#edit: i was so caught up in the nick suzuki of it all that i did not even notice that there are two whole guys just pinning slaf down

[habitant]

Sunday, Jan 19 2025 - NYR@MTL

[puroresu-musings]

NJPW DOMINION 6.9 in Osaka-Jo Hall Review (June 9th 2018)

IWGP Jr. Tag Title Match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado (c) vs. Roppongi 3K  ***1/4

Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Jay White & YOSHI-HASHI  ***

Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.  ***1/4

NEVER Openweight Title Match: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Michael Elgin vs. Taichi  ***1/2

IWGP Tag Title Match: EVIL & SANADA (C) vs. The Young Bucks  ****1/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page  ***1/4

IWGP Jr. Heavywheight Title Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi  ****1/2

IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Chris Jericho  ****1/4

IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - 2/3 Falls ~ No Time Limit: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kenny Omega  *****+

Photos.

Well this was quite the supershow. Capped off by one of the greatest matches you’re ever likley to see, the 2018 edition of Dominion from a sold out Osaka-Jo Hall was a show to remember. It started with a good, but unspectacular undercard (which they absolutely sprinted through) but built to a completely blow-away climax, this (along with WK12) is going to be hard to top as far as best card of the year goes. Things started in glorious fashion with new company president, Harold Meij, being revealed to the world, and him doing the Young Lion sprint to the ring. The matches began nicely with the Suzuki-gunners defending the Junior tag straps against CHAOS’ own SHO and YOH of Roppongi 3K. The main problem I have with this one is that it was over in 9:29, which meant even though it was all-action, no doubt, it was probably a little too short to form anything meaningful. The finish saw Kanemaru accidentally blow the whiskey into Desperado’s face, after the masked man missed a low blow, then SHO hit that Last Ride powerbomb into the lung blower for a great near fall. SHO then went for Shock Arrow, but Desperado escapes, bumps the ref, Kanemaru nails SHO with the whiskey bottle, then Desperado locks on a cradle and the champions retain. Juice Robinson pinned Jay White with Pulp Friction to end another good 7 minute doubles outing. The win undoubtedly sets Juice up as the next challenger to White’s US Title, which should happen at the Cow Palace on July 7th. ZSJ caught a Yano low blow between his thighs and turned it into the Breaks Special to win via submission in another really fun (but once again, incredibly short) tag contest in 8:42. The main point of interest here was Ishii and Suzuki’s exchanges, which were just incredibly hard-hitting. These guys haven’t faced each other since the 2013 Kizuna Road show, so hopefully that is on the horizon.

Goto defended the NEVER Title against Big Mike Elgin and Taichi in a 3-way next. This would have worked much better as a straight singles match between Goto and Elgin, who’s hard-hitting exchanges carried this thing. Highlights included Big Mike, who’s dropped a lot of weight, hitting a tope con hilo onto everyone, and Manami Toyota’s Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex on the champion for a great near fall. There was a sunset flip/superplex tower of doom spot. The finish saw Elgin powerbomb Taichi into Goto in the corner, then hit the Spiral Bomb for the win and the title in 13:46 of very good action. The decision to give the belt to Elgin is... interesting, to say the least, but as long as he has it, I imagine he’ll have some great defenses, regardless of what you think of him personally. The LIJ duo of EVIL and SANADA defended the Heavyweight Tag Titles against 7 time Jr. Tag champions, The Young Bucks, in the first excellent match of the show (it was also the first not to feel completely rushed through).  This was another of those ‘old school’ style tag bouts the Bucks have been doing the past couple of years, and featured some great work revolving around Nick Jackson missing a kick and hitting the ringpost, and the ensuing sell-job of the foot throughout the rest of the contest, which was just great. Matt did more great, subtle back selling here too. The finish saw everything break down. SANADA applied Skull End to Matt, then did the big swing with him still in the hold, then went up top for the Moonsault, but Matt moved and Cold Skull landed on his feet. Matt hit a big spear on SANADA as he landed, then the Jackson nail both champions with double superkicks, before hitting More Bang For Your Buck on SANADA to win their first Hevyweight belts in 15:03. With the Jacksons now the champions, this very much freshens up a fairly dead-in-the-water division at this point. Then it was the Legends Dream Team 6 man encounter as Liger and Tanahashi teamed with a man making his NJPW debut, Rey Mysterio Jr, to take on Bullet Club’s most nefarious trio; Cody, Marty and Page. This was all good, but again it felt very rushed. Everyone looked good in this thing, hitting all their signature spots, but it was really the Rey Mysterio Show as he looked smooth as ever out there. The finish saw Cody pin Liger with Cross Rhodes at the 11:35 mark. It seems as though Mysterio will potentially face Scurll in San Fran.

