By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
New Japan Pro Wrestling “Wrestle Kingdom 18”
January 4, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Dome
Streamed live on New Japan World
The New Japan World Roku app was a mess to start (at least on my end) with some connection issues and then the English language channel using Japanese commentary to start. The English audio feed started working during the pre-show match, so hopefully things will be smooth going forward.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 Pre-Show
Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton were on English commentary.
1. The Ranbo match. Tiger Hattori was the in-ring referee. The entrants (in order) were Chase Owens, Great O Khan, Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, Jeff Cobb, Henare, Tomohiro Ishii, Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste, Yujiro Takahashi, Master Wato, Yoh, Sho, Fujita Jr. Hayato, Taiji Ishimori, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Douki, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, and Taichi.
Great O Khan, Yoh, Taiji Ishimori, and Toru Yano were the four winners of the Ranbo.
Powell’s POV: The four winners will meet at Friday’s New Year Dash event for the King of Pro Wrestling Championship. I’m not a fan of battle royals that end with multiple winners to set up future matches. They could give fans a battle royal winner and still go with the final four the next night. Takashi Iizuka’s return was the most over thing in the match and the fans loved his iron glove gimmick. Also, I have been keeping up with NJPW through Chris Vetter’s reviews. Given the amount of North American pro wrestling that I cover, I simply haven’t had time to watch NJPW. I am looking forward to the show, but forgive me if some things sail over my head. I’m going light on the match descriptions, but I will hit on the finish and provide my regular POV commentary.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 Main Card
A video package opened the show with the narrator speaking in Japanese while running through the show’s lineup… Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton, and Rocky Romero were on commentary…
1. Drilla Moloney and Clark Conners vs. Francesco Akira and TJP for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag Team Titles. Akira opened a coffin on the stage that TJP emerged from as part of their entrance. TJP wore a spooky mask throughout the match. Moloney was busted open early (the screen froze and I had to reboot, so I’m not sure what caused it). Akira and TJP performed a double knee strike on Moloney, which led to the pin…
Francesco Akira and TJP defeated Drilla Moloney and Clark Conners to win the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: This was a solid show opening tag team match. That said, I felt bad for the broadcast team having to act disturbed by TJP’s mask. At least Charlton maintained his credibility by saying it was just a mortal man underneath it.
2. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NJPW TV Title. TMDK members were in Sabre’s corner. Tanahashi hit an early top rope crossbody block and then went for the High Fly Flow frog splash, but Sabre put his knees up. The final sequence saw both men reverse pin attempts several times before Tanahashi got the three count.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to win the NJPW TV Title.
After the match, Sabre took a moment and looked at his title before presenting it to Tanahashi. Sabre bowed and then exited the ring. Tanahashi cut a post match promo in Japanese that the broadcast team translated. He said it has been a while since he was a singles champion and wished everyone a happy new year…
Powell’s POV: Tanahashi looked a lot better than he did the last couple times I saw him work in the United States. He was moving well and this was a nice back and forth match.
3. Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura. Tsuji was dominant early. Uemura had a nice flurry of basic offense. Tsuji regained control for a stretch, but Uemura performed a good uranage slam and a dragon suplex for a late two count. Uemura followed up with a Deadbolt Suplex and scored the pin.
Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji.
Powell’s POV: The last time I saw Uemura was when he was doing the campy “Joya” dance with Joe Hendry before he mercifully wound up with the “fired” briefcase in Impact Wrestling’s Feast or Fired match. Is Kazuchika Okada sure about returning to work for TNA? Kidding. This was a good match between two wrestlers who appear to be rising stars in NJPW. I was high on Uemura in Impact before the silliness, so I’m happy to see him thriving now that he’s home after finishing his excursion.
4. Kaito Kiyomiya and Shota Umino vs. Evil and Ren Narita. Umino drove a motorcycle to the ring for his entrance. House of Torture came out and cut a t-shirt, which upset Kiyomiya. There was an early spot where Kiyomiya was held upside down with his legs spread and then he was chopped in the balls. Well, then. The House of Torture members who were at ringside interfered early and often. Umino had Narita pinned at one point, but Evil choked Umino with a t-shirt. Eventually, Narita capitalized on the outside interference and pinned Umino.
Evil and Ren Narita beat Kaito Kiyomiya and Shota Umino.
Powell’s POV: I suspect I would have enjoyed this one more if I were up to speed on the storyline. The outside interference was too much for me. I enjoyed Evil and Sanada as a tag team. I wasn’t high on Evil as a singles act when I was watching NJPW consistently, so I am not disappointed to see him this low on the card.
5. Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga for the Never Openweight Championship. Takagi broke out a tope con hilo (flip dive) for the big show. Later, Takagi stuffed Tonga’s Gun Stun attempts and turned him inside out with a Pumping Bomber. Takagi went for Made in Japan, but Tonga countered nicely into a Gun Stun, but he was too weary to make the cover.Tonga followed up with a brainbuster, but Takagi kicked out at one. Tonga put him right back down with a lariat. Takagi came back with his own Gun Stun, a Pumping Bomber, and hit Made in Japan, but it only led to a near fall. Tonga rallied with a Styles Clash and a Gun Stun for a near fall of his own. Tonga performed a DST and scored the clean pin…
Tama Tonga defeated Shingo Takagi to win the Never Openweight Championship.
