New Japan Pro Wrestling’s second biggest show of the year took place this evening in Osaka, featuring a number of huge rematches and a whole host of titles on the line. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega was the scheduled main event, arguably the most anticipated professional wrestling match in recent memory.
Could the two men replicate the magic they conjured up at the Tokyo Dome in January? Could they top that Meltzer-rated 6-star match? Here are the full results and review from NJPW Dominion 6.11.
#1 David Finlay, Tomoyuki Oka & Shota Umino vs. Hirai Kawato, Katsuya Kitamura & Tetsuhiro Yagi
New Japan continues to pump out top quality young lions seemingly at will, but after a few years of imports, it is good to see such an abundance of native talent. David Finlay stood out like a sore thumb in this match as a result.
Finlay is in a difficult position right now, above the young lion level but getting dangerously close to spinning his wheels. Finlay picked up the win for his team, Tetsuhiro Yagi predictably taking the fall.
Result: David Finlay, Tomoyuki Oka & Shota Umino def. Hirai Kawato, Katsuya Kitamura & Tetsuhiro Yagi
#2 Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Togi Makabe, Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask W & Yuji Nagata
The sheer depth of talent available to NJPW was on display in the opening match proper, as eight former champions did battle in eight-man tag team action. The match started hot, with Tiger Mask hitting Kojima with a Tiger Driver early on. The eight men worked a quick pace throughout, or at least as quick as age will allow.
It is a little frustrating to see Kota Ibushi used in these somewhat throwaway opening matches, but throwaway Ibushi is better than no Ibushi. Makabe hit the King Kong Knee Drop on Nakanishi for the win.
Result: Togi Makabe, Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask W & Yuji Nagata def. Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi
#3 NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Gauntlet match: Los Ingobernables de Japon [c] vs. CHAOS vs. Bullet Club vs. Suzuki-gun vs. Taguchi Japan
This was every bit a mess as you would expect, a match that was essentially wrestled on fast-forward. Bullet Club and CHAOS started things off, and Fale gave BC the advantage by getting rid of Ishii and Yano on the outside. YOSHI-HASHI managed to survive, however, allowing Yano to pin Yujiro after a low blow.
Suzuki-gun were up next, Zack Sabre Jr. joining the former IWGP Junior tag champions Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi. Suzuki-gun quickly removed CHAOS, Sabre Jr. pinning Yano.
The fourth team out was the trio of Richochet, Ryusuke Taguchi and Juice Robinson, better known as Taguchi Japan. TJ advanced at the expense of Suzuki-gun after Juice pinned Taichi, meaning the match boiled down to Los Ingobernables vs. Taguchi Japan. Suzuki-gun weren’t finished, however, ZSJ putting Juice in the Octopus Hold following his team’s defeat.
The match boiled down to a brutal Tower of Doom spot, Ricochet getting utterly wiped out by SANADA. The champions retained their title after a thrilling conclusion, BUSHI hitting Taguchi with the MX for the 1-2-3.
Result: Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, SANADA & EVIL) def. Taguchi Japan, Suzuki-gun, CHAOS & Bullet Club
#4 IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship: Roppongi Vice [c] vs. The Young Bucks
The Young Bucks were looking to become six-time champions here. The Bucks utterly destroyed Romero early on, hitting Rocky with two apron powerbombs and effectively making this a handicap match. Romero fought his way back up the apron, only to receive another powerbomb for his troubles, but he was able to recover somewhat and enter the match.
The damage suffered early on was to be too much, however, and after displaying some incredible fighting spirit Romero could hold on no longer. Rocky tapped out to the Sharpshooter, and The Bucks are six-time champions.
Result: The Young Bucks def. Roppongi Vice to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships
#5 IWGP Tag Team Championship: War Machine [c] vs. Guerrillas of Destiny
More tag team gold was on the line next, as IWGP Tag Team Champions War Machine defended against former champs Guerrillas of Destiny. These two teams have some excellent chemistry, and War Machine seem like a team that were made for New Japan.
Some of the near falls towards the end of this match were remarkable, but it took a referee bump and a chair shot to dethrone Hanson and Raymond Rowe. Guerrillas of Destiny are your new IWGP Tag Team Champions.