With both men coming off amazing performances in the BOSJ, including Hiromu being in what might very well be the best match of 2018 so far in the Final against Ishimori, expectations for the Jr. Title match were sky high. Some very famous pundits thought it might even usurp the main event. Well, suffice it to say, it didn’t and in those respects, despite being a fantastic match, was maybe a bit of a disappointment. I thought that, whilst a lot safer, it maybe wasn’t even as good as their bout together in February. This was still incredible stuff however, they started at a thousand MPH, with Hiromu hitting that overhead throw into the turnbuckles about 10 seconds in, then once outside, Ospreay hit a massive running Senton Atomico off the ramp. Ospreay also hit two reverse ranas in a row. They sensibly slowed down from here, and had a fairly safe high flying match... until Takahashi hit a Canadian Destroyer, and locked in his Triangle Choke 9which I believe he’s calling “D”) that was so well protected in the BOSJ, which Ospreay escaped by lifting him up and dropping him right on his head, which was terrifying. Ospreay with the Robinson Special, and  goes for Oscutter, but its countered and Hiromu hits the sunset flip bomb out of the ring and to the floor, which had been exposed earlier when Takahashi lifted the mats. Hiromu hits the Dynamite Plunger for a great near fall, then tries Time Bomb, but its countered, and Will hits a series of superkicks. A Storm Breaker is turned into the triangle choke, Ospreay tries to power out and Takahashi drops him on his head with that devastating Butterfly Piledriver, hits the Death Valley Bomb into the corner, and connects with the Time Bomb win the belt at the 20:20 mark to a big pop, in the exact same fashion he won the BOSJ. Great stuff.

Then it was I.C. Title time, as Naito defended against Chris Jericho, who was sporting a new look to go with the reinvented personality. This too had a lot of hype, which it too maybe didn’t entirely live up to, but it suceeded in being a wild, intense and believable brawl that was quite unlike anything else on the show. Like a modern day Brody, Jericho attacked Naito before the bell, powerbombing him through a table, then DDTing him onto another, all before the match had started. After a Lionsault and Naito had made the ropes whilst locked in the Walls Of Jericho, Chris pummeled Naito with some stiff shots that left him bleeding from the eye, then Naito fights back, blugeoning the old Lion Heart with the remnance of the broken table, which earned him some boos from the Osaka faithful, whom Naito has a long, storied history with. Naito then hits a piledriver on the time keepers table. Back in the ring, Jericho turns a middle rope Frankensteiner into the Walls, in a very dramatic spot, which saw Naito make the ropes again. There was a moment of miscommunication where a Destino spot was botched, but they finally pulled it off after an slightly awkward pause. After Naito escaped a third Walls, they traded hard slaps to the face like they were Vader and Hansen, which resulted in Naito bleeding fairly heavily from the left cheek, as well as potentially from the ear. Naito wins the exchange, then goes for his patented flying forearm, but Jericho catches him in a Code Breaker for 2. They exchange again and Naito hits Gloria, which looked nasty, and goes for Destino. Jericho escapes by pushing Naito into Red Shoes, hitting a dastardly low blow, then a Code Breaker to win the Intercontinental belt after a 17:16 war. This was something of a surprise, I thought Jericho would probably win, given the Cow Palace on the horizon, but his priority appears to be music these days, so it was up in the air. I’m pleased he won, it shakes things up and really, Naito doesn’t need the belt. Jericho continued the beating in the post-match, but was ran off by EVIL. I can’t lie, a match between Jericho and EVIL doesn’t exactly fill me with great excitement. Of all the guys in New Japan I would pair Jericho with at this point, I realy wouldn’t be going with EVIL, but what do I know?

And then it was main event time. Lets get this out of the way now, this was one of the greatest, most dramatic pro-wrestling matches I’ve ever seen. Is it worthy of more than 5 stars? Undoubtedly, but I still rate things out of five, so thats the max for me, and trust me, this was an easy five in the first fall alone! Many seemed to think these guys had an uphill battle with the 2 out of 3 stipulation, as they theorised no one would buy it ending before the third fall, but honestly the drama writes itself here; The first fall is the most important as whoever wins the first has the advantage, and that makes the second dramatic as it could feasibly end in two straight, then if it does go to three falls, its all back up in the air again. Anyway, I digress. This was nothing short of a wrestling masterpiece. Everything about it was pretty much perfect. The story, the drama, the callbacks, the award worthy selling, it all just worked as these two just click together perfectly. Theres too many layers to even try to get into here, but everything from Omega selling his ribs throughout after a nasty bump into the guardrail, to drama around Ibushi, who cornered Omega, weilding a towel, potentially ready to throw it in at any time, just made this a flawless experience. The first fall alone could have been the WK main event as it was quite the nerve-wracking experience. Okada escapes an attempt at a top rope Dragon Suplex, then kills Kenny with a Tombstone on the apron and hits a great missile dropkick for a near fall. Okada with the top rope elbow, then does the Rainmaker pose, but Kenny takes him out with a Snap Dargon. Okada rolls to the floor where he eats a Terminator Con Hilo as Osaka-Jo Hall goes crazy. Omega tries One Winged Angel but Okada escapes, only to take a V-Trigger and a German for another great near fall. Another V-Trigger connects, but the champion escapes another OWA, and hits the big dropkick. Omega counters the Rainmaker with another V-Trigger and that gets another amazing near fall. Okada hits a tombstone, but the Rainmaker is countered again, this time with a sunset flip, only for Okada to grab the legs and cradle him, Bret/Davey style, for the first fall at the 28:47 mark.

