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Power Struggle 2020 is the final major event from NJPW before the end of the year. This event usually marks significant changes on the road to Wrestle Kingdom 15. The headline encounters on this evening would settle what would be the main event in the Tokyo Dome on January 4th and 5th.
The main event of Power Struggle 2020 would be Tetsuya Naito facing EVIL for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. This would be their fourth meeting of the year after trading the titles this past summer. The semi-main event would be Kota Ibushi defending the Right To Challenge for the IWGP Dual Gold briefcase that he earned winning the G1 Climax 30 against 'Switchblade' Jay White. There would also be another briefcase defended and two more titles defended.
With so much at stakes on our road to the Tokyo Dome, let's take a look at what went down at NJPW Power Struggle 2020. Be sure to leave your thoughts on this event in the comments section below.
NJPW Power Struggle 2020: Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in a No Corner Pads Match for the Provisional KOPW 2020 Trophy
Our opening contest is for the Provisional KOPW 2020 trophy in a No Corner Pads Match between Toru Yano and Zack Sabre Jr. These two last met in the G1 Climax 30 tournament where ZSJ got the victory to earn this opportunity.
Yano was the first to go into the exposed turnbuckle to start things off here at Power Struggle 2020. ZSJ threw Yano into the exposed turnbuckles a few more times. The steel hurt so bad that Yano went to the outside and looked to put the corner pads back on. Sabre Jr. stopped Yano from placing the pad back on and put his opponent in an abdominal stretch.
After a fight on the floor, Yano made it to the ring before the 20 count after blinding ZSJ with hand sanitizer. Yano put a corner pad back on and ran ZSJ into it which he no-sold before running Yano into one of the exposed turnbuckles. The two men then traded rollups for two counts.
Zack Sabre Jr. locked Yano in a heel hook, which the latter tried to put on one himself until he made it to the ropes. ZSJ followed Yano to the floor where he locked back on the heel hook in between the guardrail. However, Yano tied ZSJ's shoelaces together while in the hold. ZSJ released the hold and realized he was stuck, while Yano made it in the ring to win by countout to defend the KOPW 2020 Provisional Trophy here at Power Struggle.
Result: Toru Yano defeats Zack Sabre Jr. via count-out (12:10)
Star Rating: **1/2
NJPW Power Struggle 2020: Minoru Suzuki vs. Shingo Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Championship
Our next match at Power Struggle 2020 was Minoru Suzuki against Shingo Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Championship. These two men have met twice at Summer Struggle in Jingu and in the G1 Climax 30 with them splitting those meetings.
Takagi had his back taped, following continued Boston Crab submissions from Suzuki on the Road To shows. Suzuki and Takagi charged each other and exchange forearms to start this contest at Power Struggle. Shingo Takagi blocked the armbar, but Suzuki locked it in from the opposite way before giving Takagi a big boot sending him to the floor.
Suzuki worked over the back by running Takagi into the guardrail. Suzuki grabbed a steel chair and nailed Shingo in the back. He once again locked on a single leg crab to work over Takagi's back. Back in the ring, Suzuki battered his back before Shingo caught a penalty kick and hit a Saito Suplex. Takagi then hit a back first dragon elbow drop from the top for a two count.
Shingo Takagi taunted Minoru Suzuki with kicks to the head, which made Suzuki smile. The two men traded stiff strikes again in this Power Struggle battle. Takagi reversed the Gotch Piledriver into a Death Valley Driver, which Suzuki no sold.
Suzuki responded with a penalty kick that Takagi no sold and hit a lariat. Both men were down, which gets a response from the Osaka crowd at Power Struggle. Minoru Suzuki hit forearms to the back, but Shingo Takagi responded with a DDT and sliding lariat. Takagi's back gave out on a Made In Japan attempt. Suzuki looked for the Boston Crab, but Takagi made it to the ropes.
Suzuki locked on the Boston Crab focusing on the back, but Takagi made it to the ropes again. Suzuki locked on the sleeper hold and transitioned into the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Shingo Takagi fought out. The two men traded headbutts until Takagi met a running Suzuki with a stiff forearm. Shingo Takagi nailed Minoru Suzuki with a series of lariats but Suzuki didn't fall down, asking him for more instead.
Shingo Takagi finally got Minoru Suzuki off his feet with a Pumping Bomber. Takagi followed with the Last of the Dragon to end this encounter and win the NEVER Openweight Championship at Power Struggle.
That was an absolute banger. It featured stiff strikes and the type of hard-hitting showcase you expect from the NEVER Openweight Championship. These two men have produced a bruising trilogy of encounters with the final being here at Power Struggle.