Result: Guerrillas of Destiny def. War Machine to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships
#6 Michael Elgin vs. Cody
Cody (Rhodes) continued his somewhat middling run in New Japan with a singles match against Michael Elgin. The misuse of Elgin over the past few months is somewhat frustrating, but fans must be hoping that #BigMike is gearing up for a great G1 Climax.
This was Cody’s best New Japan match to date, but the former WWE Intercontinental Champion still seems like an awkward fit in NJPW. This match was full of taunting, but it was Cody who had the last taunt after hitting Cross Rhodes for the win, giving Bullet Club its third straight victory
Result: Cody Rhodes def. Michael Elgin
#7 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi [c] vs. KUSHIDA
Fresh off his win in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors, KUSHIDA faced up to his biggest challenge once again. After being defeated and humiliated by Hiromu Takahashi, KUSHIDA finally found a way to defeat the Ticking Time Bomb.
He had to pull out all of the stops to do so, however, the Osaka crowd turning on him somewhat as the Timesplitter used a closed-fist and a series of Danielson stomps.
This was another thrilling chapter in what is fast becoming an all-time junior rivalry. KUSHIDA is the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, but this rivalry is far from over. BUSHI misted KUSHIDA after the match, setting up the probable next Junior Heavyweight Championship match.
Result: KUSHIDA def. Hiromu Takahashi to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
#8 NEVER Openweight Championship Lumberjack Deathmatch: Minoru Suzuki [c] vs. Hirooki Goto
The lumberjacks amounted to members of CHAOS and Suzuki-gun around the ring, but the likelihood of the stipulation being adhered to was always pretty small. Suzuki dominated the majority of the match, but Goto managed to fight back and seemed to have the match won after hitting consecutive GTRs.
Taichi arrived out of nowhere to pull the referee out however, before hitting Goto over the head with a chair. From there the result was academic, and Suzuki hit the Gotch Piledriver for the victory. YOSHI-HASHI was set up as the next challenger for the NEVER Openweight Championship.
Result: Minoru Suzuki def. Hirooki Goto
#9 IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito [c] vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Naito continued his shameful treatment of the Intercontinental Championship before the bell, leading to Tanahashi going on the offensive early on. Naito soon got the advantage and targeted Tanahashi’s torn bicep, and the great rivals went on to put on yet another classic.
The closing stretch of this match was phenomenal – Naito hit Tana with a top rope Destino for an incredible 2.999, before Tanahashi came equally close to winning after a huge High Fly Flow.
With neither man able to win with their finishing move, Tanahashi went deep into his arsenal to pull out the victory. Naito found himself locked deep in the Texas Cloverleaf, and with no escape, Naito had no choice but to tap out.
Result: Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP Intercontinental Champion
#10 IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Kenny Omega
How do you top one of the greatest matches in the history of professional wrestling? Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega were faced with that dilemma in the main event of Dominion, and they obviously decided that the best way to go about it was to bump like madmen and hit everything just that little bit harder.
Omega was on fire here, hitting a gorgeous moonsault to the outside along with one of the most impressive superplexes you will ever see.
The Rainmaker continued to become slightly more failible, the short lariat failing to get the three count for the champion. The slow decline of the move is one of New Japan’s most impressive storytelling moves in 2017. Okada kept up the attack however, giving Omega an elbow-drop through a table on the outside.
Bullet Club eventually ran in for the interference, allowing Omega to finally hit the One-Winged Angel on Okada. Remarkably, the Rainmaker was able to survive with a foot on the ropes.
Omega’s taunting led to a third Rainmaker from Okada, but it still wasn’t enough. The match was creeping towards the one-hour time limit when Omega came up with the most unlikely of counters. Another Rainmaker was coming his way, but Omega simply could not stand, crumbling and forcing Okada to throw himself at nothing in particular.
Time was fast running out, but Okada had time to hit one last Rainmaker. He couldn’t make the cover, however, and the match ended in a one hour draw. Okada/Omega III simply has to happen in Los Angeles.
Result: Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega went to a one hour draw.
