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New Japan Pro Wrestling has now extended its WrestleMania equivalent Wrestle Kingdom to two days at the Tokyo Dome. This helps prevent them from keeping some of their big names out of the main card as they had done this year.
WrestleMania is just a bit too long and could do with either cutting back time (which seems unlikely to happen) or taking place over two days.
That's an exciting prospect for those forced to miss the main card or thrust into pointless matches. It's a debatable point of course but can allow WrestleMania and WWE to fill the void, especially if Independent companies don't make it to the celebration next year.
As these next ten matches will attest to, the Independent scene is thriving like it never has. Meanwhile, NXT and especially WWE when pushed to it can bring out perfection within the art form of professional wrestling. If that is true, then two days would be a bonus and help WrestleMania peak just at the right time like it did this year thanks to a magnetic WWE championship bout.
That match and more is what you'll find in this second part celebrating the carnival that is WrestleMania week.
Honorable Mentions
WrestleMania week is when a lot of superstars bring their A Game, some miss that chance hence the two-day debate. Those that do get the chance are in such a competitive field it becomes difficult to shine, so here are a few more honorable mentions deserving of a spotlight;
Sami Callihan vs. Jimmy Havoc, Impact United We Stand (Monster's Ball): From literal salt in the wounds to lemon in cuts, paper cuts, and lego pieces. Callihan and Havoc threw the kitchen sink (metaphorically) and more out of the window in this smashing sequel adding the real Impact in Impact Wrestling.
Brock Lesnar (c)/w Paul Heyman vs. Seth Rollins, WrestleMania 35 (for the WWE Universal Championship): Taking the cue to shock audiences as the opening match, Lesnar and Rollins rattled the MetLife stadium with their short sprint carrying all the goodness of the best of Lesnar's past efforts.
It had the bursting effect of his contests with Goldberg, the hard-hitting blasts of the WrestleMania 31 main event against Roman Reigns and the sneakiness of the Beast's battles with little men. All packaged with the perfect ending to burn it down!
Logan Easton LaRoux vs. Chris Brookes, GCW Orange Cassidy is Doing Something or Whatever, Who Knows (Best 7 out of 13 Falls): Comedy wrestling at its absolute finest, as the two men come out of the gates with low blows to each pick up a loss before going down into a sequence of roll-ups and blind referee shenanigans. Humor provides much-needed respite on a week of wrestling.
#10 Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Dragon Lee vs. Bandido, NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden (for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship)
The trio of Junior Heavyweights come out charging in a match that leaves one short of breath, due to time constraints.
There's no stopping them as each one takes a stand at a critical point, to showcase their abilities. Ishimori holds strong as the glue for most of the match, taking the hard shots including a super RANA and Canadian destroyer combo.
It's an effective way to get him out, so the match can come to a fitting conclusion. There isn't much space for the story and it isn't needed. Though many will once again discredit the fast pace and lack of selling, it is a spectacle to watch.
That is what makes it a unique addition to a very traditional New Japan and ROH card, with the Junior Heavyweights adding their typical flair.
Luckily that latter portion carried by the death-defying might of Bandido shine when he can cut off anyone else taking the victory. Despite a grand moonsault stunt, this is what eventually harms Bandido, allowing Lee to walk away with the win.
Questions remain as to the validity of the title change so close to the Battle of Super Juniors. Dontaku awaits Lee and Ishimori, but maybe so does a ticking time bomb for the Juniors division if you catch the drift.
Result: Dragon Lee smartly dumps Taiji Ishimori out to pin Bandido and win to become the NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion!
#9 Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Daisuke Sasaki, DDT is Coming to America (for the KO-D Openweight Championship)
The first real taste of DDT for America (and me) went off with a bang, a trippy experience of comedy wrestling dialed to eleven.
Yet when it comes to the main event, DDT goes so subversive that watching wrestling after a laugh riot becomes exhilarating. Thankfully DDT loses none of its wacky soul giving the WrestleMania week a top ten contender.
The champion Takeshita, a straight-laced babyface enters to a dim reaction. In comparison,Sasaki is the perfect embodiment of the loser rockstar, both reviled for his fragile ego and actions as well as beloved for the 'I don't care' attitude that has made Tetsuya Naito such a superstar.