Result: Shingo Takagi defeats Minoru Suzuki via pinfall (18:56)
Star Rating: ****1/2
NJPW Power Struggle 2020: Kazuchika Okada vs. Great-O-Khan
Our third contest at Power Struggle was Kazuchika Okada meeting Great-O-Khan. This encounter was set up when O-Khan interfered to cost Okada his G1 Climax 30 A Block Finals match against Will Ospreay, which created The Empire stable. This is O-Khan's first singles match since his return from excursion.
O-Khan dominated to begin this contest at Power Struggle. He wore down Okada on the outside and then back in the ring. Okada got an advantage by hitting a flapjack. O-Khan got back control by slamming Okada face first. He then tied Okada in the tree of woe and hit a sliding dropkick to the face for a two.
Okada reversed O-Khan into an Air Raid Neckbreaker. O-Khan avoided the dropkick and landed a flatliner. He then locked in a head and arm choke in this Power Struggle match until Okada got to the ropes. O-Khan landed Mongolian Chops until Okada landed a dropkick to a running O-Khan.
Okada hit the Tombstone Piledriver and locked on the Money Clip. O-Khan put on the claw and went for the Eliminator. However, Okada reversed. O-Khan hit a pump kick and a delayed reverse suplex. Okada reversed another Eliminator attempt into the Money Clip until O-Khan fought out. Okada reversed another Eliminator into a spinning Rainmaker and locked on the Money Clip.
O-Khan tried to fight to the ropes, but Okada hit the reverse neckbreaker from the Cobra Clutch position. He locked back on the Money Clip making O-Khan pass out for the referee stoppage victory at Power Struggle. This was a decent contest with a rather subdued finish.
After this Power Struggle bout, Will Ospreay got in the ring and got handed the mic. Ospreay said that he used Okada. Ospreay used his popularity, but he can't get the moniker of best wrestler in the world. Ospreay challenged Okada to a match at WrestleKingdom 15, which Okada accepted.
Result: Kazuchika Okada defeats Great-O-Khan via referee stoppage (13:00)
Star Rating: **3/4
**Intermission followed**
NJPW Power Struggle 2020: KENTA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Right To Challenge for the IWGP United States Championship
Power Struggle resumed with KENTA defending his Right To Challenge Contract that he won in the New Japan Cup USA against Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Ace won this opportunity by defeating KENTA in the G1 Climax 30.
KENTA messed up Tanahashi's fabulous hair to begin this match at Power Struggle. Tanahashi gets control and hit a plancha to the outside. KENTA tried to create distance until he once again used the New Japan Cup USA briefcase on Tanahashi. Back in the ring, KENTA controlled things by wearing down Tanahashi's neck. KENTA laid in mid kicks until Tanahashi caught a big boot and hit the Dragon screw.
KENTA regained control and looked for the Game Over, but Tanahashi made it to the ropes. KENTA hit a powerslam for a two count. He hit a DDT for another near fall in this Power Struggle bout that pushed the referee out of the ring. KENTA used this to use the briefcase again, but Tanahashi blocked it.
KENTA once again regained the advantage in this Power Struggle battle by hitting his hesitation dropkick. He followed with the top rope double stomp for a near fall. Tanahashi blocked the Go To Sleep, but KENTA laid in stiff slaps to the face. He followed with a running knee for another two count.
Tanahashi reversed the GTS again into three consecutive Twist and Shouts. KENTA tried reversing Sling Blade into the Go To Sleep, but Tanahashi reversed into the Sling Blade. He hit another and went to the top rope to finish this Power Struggle bout. Tanahashi hit the High Fly Flow to a standing KENTA and locked on the Cloverleaf. KENTA reversed into the Game Over submission. The two men fought for their submissions until KENTA put back on the Game Over for the submission win at Power Struggle 2020.
This was a well worked and paced encounter. Both men showed remarkable chemistry with one another producing a very good match here at Power Struggle 2020.
Result: KENTA defeats Hiroshi Tanahashi via submission (20:00)
Star Rating: ***3/4
NJPW Power Struggle 2020: Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White for the Right To Challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships
Our semi-main event for Power Struggle was Kota Ibushi defending his Right To Challenge the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships Contract against 'Switchblade' Jay White. White earned this opportunity by defeating Ibushi in the G1 Climax 30. These two men also fought at Wrestle Kingdom 14 with White winning there.
Switchblade toyed with Ibushi by grabbing the briefcase on the floor. Back in the ring, he threw the briefcase at Ibushi and gained early control here at Power Struggle. Ibushi came back with a running mid-kick and laid in stiff kicks. After a distraction from Gedo, White kicked at Ibushi's knee that he uses for the Kamigoye.