Powell’s POV: My favorite match of the show thus far. Tanahashi vs. Sabre was really good for what it was, but this was longer, more intense, and had a big show feel to it. Tonga is in great shape and clicked with me as a singles wrestlers more than he has in the past. That was fun.
Nick Nemeth (f/k/a Dolph Ziggler) and Ryan Nemeth showed up at ringside dressed in suits sat down at a table…
Powell’s POV: No shitty entrance music! I already like Nick Nemeth way more than Dolph Ziggler.
6. IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Yoshi-Hashi and Hiroki Goto vs. NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo and Hikuleo in a title vs. title match. Henare and Phantasmo had a nice run of late offense. Henare got a close near fall on Goto. Phantasmo put Goto down with a piledriver and then Henare performed a top rope splash on Goto before pinning him. The teams shook hands after the match…
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo and Hikuleo defeated Yoshi-Hashi and Hiroki Goto to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles in a title vs. title match.
Powell’s POV: Good action. Henare performing a top rope splash would have been impressive had it not looked like he landed on his feet before lying on top of Goto. I am looking forward to seeing how the Nemeth brothers do as a tag team and it was a cool surprise to see their unadvertised appearance. The show is moving a long at a really nice pace without much time between the matches. The set/stage looks great.
7. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Championship. Desperado dove onto Takahashi while Takahashi was still wearing his wild jacket at ringside. Takahashi battled back and dropkicked Desperado over the ringside barricade. Desperado used a stretch muffler and other moves to target Takahashi’s left knee throughout the match. Desperado sold a left eye injury at one point. Desperado slammed Takahashi to the mat from the middle rope. Both men came up holding the back of their heads. Desperado drilled Takahashi with some vicious elbow strikes. Takahashi ducked a punch and then threw multiple superkicks and put Desperado down with a lariat. Desperado came back and got a near fall. Desperado performed a double underhook piledriver and then an underhook into a face plant and scored the pin…
El Desperado defeated Hiromu Takahashi to win the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Championship.
Powell’s POV: Another good match. Takahashi didn’t wow me like he has many times in the past. I don’t know if he’s toned things down since I last saw him or if he just wasn’t meant to shine given that Desperado went over.
8. Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay (w/Gedo) for the IWGP Global Championship. Moxley wore a red half mask over his face during his entrance. Ospreay wore a top hat and a had blade in his hand as part of his impressive big star entrance. Ospreay laid his title belt on the stage. Finlay encouraged Ospreay and Moxley to go at one another, but they looked at one another and then attacked Finlay to start the match. Ospreay and Moxley took turns chopping Finlay, who took an early powder. Ospreay and Moxley followed him and continued to work him over.
Nick Nemeth and Ryan Nemeth were still seated at ringside. Moxley set up a table and then he and Ospreay slammed Finlay through it. Moxley signaled for the title belt and indicated that he and Ospreay should battle one-on-one. They headed to the ring and had a good exchange. Moxley caught Ospreay going for a handspring move and hit him with a nice German suplex. Moxley stuffed an OsCutter and performed another wicked suplex. Moxley backdropped Ospreay on the apron and then FInlay shoved Moxley into the ring post.
Finlay used his shillelagh while performing a neckbreaker on Ospreay on the apron. Moxley had a crimson mask when he returned to the ring. Finlay bit Moxley’s forehead and rubbed Moxley’s blood on his chest. Ospreay returned to the ring and executed a handspring into the ropes that led to a double kick on both opponents. Moxley hit a suicide dive on Finlay. Ospreay looked to the crowd and then performed a top rope moonsault onto both men on the floor. Finlay came up with a bloody nose.
Back in the ring, Ospreay went for a springboard move, but Moxley caught him with a punch. Moxley flipped off the crowd and performed a Death Rider for a near fall. Moxley threw a bunch of chairs inside the ring and then threw one at Finlay (he wisely put his hands up). Moxley hit Ospreay with another Death Rider, but Ospreay shot right up and hit the Hidden Blade. Finlay tossed Ospreay to the floor and tried to steal the pin, but Moxley kicked out.
Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd ran in to help Finlay. Ospreay and Moxley eventually fought them off and set them on tables on the floor. Ospreay performed a move from the top rope that was meant to put them through the tables. Coughlin’s table broke in the middle and he was caught inside of it. Moxley performed two Death Riders on Finlay. Ospreay hit Moxley with a Hidden Blade and a Stormbreaker. Finlay hit Ospreay with Oblivion and a Stomp. Finlay drove Ospreay’s face into his knee and then pinned him.
David Finlay defeated Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley in a three-way to win the IWGP Global Championship.