Their exchanges flow from the genuinely awkward with Sasaki playing perfect mind games to the ultimately ballistic as he leaps onto Takeshita in the audience. The madness gets elevation from the crowd as Sasaki digs deeper into his bag of heel tricks with two low blows and some mild interference by his factions mates well played into the story's conclusion.
Eventually despite earning the boos of the crowd, Sasake's win elevates his status. However the celebration is short lived, as his faction mate cashes in on Sasake to steal away the title.
Result: Daisuke Sasaki steals an incredible win from Konosuke Takeshita to become the NEW KO-D Openweight Champion, but not for long.
#8 Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Matt Riddle (for the NXT North American Championship)
Coming into this contest, the question hovered over how NXT booking can save both competitors from a loss, with neither having the luxury to take one. Yet NXT takes the hardest path in crafting a tough match, with a typical shock roll up ending. It sounds like a negative, yet NXT and its performer's abilities in telling the story make this an exciting feud going forward.
In a neat parallel to Dream's own star-making turn against Aleister Black, the flamboyant Dream put Riddle to the test eventually coming to respect the one true bro. Of course, the irony here is that Riddle is a far more accomplished star coming into NXT.
That crafts an intriguing tale as Riddle isn't rattled by Dream's mind games, from his statue of liberty inspired entrance to his playfulness early on.
Instead, Riddle takes it to Dream with hard-hitting aggression, echoing his time in EVOLVE perfectly when Dream escapes thanks to countless rope breaks.
That frustration ramps up with the intensity allowing Riddle to showcase his heel side. Meanwhile Dream comes back in typical fashion with a Hulk Hogan inspired power up.
The brilliance of the two clashing characters creates for the most riveting and possibly underrated contest of a stacked card. Not only that, the potential to further ramp up the feud is well ingrained in the story.
This includes the last fist bump between the two men which Dream puts hesitantly but Riddle takes with pleasure, that seems all too fake. Heel Riddle is incoming and for fans of his prior work, that's a Dream.
Result: Velveteen Dream gets a perfectly dream win with a roll up to retain the NXT North American Championship in this unexpected dream match.
#7 Minoru Suzuki vs. Josh Barnett, GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport
Rarely do draws work wonders in the main event of a show and while fans may boo this one as they did, the rousing applause at the end was an indication for the bloody brilliance that is GCW's Bloodsport venture. Of course, it helps that the two competitors would chop anyone that dare tarnishes their epic match.
It begins as expected, with the two men jockeying for position on the mat yet not resisting from slapping each other silly. The madness of Suzuki and belligerence of Barnett on full display. Suzuki just can't down the bullish man, so he obviously goes for Suzuki Gun tactics that bring proceedings to an all-time high as Barnett keeps fighting back.
This truly feels like a fight forever moment as the fans scream for blood and these two just might give it to them. Time expires and each one spurred by a rabid audience calls to fight forever or in this case five minutes.
Rightly so they bring the explosive tempo down with more mat work, coming full circle to throttling each other until the bell rings again. A perfect roller coaster ride to mark the end of Barnett's Bloodsport, chants for the two and the event bring the house down.
Result: Time expires as the match comes to an unbelivable DRAW twice.
#6 Will Ospreay vs. Bandido, WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow 2019
Will Ospreay's post-match promo is the defining stamp on his WrestleMania weekend arc. As he beautifully puts it; there is no better therapy than Professional Wrestling. That statement comes after what can only be described as the pure madness of independent wrestling and its high-flyers.
The story going in is that Ospreay enters this weekend with a lighter frame in possible preparation for BoTSJ. Yet the once aerial assassin is now simply the assassin, as he seeks to transform his game to keep up with heavyweights. Not only that Ospreay comes in with the baggage of having evolved a year later, to prove he is more than just a flippy wrestler.
Most would say it doesn't help that he faces the spirited Bandido then, yet maybe it does as the two build a high-flying masterpiece based on some light effective storytelling. This debunks the myth that all Ospreay and Indie wrestlers can do is fly and not sell. There's nothing these two men won't do for the win, but the escalation comes at a price especially for a stubborn Ospreay relenting from a high-flying game.