After a 2 minute rest period, action in the second fall commenced at a much faster pace with them brawling around ringside, Omega draped a table over Okada and hit a double stomp off the apron onto it. He then set up the table at ringside for later use seemingly. Kenny hits a reverse rana on the floor for a close 19 count. Another V-Trigger stuns the champion, but he turns an OWA attempt into another Tombstone, then goes for the Rainmaker, only for Omega to turn it into that massive uranage in a callback to their G1 match. Omega starts hitting hard knee strikes, but Okada fights back, he goes for another dropkick, but Omega hits one of his own. Honestly, this was an incredibly stiff dropkick, Kenny hit Kazu so hard, he left a boot print in his chin! Okada again with the dropkick, but Kenny catches him in a sitout powerbomb. Another V-Tigger stuns Okada, but the champ tries the cradle again, but scores a ridiculously close near fall. Another big V-Trigger leaves Okada open for Kenny to hit a Jay Driller, then even the score up after scoring a three count with the One Winged Angel at 19:10 of the second fall.

After wrestling for around 50 minutes, they went into the third fall. Both guys sold exhaustion here perfectly, and Okada needs somekind of acting award for his sells of the V-Triggers. There was no suspension of disbelief here, you bought everything they were doing. Omega with another V-Trigger, but Okada battles back, using all his energy to hit a massive Rainmaker, which Kenny did a wonderful sell for. However, both guys are exhausted and we get the double down. Okada tries a Frankensteiner, but Omega turns it into a Styles Clash for a believable near fall. V-Trigger by Omega, who then hoists Okada up in the OWA, but collapses with exhaustion. Ibushi on the apron trying to fire Kenny up, convinces him to hit the Phoenix Splash, which he goes for, however, the champion moves and Kenny hits nothing but canvas. Kazuchika tries a Tombstone again, but Kenny escapes and hits three more V-Triggers, goes for a fourth, and Okada battles back with two big dropkicks as the white hot Osaka crowd were beside themselves and the announcement of being at the 60 minute mark. The two exchange on their knees, then Kenny changes tact by throwing a big headbutt. As he raises Okada up, the Rainmaker manages to hit the Rainmaker, then another, but as he goes for a third, Omega turns it into a German and holds on, just like Okada does with the Rainmaker, he rolls through and hits another German, but a third is countered into a German by Okada, who holds the wrist and goes for the Rainmaker, but Kenny finally hits another German as Osaka goes bonkers. Kenny with a reverse rana, but when he goes for a V-Trigger, he’s dropkicked out of the air. Okada with the Rainmaker, but Kenny ducks and turns it into the One Winged Angel! Both men are exhausted and try to pull themselves up with the ropes. Kenny gets up first and as Okada is lying prone across the bottom rope, hits a big V-Trigger, then hoists Okada up into the third fall winning OWA to win the match and end the greatest title reign ever at 16:53 of the third fall. Holy shit, what a match!

As Kenny was awarded his belt, The Young Bucks came out and they, Kenny and Ibushi all embraced as streamers filled the ring. Omega cut a promo, saying he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, proclaimed himself ‘the future of wrestling’, and annpounced the formation of The Golden Elite. Cody appeared on the ramp, but thought better of it and slinked off, letting TGE celebrate in the ring. There’s your potential Cow Palace main event. Its impossible to do this bout justice, it was just insanely good wrestling. Beyond the action, the story it told was just superb. In total, they were out there for 64:50 (or 69:30 if you include the rest periods) and it flew by in what felt like less than thirty. As I say, there was just so much going on here, it was like The Godfather of wrestling matches. Okada won the first fall, so he has the hypothetical bragging rights of saying if it were a regular match, he’d still be champion, and Okada still never once kicked out of the One Winged Angel. I even loved the fact that they set up a table, which is a surefire sign that its going to get used right? Well it didn’t. It just made it feel like everything wasn’t completely planned out.

But what more can be said about Okada’s title reign? I was in attendance at Osaka-Jo Hall at the 2016 Dominion event in which he began his fourth reign by beating Naito in an exceptional match. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was actually witnessing history, as he went on to hold the belt for two straight years, break the all time record for days as champion, set a new record for defences, and produce two years of some of the greatest matches ever seen. Honestly, I find it hard to believe this reign can be topped by anyone. It’s an albitross around the neck that you’d dethrone such a champion, as having to follow that is nigh on impossible (as poor Takeshi Rikio discovered when he ended Kenta Kobashi’s superb two year GHC reign in 2005) and in many respects, theres no where to go but down. However, if Kenny Omega has proved anything in the last 30 months, its that he’s more than up to the challenge (and lets be fair, he is a million times better worker than Rikio ever was). Even this series with Okada, once you think the zenith has been reached, they would just blow past it again. As much as I loved Okada’s reign, putting the belt on Kenny is 100% the right call in my opinion. It completely freshens things up, offering us completely new feuds and programmes, and it can give Okada a much needed breather, as its been a hell of a two years. Just check this show this out, and specifically the main event, as it was just something else.

NDT