After the match, Finlay jawed at Nick Nemeth, who stood up and went face to face with FInlay and jawed at him. Finlay shoved Nick and then they fought until they were pulled apart by Ryan Nemeth and others…
Powell’s POV: So much for that Nemeth brothers tag team? It was clever to bring them out during the tag team title match. I bought that tease. The three-way was entertaining, yet not the type of memorable spectacle match that one would expect from Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom. The outside interference sucked. It’s impressive the way that Finlay has transformed himself from the scruffy undercard kid to looking more like a star these days.
9. Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson. Real main event time (at least in my book). Okada walked out and then a light appeared in front of him and changed the colors of his robe or brought out the design somehow. Cool effect. Danielson wore a patch of his left eye. The broadcast team laid out Danielson’s expressed plan to break Okada’s right arm so that he couldn’t perform his Rainmaker finisher. Danielson legitimately broke his arm during their previous match in AEW.
One of my dogs had to do her business. Why now, Ani?!? Bad girl!!! That’s what Evil matches are for. Anyway, Danielson’s patch was gone and he was selling his eye once we returned about a minute later (I can’t rewind the live stream on the Roku app). Danielson caught Okada with the Busaiku Knee for a near fall. Danielson applied the LeBell Lock. Okada reached for the ropes, but Danielson rolled him into a pin and then used his legs to wrench Okada’s arms behind his back. Stewart said Okada remembered the embarrassing moment and it would not happen on home turf at the Tokyo Dome (that call really took the drama out of the moment). Okada reached the bottom rope with his foot.
Danielson held the arms of Okada and stomped his head. Okada rallied with a Rainmaker. Okada suplexed Danielson, who got up and threw kicks at Okada’s injured arm. Danielson connected with another Busaiku Knee. Danielson led “Yes!” chants, but Okada avoided his next move. Okada dropkicked Danielson, who shot right up and let out a primal scream. Okada put him down with another Rainmaker and scored the clean pin.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Bryan Danielson.
After the match, Okada dropped to his knees and bowed. Stewart said it was the highest honor. Danielson returned the gesture and then raised Okada’s arm and then left the ring and sold his eye injury…
Powell’s POV: Awesome match and my new favorite match of the night. They didn’t go as long as I anticipated, but they made the most of the time they had (roughly 23:30). The series is now even between the two, so the big question is when the rubber match will take place. How about tomorrow at New Year Dash?!? That’s not going to happen, but this definitely left me anxious to see more.
A video package set up the main event…
10. Sanada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Sanada was the early aggressor, but Naito avoided his moonsault attempt and then went on an offensive flurry and executed a neckbreaker on the floor.
Later, Naito went for a Destino, but Sanada stuffed it and put Naito down with a cutter. Sanada performed a moonsault onto the back of Naito (well, he actually overshot him a bit). Sanada followed up with a better moonsault while Naito was on his back.
Naito battled back and performed a Destino. Naito hit a clunky version of the move for a near fall. Sanada came back by spiking Naito’s head on the mat. Both men stayed down while referee Red Shoes counted. Naito stood up first. Sanada stood up and ran into a kick.
A short time later, Sanada rolled Naito into a pin for another near fall. Sanada followed up with a running knee strike. Sanada set up for a move, but Naito countered into a DDT style move. Naito executed a brainbuster. Naito hit the Destino and scored the clean pin.
Tetsuya Naito defeated Sanada to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Naito suffered a cut above his left eye late in the match. Red Shoes covered it with a towel while Naito stayed down. He eventually got to his feet and was presented with the title belt while Sanada was still down. Naito took the mic and was about to speak.
Evil and Dick Togo attacked Naito. Togo held Naito while Evil spoke over the house mic in Japanese. Evil spoke about taking the title off of Naito. Sanada got up and took out Evil. Sanada left the ring. Naito addressed the crowd in Japanese while Charlton translated on commentary to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A crowd pleasing outcome. Naito was over big with the live crowd. This match had a tough task of following Okada vs. Danielson. While I strongly preferred the semi main event, the crowd seemed fully engaged in the main event, so it worked out.
This was my first time hearing Walker Stewart call an NJPW event. Kevin Kelly was missed. Some of that is because my mind associates NJPW with Kelly’s voice. Stewart sounds a bit like a subdued Excalibur and he didn’t have a lot of chemistry with Chris Charlton or Rocky Romero. Stewart knows the names of the moves and the stories they are trying to tell, but he just didn’t enhance the matches with his call. I hope he grows into the role and learns to let loose and sell the emotion of the matches.
I don’t believe Wrestle Kingdom 18 won’t go down as one of the great Wrestle Kingdom events, but was a very good show. I really liked the way the undercard matches were kept to a reasonable length. Those matches were entertaining, yet they were not free-for-alls with everyone trying to steal the show. Let me know what you thought of Wrestle Kingdom by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below.
2 AM here on the east coast. “Working 3rd shift”. Appreciate you putting in the late night so that I can follow along.
My pleasure. I’ll pay for it the rest of the week, but I enjoy the annual all nighter. Now let’s just hope I can stay awake all night!