Switchblade dropped Ibushi twice on the apron before working him over in the ring. Kota Ibushi regained control with a mid kick and followed White to the floor with a plancha. Back in the ring, Ibushi landed a series of strikes ending with the mid kick and standing moonsault for a two. White regained control in this Power Struggle contest with a complete shot and deadlift suplex combination, planting Ibushi on his head.
White worked over the rib cage of Kota Ibushi with knees until Ibushi caught the knee and hit the Bastard Driver. White avoided the Bomaye, but Ibushi reversed the sleeper suplex into a half and half suplex. Ibushi followed with a Buzzsaw kick and looked for Kamigoye. White blocked and attacked the ribs again. Ibushi responded with a Bomaye and followed with the Last Ride sitout powerbomb for a near fall.
White reversed Kamigoye, but Ibushi landed on his feet from the sleeper suplex to hit a high kick. Ibushi looked for the Kamigoye, but White reversed into a backslide with his feet on the ropes for the victory to leave Power Struggle with the Right To Challenge for the IWGP Dual Gold briefcase.
This was an absolute shocking result here at Power Struggle 2020. That was a very good match with both men displaying remarkable reversals and counters to each other's offense. Switchblade becomes the first man in 17 defenses of the G1 Climax briefcase to win. He now faces the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion at Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Result: Jay White defeats Kota Ibushi via pinfall (18:47)
Star Rating: ***3/4
NJPW Power Struggle 2020: Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships
Our main event for Power Struggle was Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships against his arch-rival of the year EVIL. These two men were former stablemates in Los Ingobernables de Japon until EVIL turned on Naito after winning the New Japan Cup 2020 to join The Bullet Club. They have met three times in 2020 with EVIL holding a 2-1 record. He defeated Naito in the G1 Climax 30 to earn this opportunity.
Naito got control using his speed and technical expertise on EVIL to begin this Power Struggle main event. EVIL took advantage on the floor by smashing Naito into the guardrail hard twice knocking down the timekeeper's table. With the referee distracted with the timekeeper, Dick Togo came in and nailed Naito with a steel chair to the back.
Naito regained control in this Power Struggle battle reversing a lariat into a swinging neckbreaker. EVIL used a Dick Togo distraction to send Naito to the floor and grab a steel chair. EVIL used two chairs to hit his homerun with the ref distracted in this Power Struggle closer.
Back in the ring, EVIL hit a fisherman buster for a two. However, Naito reversed a lariat and hit the swing DDT. EVIL then threw him into an exposed turnbuckle twice. EVIL hit a superplex and followed with the Dark Scorpion Death Lock. Naito made it to the ropes though. EVIL set up for Everything Is EVIL to end this Power Struggle main event. However, Naito elbowed out and hit a German Suplex.
Naito gained control and hit an avalanche frankensteiner and hit Gloria for a near fall. EVIL reversed Destino into a German Suplex. Naito came back and hit a flying forearm. He knocked Togo off the apron and hit a running Destino. Naito followed with Destino, but Togo pulled the referee out of the ring before the three.
Dick Togo came in with the choker to Naito, which led to Yujiro Takahashi coming in to strike Naito with his cain and hit Pimp Juice. This led to SANADA coming down and taking out Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo. The Osaka crowd made noise here to rally behind Naito in this Power Struggle main event. Naito and EVIL traded strikes from their knees to their feet.
EVIL nailed Naito with a low blow with the referee down, but Naito reversed a lariat into a pop up low blow. 'Switchblade' Jay White then came down to the ring. Switchblade hit a sleeper suplex on Naito after teasing an attack on EVIL and looked to follow with Blade Runner, but Ibushi came down to make the save. EVIL tried attacking Kota Ibushi, but Ibushi landed a high kick. It was now back to EVIL and Naito in this Power Struggle encounter.
Naito landed elbows, but EVIL ran him into the exposed turnbuckle. Naito no sold and ran EVIL into the steel. He laid in more elbows, but EVIL reversed Valentia and ran Naito into the ref before hitting a low blow. EVIL followed with a lariat for a near fall. Naito reversed Everything Is EVIL into a huge slap and Valentia. He then followed with Destino for the win to successfully defend the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at Power Struggle 2020.
That was a chaotic, interference filled main event. It was exciting until the end here with Naito pulling out the victory to end Power Struggle. This was arguably Naito and EVIL's best match yet. We now have Naito vs. Switchblade at WrestleKingdom 15. Post-match, Jay White said that he is taking the night off on January 4th and getting his shot at the IWGP Dual Gold on January 5th at Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Result: Tetsuya Naito defeats EVIL via pinfall (33:10)
Star Rating: ***1/2
