'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi/KENTA steal the show at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 in an insane, bloody war
Hiroshi Tanahashi tried to regain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship from KENTA in a No Disqualification Match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16. This contest would stand out on this night of pure wrestling because of its barbaric nature and high risk.
KENTA looked to destroy his rival, using any weapon that he could get his hands on. The Bullet Club member assembled a ladder to give Tanahashi the kill shot, but this came back to haunt him. With KENTA on the ladder, the Ace shook the wobbly structure to make the champion fall off and land face-first on a garbage can.
KENTA was split open and bled heavily due to this fall. Tanahashi didn't end it right there as he wanted to deliver the kill shot. He set KENTA on a table and climbed the wobbly ladder before turning around to hit the High Fly Flow. Tanahashi retained the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship and finally settled the score with KENTA at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16.
1) Kazuchika Okada is back on top at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 in two consecutive Tokyo Dome classics
Kazuchika Okada lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the first dual gold battle at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 in 2020. For two years, the Rainmaker was on the outside looking in for the world title scene despite being arguably the greatest heavyweight champion in the company's history.
Okada went on a journey that led to him winning the G1 Climax 31 tournament and getting back to the Tokyo Dome main event at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16. On Night 1, the CHAOS leader faced Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Takagi held down the company by being its most consistent in-ring performer and wanted to keep his spot.
Okada and Shingo delivered a fantastic main event inside the Tokyo Dome. Despite restrictions on the crowd, their clapping was never louder than for this match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 1. After two straight losses to Shingo, Okada finally hit the Rainmaker on Takagi for the first time to defeat him and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title.
Kazuchika Okada had no time to rest when Night 2 was headlined by the Rainmaker facing his former brother in CHAOS, Will Ospreay. The two men met in a Match of the Year candidate last year at Wrestle Kingdom, but there was more pressure and stakes at play this year.
Okada and Ospreay set an incredible pace in this NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 main event. The intensity escalated as the match went on with both men putting on a masterful performance. The counters were smooth and exhilarating to watch, with Ospreay reversing the Rainmaker into a Spanish Fly being a highlight. The near falls kept the Tokyo Dome crowd fully invested.
In the end, Okada countered the Hidden Blade into his signature dropkick. He followed with a landslide piledriver and finally the Rainmaker to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in a sensational Tokyo Dome classic. Across two nights on the biggest show of the year, Kazuchika Okada took his rightful place at the top of the company at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16.
