Okada has a dream team in mind, but she says they have a lot in common and they can become a true dream team. She says she knows Okada like to make it rain. She says she likes to make mone.

We go to Okada in the back.

He says facing Tanahashi he is thrilled to show what NJPW is all about. Tanahashi isn’t too old yet and he suggests they team for tag team gold. He wants to make this year more exciting and he wants to win the tag titles. They didn’t do too well as tag team champions but it would be nice to return to San Jose as champions.

He says Mone caught him by surprise. He suggests that they could be another dream tag team.

We go to credits.