The road to Wrestle Kingdom begins here with Power Struggle 2016. The show is headlined by Naito vs Jay Lethal, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Sanada avd EVIL vs Katsuyori Shibata. We also got the surprise re-debut of Himoru Takahashi (forrmerly Kamaitachi).
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, David Final and Ricochet vs Ryusuke Taguchi, Titan, Fuego and Angel Del Oro
Titan and Jushin Thunder Liger start us off and immediately lock up before hitting each other with chips. Titan impressively dodges a corner charge from Liger before showing off for the crowd. Titan followed it up with an enzeguiri and a dropkick before tagging in Oro while Liger tagged in Ricochet.
We begin with what can only be called aerial ballet, impressively dodging each other before things break down with Taguchi coming in and rear ending all four members of the opposition.
Then we had Fuego and Tiger Mask in the ring. Tiger Mask quickly tagged in David Finlay who was hit by a dropkick before tagging in Ricochet while Fuego tagged in Titan. Things break down again as all 8 men go at it, the sequence ending with a spear by David Finlay. Fuego then tried a roll up for the two count which was followed by a springboard from Ricochet.
Sweet double-team from David Finlay and Ricochet with Ricochet hitting the Shooting Star Press for the pinfall.
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, David Final and Ricochet vs Rysuke Taguchi, Titan, Fuego and Angel Del Oro
Great show of respect by all 8 men after the match.
Togi Makabe, Honma and Yoshi Tatsu vs Bone Soldier, Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens
The Bullet Club members entered the ring first with Yujiro Takahashi coming out with a horde of leather-clad women, two of them carrying whips. The former Captain New Japan, Bone Soldier, also looked at home with his new friends.
The veterans start the match strong, going to work on Chase Owens with Honma hitting a trademark headbutt before getting distracted by Bone Soldier as the Bullet Club trio went to work on Honma. Young upstart Takahashi, went to work on the veteran Honma hitting him with a bodyslam before tagging in Owens who missed with ah headbutt.
Yoshi Tastu and Bone Soldier got tagged in together after this as Tatsu repeatedly hit Bone Soldier with kicks to the chest before the Bullet Club invaded the ring to take advantage. A boot to the face from Takahashi and a codebreaker from Owens later, Tatsu got covered for the pin. He then went for a Perdigree on Takahashi but got hit with a Superkick by Chase Owens.
Bone Soldier followed this up with a modified Full Nelson Slam and Takahashi finished it off with a snap DDT.
Bone Soldier, Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens vs Togi Makabe, Honma and Yoshi Tatsu
Bone Soldier went to choke Tatsu after the match but Honma and Makabe chased him away.
Yoshihashi and Tomohiro Ishii vs Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa (for the IWGP Tag-Team Championships)
This match was fast paced and exciting from the word go. Yoshihashi and Ishii worked well together and Tama Tonga gave a really good account of himself. The match was full of nearfalls and point where all four men were laid out together which made it look like these 4 men waged war.
Yoshihashi hit a Swanton Bomb for a nearfall when no one thought he’d kick out. Tonga and Roa followed it up with a powerbomb into a reverse DDT for a two-count. They then went to finish Yoshihashi off but Ishii came to the rescue and took Tonga Roa out with a German Suplex. Tama Tonga then went for a Stunner on Yoshihashi but he countered with a reverse Enzeguiri.
He then went to finish Tama Tonga off but Tonga countered his Octopus suplex with a Stunner. Tonga and Roa then hit their finisher for the pinfall.
Tama Tonga and Tonga Roa def. Yoshihashi and Tomohiro Ishii
Rocky Romero and Trent Baretta vs ACH and Taiji Ishimori (Super Jrs. Tag-Team tournament final)
Ishimori and Romero start us off with Ishimori sending Romero scurrying to his corner after a flurry of offence. Baretta and Romero argued for a bit before ACY and Ishimori blindsided them.
Baretta and Ishimori were legal and Baretta hit Ishimori with a vertical suplex before he and Romero hit ACH with the double knees. Baretta followed it up with a Tope Suicida on ACH and Ishimori to the outside.
Ishimori and ACH, however, isolated Baretta to get the advantage and followed it up with a Half-Boston crab. Baretta reached the ropes before both wrestlers made a tag. Romero then hit Ishimori with a springboard to take control and followed it up with an Asai DDT but Ishimori hit back with a handstand Enzeguiri.
Barette and Ishimori then went for a double-team but Ishimori countered as ACH came back in for the save. They then hit stereo German Suplexes on Romero and Baretta before Ishimori hit Romero with a moonsault on the outside.
ACH and Ishimori then double-team Rocky Romero but Romero managed to send Ishimori face-first into ACH’s boots as Baretta came in to help his partner. Ishimori then got pancaked by Beretta into the mat following a knee drop by Romero but somehow it only got a nearfall.
Romero then went for the triple corner clothesline but got wiped out by ACH on the last attempt. ACH then hit an incredible running shooting star press over the top rope onto his opponents.