It is that decision which frames Bandido as a prodigal juggernaut, thanks to his untapped reservoir of strength and aerial grit. It's this that stuns a furious Ospreay, forcing his hand into a flurry of final counters that go from a leap into the crowds to superkicks to even a rainmaker/Oscutter combo that Bandido kicks out from. Eventually, Ospreay does sneak away with the win, yet forced to admit that Bandido might just become great than him over time.
Result: After a shock kick out, Will Ospreay hits a last gasp Stormbreaker to pick up the pin and win the match!
#5 Jay White (c)/w Gedo vs. Kazuchika Okada, NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden (for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship)
Their Wrestle Kingdom contest was short and sweet, giving Jay White the necessary boost up the ladder.
This one considering the story told required a bit more heft, which meant New Japan choosing to structure this match like a classic main event. The match begins slow, as White plays his games to perfection proving why management sees him as the top heel.
Meanwhile, Okada's resilience and restored confidence pays dividends as he goes on the attack. Gedo's interference is well-timed, though I wish now that White could use the rest of Bullet Club or his supposed mole in CHAOS for a leg up.
Regardless, Okada keeps it straight including getting Gedo taken out for a measured moment along with Jay in his classic run and leap move outside the ring.
Though Jay White does kick out of the first few Rainmaker attempts, his blade runner is sweetly protected in another instance of Gedo's mastery at detailing when it comes to booking. A late interference from Gedo allows White to low blow Okada, but he still gets back into the groove.
This is an Okada channeling his champions spirit in a matured way, it's like when finally Goku hit his Super Saiyan Blue form. This spurs Okada through the finalgear of the match for a win.
The best bit about all this, it places a now redeemed Okada at the top of the food chain and also makes us question where Jay goes next while still letting fans celebrate in the moment. Now that's how you do the main event.
Result: Kazuchika Okada hits a final rainmaker to pin Jay White and win the match becoming the NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
#4 Pete Dunne (c) vs. WALTER, NXT Takeover: New York (for the WWE United Kingdom Championship)
By the time WALTER made his way down to NXT UK, it was obvious that he is the one to end Pete Dunne's historic reign. What wasn't known is where and how it would happen. As they enter the ring the towering presence of WALTER dwarfs the diminutive but pitbull stature of Dunne. In one fell chop, the Austrian could have the match won.
Luckily that isn't the case, instead, the two play it like a chess match with a constant push and pull full of strategy.
They take to the ground, and to every body part. If WALTER grips at anything to gain leverage and land his shots, Dunne swivels right into him to grasp at fingers and snap him away.
WALTER uses his brute force but with a clarity unseen among wrestling powerhouses meanwhile, Dunne keeps up the wily fox mentality to outwit him. Eventually, Dunne gets at WALTER's hand powering it down with shots and a submission maneuver but it's just not enough. So he takes to the skies, Dunne innovates as his life depends on it. Yet WALTER just keeps coming and coming.
That Dunne forces WALTER to got to the top to end it speaks volumes of his fighting spirit. Yet as we know the inevitable cannot be stopped, this defiant tale of Dunne trying hard to chase away the death of his reign has only one end. No matter the fight, that end comes crashing down in tragedy. It's a ballad of its own kind, the power of wrestling storytelling.
Result: WALTER hits a big top rope splash to down Pete Dunne and end his historic near 700-day title reign to win thus becoming the NEW WWE United Kingdom Champion
#3 Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (2 out of 3 falls for the Vacant NXT Championship)
Any of these last three matches could claim the number one spot for WrestleMania week, it was truly that good of a time. Hopefully, Florida commission or WWE come to their senses and let next year's event be the carnival that it is. If not we'll always have NXT to steal the weekend from the main roster.
Though curtailed by Tomasso Ciampa's injury, Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano promise to rip through Barclays in a blistering match and for the most part they deliver. The only criticism may come in the form of the structure of the thing, with the last fall really carrying the weight of most of the action. Yet one can forgive that, considering it may play a part in the long term disenssion withing Undispute ERA.
