Top 5 Matches from night two of Wrestle Kingdom 14

Night two of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 was a very memorable show as Tetsuya Naito made history by becoming the first IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Champion. Naito's celebration was short-lived as he was attacked by KENTA to massive boos. Minoru Suzuki returned and challenged Jon Moxley to an IWGP US Heavyweight Championship match. Chris Jericho defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi as the "forbidden doors" between AEW and NJPW remain closed.

The show also featured some big title changes and also featured the last match in the legendary career of Jyushin Thunder Liger. So without further adieu here are my top five matches from night two of Wrestle Kingdom 14.

#1 IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Double Championship Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito

The crowd cheered huge as this had a big match feel as Okada took control early by hitting a running neckbreaker and following with a Macho Man Elbow.

Naito made a comeback by delivering a Super Frankenstiner. Okada hit a Woo dropkick and followed with a standing dropkick sending Naito to the floor. Okada smashed Naito's ankle on the announcer's table which looked brutal. They teased a count-out but Naito made it back into the ring as Okada immediately hit a missile dropkick for a two count.

Okada hit a high angle German suplex but Naito responded with a Tornado DDT and followed with Gloria. The match reached the next level here as Naito hit an avalanche Poison Hurricanrana but Okada kicked out.

There was another great spot as Naito no-sold a standing dropkick and hit Destino but Okada kicked out for an awesome near fall. Fatigue was setting in at this point as they exchanged strikes from their knees. Naito went for Destino but Okada with a Corkscrew Tombstone. Okada followed with a Rainmaker but Naito kicked out at the 30-minute mark.

Naito spat at Okada who responded by slamming his knee onto the mat as the fans booed this. The simplest spots in an Okada match get the biggest reaction as he maintained control and hit a pair of Rainmakers. The crowd went wild as Naito delivered Stardust Press but Okada kicked out at the 35-minute mark. Naito delivered Felencia and followed with Destino for the win which got a massive reaction as the fans erupted.

Naito cut a promo after the match mentioning he would like to have a match again as Okada raised his first in an LIJ way which was a nice touch. KENTA appeared from behind and laid out Naito with a GTS to massive boos.

The match was excellent as they told an incredible story as Naito and Okada showed why they are two of the best wrestlers. The post-match angle was noteworthy as it looks like KENTA is being positioned to challenge Naito for the title.

#2 Chris Jericho vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Jericho vs. Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 14

Jericho was introduced as the AEW World Champion as he came out with the AEW World Title. The commentator noted Tanahashi baited Jericho to raise the stakes and possibly open the "forbidden doors." The fireworks started early as Jericho delivered a DDT as he spiked Tanahashi on the announcers table. Jericho mocked Tanahashi's air guitar strum as the fans booed. Jericho went for the High Fly Flow but Tanahashi moved and smiled into the camera.

The referee took a bump as Jericho gave Tanahashi a low blow and then whipped him with a belt. Tanahashi responded by giving Jericho a low blow. The match picked up here as Tanahashi hit an awesome High Fly Flow to the floor.

Tanahashi hit a pair of dragon screws in-between the ropes. Tanahashi went for a High Fly Flow but Jericho got his knees up and then hit a Lionsault for a two count. Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho but Tanahashi broke free and hit a slingblade.

The Ace went for a High Fly Flow but Le Champion countered into a Codebreaker in mid-air for a close two count. Tanahashi avoided the Judas Effect and hit a Codebreaker for a two-count.

The Ace hit a twist-and-shout and followed with a slingblade but couldn't put Jericho away. Tanahashi went for a High Fly Flow but Jericho countered into the Walls of Jericho. The fans cheered loudly as the wanted to see The Ace break free.

Jericho transitioned into a Liontamer as Tanahashi tapped as the "forbidden doors" remain closed for now. This was fantastic as both Jericho and Tanahashi worked a tremendous match. This was great as people expected a Tanahashi win with the stipulation but it didn't turn out.