ACH and Ishimori then went for stereo 450 splashes but were met with double knees. Romero followed it up with a knee to the face of ACH while knocked him off his feet for a bit but he replied with a boot to the head followed by a vertical suplex for another nearfall.
ACH then went for the moonsault but Baretta hit him with a top-rope German Suplex as Romero hit Ishimori with a Tope Suicida. Romero and Baretta then hit ACH with their finisher for the pinfall.
Rocky Romero and Trent Baretta def.ACH and Taiji Ishimori
Romero and Baretta call out the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions after the match – asking The Young Bucks for a match at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in January and The Young Bucks accepted.
Bushi vs Kushida (for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championsip)
Kushida attacked Bushi the moment the bell rang and he was clearly out for revenge. He followed it up with a piledriver to the floor outside the ring before being called back into the ring by stewards.
Bushi didn’t stay down for too long though and send Kushida face-first into the ring apron. Kushida did manage to lock in his trademark armbar later but Bushi reached the ropes pretty easily. Bushi then hit Kushida with a basement dropkick while he was in the middle of a headstand and followed it up with a Tope Suicida right into the railings at ringside.
Kushida tried another armbar but Bushi reversed it into a modified Dragon Lock and followed it up with a codebreaker after Kushida reached the ropes. He followed it up with a jumping codebreaker from the top rope but only managed a nearfall.
Bushi and Kushida followed this up with a series of stiff strikes which Bushi followed up with a Canadian Destroyer. Bushi went to the top rope again but his splash got reversed by Kushida into a codebreaker of his own. Kushida followed this up with an armbar. Bushi desperately tried to reach the ropes but had to tap out eventually.
Kushida def. Bushi
The winner and new champion, Kushida, was busy celebrating when the screen showed a countdown clock followed by the surprise re-debut Himoru Takahashi (the former Kamaitachi). The crowd went wild for Takahashi as he challenged Kushida for a match at Wrestle Kingdom 11.
Kenny Omega, Adam Cole, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson (Bullet Club) vs Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Hirooki Goto and Gedo (CHAOS)
The Bullet Club’s line-up in this match looked really strong on paper and they didn’t disappoint. The only amongst the Bullet Club brethren without a title was leader Kenny Omega who’s going to face Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11 for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Will Ospreay and Nick Jackson started us off in this one with Ospreay’s superior speed giving him the edge early on. Some of the stuff that Ospreay’s does is so hard to describe with words.
Ospreay countered everything Nick Jackson threw at him which only frustrated Jackson and led to him tripping over the bottom rope and falling on his face. He then tagged Kenny Omega in Ospreay tagged in Okada. Omega saw Okada and tagged in Adam Cole. As Okada turned to face Cole Omega attacked him from behind.
Okada was taken off guard for a second but fought back both Cole and Okada, sending Omega reeling to the outside and grounding Cole, before tagging in Goto. The Young Bucks hit Gedo with a double Superkick and had all four CHAOS members on the outside before hitting four stereo Tope Suicidas. They then isolated Gedo in their corner and worked on him.
Gedo finally tagged in Goto who went to work on ROH World Champion Adam Cole, hitting him with a lariat. He went to follow it up with a reverse vertical suplex but the Bucks hit him with a double Superkick. Ospreay then hit the Bucks and Cole with a triple Pelle kick which he followed up with a dive to the outside.
Omega and Okada were men left in the ring after this and Okada hit Omega with a modified White Noise and went to the top rope but Nick Jackson sprayed him in the face with hairspray. Ospreay then hit a Spanish fly after which Okada got Omega in position for a Rainmaker Clothesline. Okada missed and the Bucks hit him with a double Superkick. Following this, the Buller Club members hit Okada with a quadruple Superkick. They followed it up with another quadruple Superkick on Gedo.
Omega followed it up with an attempt to finish Okada off but he countered with an attempted tombstone. Omega reversed this and went for one of his own as Okada reversed once again and went for a Rainmaker Clothesline which Omega reversed with a knee to the face. He followed it up with a One-Winged Angel for the win.
Kenny Omega, Adam Cole, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson (Bullet Club) def. Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Hirooki Goto and Gedo (CHAOS)
With Okada laid out in the middle of the ring, the Bullet Club boys posed over him as he writhed around on the mat.
Katsuyori Shibata vs EVIL (for the NEVER Openweight Championship)
EVIL and Shibata’s rivalry has been brewing since EVIL attacked Shibata from behind after a match last month.
Shibata and EVIL traded blows early on before the action spilt to the outside. EVIL tangled Shibata’s arm into a steel chair before smashing it into a ring post. Shibata managed to avoid the 20-count by a few seconds after finally untangling himself from the chair.
EVIL tried repeated kicks to Shibata’s injured shoulder but he just ‘hulked up’ and took the fight back to EVIL – literally kicking the wind out of him before both men just hit each other repeatedly with kicks and strikes which EVIL followed up with backdrop, followed with a Superkick to the gut followed by a knee to the face for a nearfall.