Either way, the real story here is of Gargano finally fulfilling his number one goal, capturing the championship. While revenge on Ciampa can wait (though the sweet ending might say otherwise), Gargano enters the match surprisingly on the back foot with fans all in on Cole instead of his redeemed babyface self.
It doesn't prove a detriment as Mr. Takeover through the quick two falls and the third laced with interference and Cole's egoistic heel tactics, once more becomes the hero. This all plays through perfectly as Gargano fights on a superhuman level to make Cole tap out twice and get the win, with a resounding cheer from an audience that was partisan a minute ago.
The icing on the cake, a touching celebration with family and possibly the now redeemed Tomasso Ciampa. Pain and grief have a way of healing old wounds and bringing a family together, to takeover!
Result: Johnny Gargano locks in the GargaNo Escape making Adam Cole tap out for a 2-1 win and becoming the NEW NXT Champion!
#2 Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Kota Ibushi (for the IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship)
If Ibushi's battles with Kenny Omega are like passionate ballet performances and his matches with Tanahashi a grand ceremony of reverence, then the fights between Ibushi and Naito are explosive time bombs filled with hatred but underlined by wicked sexual tension.
There's some madness that captures these two when they face off, that surprisingly never hits such a high gear when Ibushi goes up against anyone else.
Sure Ibushi puts his neck on the line repeatedly with each match, yet that tense escalation reaches fever point with Naito.
It did so in the blistering opening round of the New Japan cup and it does once again here. This thrilling tale of one-upmanship comes perfectly from how Naito and Ibushi are so contrastingly similar, it's hard to describe them as anything even the cliche two sides of the same coin.
Where Ibushi is a Zen master with a manic edge, Naito is a calm and collected trickster with a dangerous demeanor once challenged.
The former has done best to temper his attitude to fulfill the prophecy Tanahashi once saw for him as the next ace. The latter since last years Dome show, has reflected upon his former stardust legacy as his Tranquilo facade begins to break forth for a fiercer want for accolades and accomplishment.
Their dazzling match features a sequence of unraveling moves and counters with each one hitting harder than the next. Never truly has a wrestling match really come to define pedal to the metal with such intensity.
The resultant end, an exhausted pumped crowd, a well-earned victory and a match that can live up to the iconic legacy of Madison Square Garden.
Result: Kota Ibushi's Boma Ye tribute doesn't pay off, but his Kamigoye does to keep Naito down for the three count and a win to become the NEW IWGP Intercontinental Champion!
#1 Daniel Bryan (c)/w Rowan vs. Kofi Kingston/w The New Day (for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
Sure on a wrestling scale, the IWGP Intercontinental title match has the slight edge, yet nothing tops the sheer emotion of the WrestleMania WWE championship bout. Eleven years (and more if you count the greater social narrative at hand) is what it has taken for Kofi Kingston to finally fulfill a lifelong dream, most in his position are never awarded.
Yet that award doesn't come easy, in the perfect story WWE managed to tell since ironically Daniel Bryan's own organic rise to the top. Organic because this narrative fell into the lap of WWE and due credit they assembled it into perfection.
Even the critical moments where cameras cut back to a rabid locker room cheering Kingston on, added an authentic detail to a battle Kingston and the New Day have fought since their ill-timed debut as a team.
This is the story of the power of positivity, as New Day and all make one believe that Kofi is channeling each and every ounce of support even through the screen to keep fighting for the cause.
It's poetically mirrored by an underrated performance from Daniel Bryan, who gives Kofi his all and selflessly makes him the heroic spirit for the story to come to a rousing conclusion.
Kofi and his New Day brethren are no slouches either, going tooth and nail at it to secure the championship. This is all spread even wonderfully by a chain of moves. The heel Bryan has to beatdown Kofi with his submission maneuvers and vicious kicks before Kofi turns the table on him and finishes it off in appropriate style.
Everyone from the crowd, the Superstars at the back, his brothers and those at home; screaming in delight at that final three count.
There are very few moments that can admittedly bring wrestling fans to tears, this is what WrestleMania is about. This is KofiMania!
Result: Kofi Kingston hits Trouble in Paradise to reach his own and win becoming the NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion!
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