#3 Jay White vs Kota Ibushi

The announcers brought up how both Ibushi and White didn't want to leave Wrestle Kingdom 14 with back-to-back losses. Ibushi hit a powerslam/moonsault combo for a near fall. White hit a DVDDT for a near fall.

The intensity picked up early as Ibushi spiked White with a cradle Tombstone. Ibsuhi's facial reactions as he no-sold White palm strikes and delivered a huge a lariat. White hit a Blade Buster, maintained control and then hit a Kiwi Crusher for a two count.

Ibushi went for springboard hurricanrana but White crotched him on the top rope. The match picked up as White hit an avalanche uranage for a near fall. White hit a sleeper suplex but Ibushi responded with a V-Trigger.

There was a great spot as Ibushi teased a Bomb Ye but stopped and hit a bridging German suplex for a two count. White shoved Ibushi into Red Shoes. Ibushi no-sold a chair shot and laid out Gedo with a palm strike. Ibushi hit a Last Ride Powerbomb, had the match won but the referee was out.

Ibushi delivered a Kamigoye Knee, had the match won again but Gedo pulled the referee to the floor. White threw a chair into Ibushi's face as Gedo decked him with pair of Brass Knuckles.

White hit a straightjacket Bloody Sunday DDT and followed with a Blade Runner for the win. White gave Ibushi another Blade Runner after the match. This was tremendous as both Ibushi and White worked a great match as the closing minutes were terrific.

#4 IWGP US Heavyweight Championship Match: Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson

The big angle happened after the match but this was still a solid match as Juice delivered a plancha to Moxley before the match began. Juice placed Moxley on a chair and hit a running cannonball on the floor. Moxley hit a backbreaker and a sliding lariat for a pair of near falls. Moxley applied a Figure-4-Leg lock against the ringspot. Juice punched a chair into Moxley's face. Juice hit a Superplex, maintained control and followed with a Jackhammer for a two count.

Juice and Moxley exchanged German suplex spots. Moxley got a better off strong strike exchange and hit a running Regal knee. Juice made a comeback by hitting a pair of Left Hand of Gods. Juice went for Pulp Fiction but Moxley countered into a Dirty Deeds DDT, maintained control and hit an elevated Death Rider DDT for the win.

Moxley posed after the match as Kaze Ni Nare played as Minoru Suzuki came out wearing a tracksuit to a thunderous reaction. Suzuki took off his tracksuit off and got in Moxley's face as the exchanged blows. Suzuki placed Moxley in a rear-naked choke and then laid him out with a Gotch Piledriver.

Suzuki cut a promo as Moxley what he's thinking picking a fight with him. Suzuki noted he's the king of pro wrestling and if Moxley wants a fight, he will be king of the United States. Suzuki left as the Young Lions went to check on Moxley. This angle was just tremendous and it's leading to a Moxley and Suzuki match which will be awesome.

#5 Jyushin Thunder Liger's Retirement Match II

Liger came out last to a huge reaction. Liger placed Takahashi in a Bow-and-Arrow and then transitioned into a Romero Special. The crowd booed as Takahashi knocked Sano off the ring apron as they stopped Liger from making a tag.

Liger made a comeback by hitting both Lee and Takahashi with tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. The match picked up here as Liger and Sano moved as Lee hit a Tope Con Hilo onto Takahashi. Liger hit a Powerbomb but Takahashi kicked out.

Takahashi hit a German suplex but Liger no-sold it and delivered a Vertical Drop Brainbuster but Lee made the save. Lee delivered a tope to Sano. Lee and Takahashi delivered stereo running knees but Liger kicked out to a big reaction.

Takahashi hit a running DVD into the turnbuckle, went for the Time Bomb but Liger countered into a rollup for a two count. The finish came when Takahashi avoided a shote and hit the Time Bomb for the win.

After the match, Liger cut a promo brought up the start of his career and noted his professional career ended in the Tokyo Dome. They showed fans crying in the crowd. Liger hugged Sano as his music played. This was great and a nice sendoff for Liger as he was treated as a legend.

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Edited by Alan John