A frustrated EVIL then hit a sitout Powerbomb, only to get another nearfall. EVIL then signalled for the kill but Shibata unexpectedly hit him with an STO as both men went down and traded punches on their knees.
Shibata then locked in the sleeper and hit an overhead suplex just as EVIL was fading. EVIL rolled outside and hit Shibata with the championship belt while the referee was distracted. He then rolled Shibata into the ring and hit Shibata with a steel chair but only got a nearfall. Undeterred, he then hit Shibata with a modified Rock Bottom for then pinfall.
EVIL def. Katsuyori Shibata
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Sanada
Grizzled veteran and fan favourite Hiroshi Tanahashi took on Sanada next. This rivalry dates back to the G1 Climax tournament where the younger Sanada had gotten the win.
The match started with a lock up but quickly devolved into fast paced action. Sanada, over 6 foot 3 inches, dove over the top rope and performed hurracanra with ease and is clearly a future star. He delivered a hurracanrana to the ramp early on in the match and Tanahashi barely managed to escape the 20-count.
The two of them matches each other move for move, repeatedly kicking out of the best that the opponent had to offer. It was akin to Tanahashi seeing a younger version of himself in the ring with him and going all out to prove that he could still perform at the highest level.
Tanahashi hit a Slingblade on the apron and followed it up with a frog splash to ringside. However, Sanada just wouldn’t lay down and hit back with a pinning German Suplex, missing the 3-count by a second. Sanada followed it up with a modified sleeper on Tanahashi who barely managed to break out of it – the crowd going wild throughout.
Sanada then went for a moonsault which Tanahashi dodged. With Sanada on the ground, Tanahashi tried to hit another Frog Splash and this time Tanahashi missed. With Tanahashi laid out, Sanda went for a moonsault but had to try and land on his feet when Tanahashi moved away and the awkward landing jarred his knee.
Tanahashi immediately went to work on the knee with a Dragon Screw followed by a Texas Cloverleaf. Sanada struggled but finally managed to reached the rope. An undeterred Tanahashi went for a Frog Splash but was met by Sanada’s knees.
Sanada and Tanahashi then traded repeated forearms to the face before Tanahashi hit a modified Twist Of Fate followed by a Slingblade for the nearfall. Tanahashi then finally hit the Frog Splash before going to the top rope again and hitting a second one and finally getting the win.
Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Sanada
Tetsuya Naito vs Jay Lethal (for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship)
Naito and Lethal’s rivalry began while they tagged in a match against the Bullet Club. Naito and Lethal had a disagreement on the night before Naito abandoned Lethal and left him at the mercy of the Bullet Club.
Jay Lethal wasn’t pulling any punches tonight and started the match with three Tope Suicida’s to Naito, which drove Naito right into the ringside barrier. Lethal then followed it up with a quick pinfall attempt.
Naito, the overwhelming crowd favourite, responded by sending Lethal crotch first into the top rope before taking him outside and repeatedly driving Lethal’s back into the metal barrier.
Lethal responded with offence of his own but Naito, who doesn’t play by the rules, clawed at Lethal’s eyes to stay on top of things but it didn’t last long as a flurry of chops and kicks from Lethal drove Naito back before he hit Naito with a cutter for the 2-count.
Naito then reversed an Irish whip attempt to ground Lethal in the corner before hitting a basement dropkick from the apron. Naito followed it up with a modified triangle hold but Lethal managed to reach the ropes.
Naito then looked to explode out of the ropes with a clothesline but Lethal caught him dead in his tracks and hit him with a backbreaker into a reverse STO. He followed it up with a modified Death Valley Driver, sending Naito neck first into the mat before picking him up and propping him on the top rope. Naito countered the backdrop but Lethal hit him with a dropkick to stop him dead in his tracks.
Lethal the hit a superplex as the crowd exploded when Naito kicked out at 2, with the Naito chants filling the arena once again. Lethal looked to finish Naito off with a Lethal Injection but Naito dodged and hit Lethal with a Tornado DDT before hitting a dropkick from the top rope.
Naito then propped the former ROH World Champion on the top rope and hit a hurracanrana. Naito then went for the cover but Lethal kicked out at 2 and a half.
Lethal and Naito then traded blows till Naito hit a vertical suplex for another two count. Lethal then hit a modified reverse Death Valley Driver and followed it up with a Crossface. Naito looked like he would tap for a second but eventually crawled to the ropes. Lethal then hit Naito with a vertical suplex right into the apron which he followed up with a diving elbow drop from the top rope for yet another nearfall.
Lethal then channelled Michael Elgin as he hit the Buckle Bomb followed up with a sitout Powerbomb, only to get another nearfall. Lethal then went for a Lethal Injection but Naito countered with an elbow which Lethal countered with a forearm.
Lethal looked to take the opening with a Lethal Injection but Naito countered and hit his finisher, the Destino, for the win.
Tetsuya Naito def. Jay Lethal
Tanahashi came out after the match to challenge Tetsuya Naito to a match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, which he duly accepted.
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