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OKADA VS. OSPREAY: NEW JAPAN ON AXS TV REPORT

Welcome to the New Japan on AXS TV report!

We are at NJPW Battle in the Valley 2024!

Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay.

The crowd was loving this before they even locked up.    They locked up and went back and forth, feeling each other out.  They broke clean in the ropes, then clenched up again.  Okada acted like he was going to throw a punch and Ospreay flinched.  That didn't make Ospreay happy.  He nailed a rana on Okada.  Ospreay missed a charge in the corner but caught Okada with a kick.  He clotheslined Okada over the top to the floor.  Ospreay teased a dive but Okada avoided a plancha.  Ospreay landed on his feet but was kicked and nailed with a DDT.

They battled on the floor, exchanging forearms.  Okada drilled Ospreay with a DDT off the apron to the floor.  Back in the ring, Okada worked over Ospreay for a long time.    Okada drilled him in the corner with an elbow.  The crowd was booing Okada slightly.  Ospreay fired back but was cut off with a kick to the mid-section and a charging elbow.  Okada nailed a leaping hip strike.   Ospreay fired back and drilled Okada with a kick from the buckles.  Okada cut off his momentum, elevating and slamming Ospreay to the mat.

Okada drilled him with neckbreaker across the knee.  Okada locked on The Money Clip as the fans tried to rally Ospreay back to life.  Okada nailed a big forearm but was smashed with an enziguiri.  He went for a powerbomb but Okada escaped and landed on his feet.  Okada went for the dropkick but missed.  Ospreay went for a standing shooting star press but Okada pulled his knees up and finally smashed Ospreay with a dropkick.  Ospreay came back with an Ozcutter for a two count.

As they hit the 15 mark, they battled to the floor again, where Okada nailed a tombstone piledriver.  He dumped Ospreay back into the ring and slammed him.  Okada ascended to the top and nailed a flying elbow.  Okada kept kicking as Ospreay, trying to play mind games.  Ospreay fired back wit a kick and went for an Ozcutter but Okada caught him.  Ospreay nailed a lariat for a two count.  They battled back and forth.  Okada nailed Stormbreaker and a Rainmaker but Ospreay kicked out of each.  Okada was shocked at the Rainmaker kickout.

Okada kept working over Ospreay.  He dropkicked Ospreay in the back of the head.  Ospreay caught him rebounding and nailed a sit-out powerbomb.  They fought to their feet, battering each other with forearms and strikes.  The momentum went back and forth when Ospreay was drilled and finally went down to his knees.  Okada went for the Rainmaker but Ospreay ducks and nailed his own lariat.  Ospreay nailed a big dropkick and hit a Rainmaker of his own for a close two count.  Ospreay went for Stormbreaker but Okada rolled through and scored a two count.

Ospreay finally nailed Stormbreaker and scored a CLOSE two count.  Ospreay revealed The Hidden Blade and set up to strike Okada.  Okada pounced and nailed him, then  tossed Ospreay aside when he tried again.  They kicked back and forth at each other.  Okada nailed a stiff clothesline.  Okada nailed a slam and grabbed him for a Rainmaker for the pin.

Your winner, Kazuchika Okada!

Damn good physical battle.

Okada pulled Ospreay up and hugged him for a long time.

Dave Finlay, Gabe Kid and The War Dogs hit the ring and attacked Ospreay and Okada.    Jeff Cobb and TJP made the save.  Eddie Kingston hit the ring to a big pop.  Everyone brawled until the villains were run from the ring.  

The crowd chanted "Thank you Ospreay,"  He said you can thank him when he wipes out Bullet Club in a cage in Osaka.  He told Eddie Kingston he owes him one.  He thanked everyone for having his back.  The crowd chanted for Ospreay again.  He told the fans he thanks them and said it's been a really fun eight years.  He came to New Japan when he was 22 and really found out about himself.  He was a young, immature young man who made mistakes and faced everyone so he could grow from it.  He said there are so many things he could say about Kazuchika Okada and said Okada was literally the greatest wrestler ever.  He cannot express the gratitude he has to perform in front of everyone for his last singles match in NJPW.   He said, "Not bad for some autistic kid from Essex."  He said he's so grateful for everyone who's watched out for him, like the United Empire.  He said the United States is going to be his home for the next few years and they're going to "get to know each other very well."  He said this chapter is unfortunately closing but a new one is opening.  Before it does, they are bringing the steel cage to New Japan.  He said he was a backyard wrestler when he started and he's bringing that to New Japan.  He said if you don't like blood and violence and the sounds of broken bones, don't watch but if you are a sick SOB like him, watch as they take Bullet Club and bury it.

United Empire celebrated and embraced to close the show.

Ospreay bowed to each side of the ring before exiting.

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